| Na Moon-hee | |||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Na Kyung-ja | ||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 30 November 1941 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Beiping, Republic of China | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality: | South Korean | ||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Actress | ||||||||||||||||||
| Years Active: | 1960–present | ||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse: | [1] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Children: | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Education: | Changduk Girls' High School, Seoul | ||||||||||||||||||
| Honours: | Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (2012) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Module: |
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Na Moon-hee (; Na Kyung-ja, ; November 30, 1941) is a South Korean actress. Since 1960, Na has had a prolific acting career in television and film spanning more than five decades. She established a classic Korean mother persona with her TV dramas Even if the Wind Blows, The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World (written by Noh Hee-kyung),[3] My Name is Kim Sam-soon, My Rosy Life, Goodbye Solo,[4] Amnok River Flows (based on Der Yalu fließt), and It's Me, Grandma.[5] On the big screen, Na has received acclaim for her roles in Crying Fist,[6] You Are My Sunshine, Cruel Winter Blues[7] and I Can Speak. Her critically acclaimed film I Can Speak (2017) won her the Best Actress trophy in three prestigious award ceremonies: 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards and 55th Grand Bell Awards — a feat that has yet to be repeated.[8]
After a series of comic roles in sitcoms such as Unstoppable High Kick!,[9] the veteran actress garnered newfound popularity and played the title character in big screen comedy Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K,[10] followed by starring roles in Girl Scout,[11] Harmony,[12] [13] Twilight Gangsters,[14] and Miss Granny.[15]
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from MBC in 2010, and the prestigious Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2012.[16] [17] [18]
Na Kyung-ja was born on November 30, 1941, in Beijing, China and grew up there until she was 5 years old. Her family came to Korea in the year of liberation, and once spent their childhood in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do. Her aunt is Na Hye-seok, the first female western painter in Korea, and her brother-in-law is actor Jeong Seung-ho.[19] [20]
In 1960, Na Moon-hee started her career onstage. In 1961, she debuted as a voice actor in the first public recruitment of MBC. Because of her longing for acting, she changed her job from a voice actor to a talent, and in 1976, she first appeared in a drama in Korea's first omnibus daily soap opera, High School Alumni. Afterwards, she played numerous roles in various works until the early 1990s, but she did not shine as an actor for a long time.[21]
It was the KBS daily drama 'Even the Wind Blows', which was broadcast in 1995, that imprinted the name Na on people. She took on the role of a resolute grandmother who spoke a North Korean dialect, and the North Korean dialect acting she learned from a North Korean woman living in the neighborhood was deeply embedded in the minds of Korean viewers. Her presence shined through in her play and she was honored at the KBS Drama Awards, the first trophy of her own acting life. Not only she, but also with the same work, she achieved the feat of sweeping the Popularity Award in the TV category at the 32nd Baeksang Arts Awards and the Female Talent Award at the 23rd Korea Broadcasting Awards the following year.[22] [23]
Afterwards, she gained great popularity by transforming into an authoritative CEO in My Lovely Sam Soon (2005), a nasty mother-in-law in My Rosy Life (2005), and a dancing grandmother in Famous Chil Princesses (2006). She also acted in films, for her role in the 2005 film Crying Fist, for which she won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 42nd Grand Bell Awards. She later won the 7th Female Filmmaker of the Year Award, the 4th Max Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress Award, the 1st Korea Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress Award, She swept trophies including Best Supporting Actress at the 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
In 2006, with the family sitcom Unstoppable High Kick, it was so popular that it would not be an exaggeration to say that 2007 was the year of Na Moon-hee and reached its second heyday. In particular, the so-called 'pumpkin sweet potato' anger scene was greatly loved by the younger generation, and is still used as a source of numerous parodies. Even after that, she played the role of Mrs. Kwon Sun-bun who controls the kidnappers in the movie Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K (2007), played the role of Kim Moon-ok, the oldest inmate with a heartbreaking story in Harmony (2010), and traveled to Hawaii in Flesh-blooded gun robber (2010). She played the role of Kim Jung-ja, a bank robber who occupies a bank to raise money, and Oh Mal-soon, a swearing 70-year-old grandmother who boasts her son, in Miss Granny (2014), which drew attention with 8.65 million viewers nationwide.
