Kim Joo Ryung: The female star of "Squid game" who competed in the Miss pageant, unknown for more than 20 years suddenly became famous after 1 night

Kim Joo Ryung is a Korean actress who came to the attention of audiences after more than 20 years of being unknown thanks to the movie Squid Game. With a divine acting error, she successfully made an unforgettable mark on her role of a lifetime.

Kim Joo Ryung (born 1976) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her role as Han Mi Nyeo (also known as Player No. 212) in the film Squid Game. Kim Joo Ryung majored in film and television at South Korea's Dongguk University and entered the entertainment industry after placing in the top 5 at Korea's Miss Chunhyang pageant in 1999.

The South Korean actress had her first acting role in 2000 and appeared in about 50 films. She is well known in the field of theater in Korea and has won several awards in this field.

Before the feverish survival drama, Kim Joo Ryung often took on supporting characters on screen. Some of the films featuring her include Castle in the Air, Voice 3, Clouds, Wind and Rain...

In 2011, after appearing in a project called "Silenced " directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the father of Squid Game, Kim Joo Ryung also made an impression on the audience.

One of the independent films that confirmed Kim Joo Ryung's strength was " Sleepless Night" (2012), directed by Jang Gun Jae. She plays Joo Hee, who contemplates having a child in her second year of marriage. However, because of the chaos of anxiety, pressure arises, making it difficult for them to lose sleep, difficult to complete the plan. She was praised by critics for her good portrayal of the "adult" scene, showing subtle changes in couple relationships and psychological conflicts.

In 2021, Squid Games is the most successful drama of Korean screens as its effects spread globally. Currently, the attraction of the film has shown signs of cooling down, but the "hotness" of the cast is constantly increasing.

In addition to famous actors, Squid Game is also a "life-changing" opportunity for the supporting actors of the film such as Heo Sung Tae, Kim Joo Ryung, Wi Ha Joon, Jung Ho Yeon, Lee Jung Jun ... In it, actress Kim Joo Ryung affirmed that the drama created a turning point in her acting career.

According to Daum, the actor did not need casting but was directly invited by director Hwang Dong-hyuk because he had worked on " Silenced" (2011). The strength of the actor is flexibility, understanding the director's intentions, ecstasy through facial muscle expressions, eye gaze and physical movements. She portrays the cleverness, meanness and despair of the character when at the edge of life and death.

In the film, this is a woman with an erratic and unpredictable personality. Although not the main character, this role also attracts a lot of attention from the audience because of the character's personality and unexpected psychological changes.

Because of her ambition to win the game and want to get the prize money, Han Mi Nyeo accepts to do everything, including flattery or physical sacrifice. In addition, the controversial daring scene of Han Mi Nyeo's character and Jang Deok so's character (played by Heo Sung Tae) also became a topic of discussion in the media.

Viewers of Squid Game all rated Han Mi Nyeo as a character that is both pitiful and unpredictable, creating impressive colors for the feverish Korean survival drama. The actress born in 1976 was also praised for her acting.

The actress said that in her 21 years of work, starring in 31 movies and 22 TV productions, she has never experienced an overnight boom. Before Squid Game aired, she was still an unknown actress, although she was highly appreciated for her acting, smooth on screen but not yet famous, rarely remembered by name and easily glimpsed when met on the street.

However, just two months later, she found the light and was more motivated to stick around. The unexpected success of the film helped her Instagram followers skyrocket, from a few tens of thousands to 2.3 million. Most viewers recognized Kim Joo Ryung by the correct name and asked for a commemorative photo when they met him. Sao Han also received many offers of cooperation, interviews and scripts from famous directors.

She said she was touched and grateful that she received tens of thousands of encouraging messages every day, complimenting her for her acting. The actor feels guilty for being too busy to respond to each person. "The best gift for me this year is to be loved and cared for by the audience. It's heartwarming, it's like being soothed, healing in the midst of a pandemic," she said, promising to make more efforts to deliver more quality works, without repeating the character's personality from previous films.

Talking about the sudden popularity, the Korean star said, "Previously, my profile only had about 400 followers but now, the account has received 1.68 million followers. Among them are many international fans. Foreign fans sent messages of support for me in multiple languages. I also wanted to respond in their own language, but unfortunately I couldn't."

The 45-year-old actress shared about the sudden fame: "I can't believe that I am going through such amazing moments in my life. I don't know how to thank the fans."

Throughout her acting career, despite mainly playing supporting roles, the 45-year-old actress has proven her acting ability. According to Hollywood magazine, the actress's fortune is about $ 4 million (about VND 91 billion).

As for his personal life, the actor married 11 years ago, has a nine-year-old daughter. On SBS's reality show that aired on November 29, she revealed her marriage to her two-year-old husband, who teaches at the University of Texas (USA). She said it was thanks to her husband's advice and encouragement that she was able to survive the days of her career. "He always said, 'It's not because you're the woman I love, objectively, you're a good actor. No matter the circumstances, remember it, don't tremble and do well," Kim Joo Ryung said.

According to her, her husband is proud that students love to discuss the content and acting of the Squid Game star. Even fellow professors take the episodes and messages in the film to lecture. "My husband said, 'Don't get too excited at times like this, keep your feet on the ground and try harder. However, he posted all my photos and interviews on his personal page," Kim Joo Ryung said. Over the years, she and her husband have traveled between the U.S. and South Korea.