In the 2016 drama Dear My Friends, she performed with veteran actors such as Kim Yeong-ok, Shin Goo, Kim Hye-ja, Go Doo-sim, Yoon Yeo-jeong, and Park Won-sook, and received favorable reviews for showing the life of an old age that draws sympathy from all generations and received a lot of love.[24]
In the movie I Can Speak (2017), in which she co-starred with Lee Je-hoon, she took on the role of Ok-bun, who is called 'goblin grandmother' among the officials of the ward office due to frequent complaints to the ward office, and took on the historically sensitive subject of 'comfort women'. was praised for excellent expression in Na Moon-hee's own way. At the end of the year, she swept the 'Best Actress Award' at major awards ceremonies such as The Seoul Awards, Korean Film Critics Association Awards, and Blue Dragon Film Awards, and she was re-evaluated as the best actress of 2017.[25]
She is considered one of the 'national actors' and 'national mothers' actress loved by Korea both in name and reality, and as a representative role model for actresses.
Na is married and has three daughters.[26]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Quiet Family | Mrs. Kang | |
| 2000 | Just Do It! | Cameo | |
| 2002 | My Beautiful Girl, Mari | Nam-woo's grandmother | Voice |
| Saving My Hubby | |||
| 2003 | Please Teach Me English | Moon-soo's mother | |
| 2004 | S Diary | Ji-ni's mother | |
| Lovely Rivals | Yeo Mi-ok's mother | ||
| 2005 | Crying Fist | Sang-hwan's grandma | |
| You Are My Sunshine | Seok-jung's mother | ||
| 2006 | Cruel Winter Blues | Dae-Sik's mother | |
| 2007 | Voice of a Murderer | Kyung-bae's mother | Cameo |
| May 18 | Na Joo-daek | ||
| Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K | Kwon Soon-boon | ||
| 2008 | Girl Scout | Lee Yi-man | |
| 2010 | Harmony | Kim Moon-ok | |
| Twilight Gangsters | Kim Jung-ja | ||
| 2014 | Miss Granny | Oh Mal-soon | |
| 2017 | I Can Speak | Na Ok-boon | |
| 2018 | Love+Sling | Gui-bo's mother | |
| 2019 | A Little Princess | Mal-soon | |
| 2020 | Honest Candidate | Kim Ok-hee | [27] |
| Pawn | Seungi, grandmother (special appearance) | [28] | |
| 2022 | My Perfect Roommate | Geum-bun | [29] [30] |
| Hero | Cho Maria | [31] [32] | |
| 2024 | Picnic | Eun-shim | [33] |
| Year | English | Network | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Weird kid | MBC | ||
| 1970 | Waterwheel | |||
| 1973 | In-laws | |||
| 1975 | Hello | |||
| One's Way Home | ||||
| 1976–1977 | Girls' High School Days | Bong Ran-yi | ||
| 1977 | One Star or One | Children's drama | ||
| Correspondent 001 | Children's drama | |||
| Arirang Oh! | Full-time wife | |||
| Until the Red Gold is Opened | ||||
| I Regret | In-sook | |||
| 1978 | The Master | |||
| X Search Party | Children's drama | |||
| 1979 | White Dandelion | |||
| Mom, I Like Dad | ||||
| Ms. Anguk-dong | ||||
| 1980 | Power Diary | Multiple roles | A minor role | |
| Hundred Years Guest | ||||
| 1981 | Jang Hee-bin | Queen Myeongseong | Big dramas | |
| Hello | ||||
| 1982 | Market People | |||
| Can't Forget | ||||
| 1983 | The Stars Are My Stars | |||
| 1984–1985 | Love and Truth | Mrs. President | ||
| 1985 | The Seaside Village | |||
| 1986 | First Love | |||
| Raw Hand | Yeon-ju | The special play of the two-part 8.15 | ||
| 1987 | Firebird | |||
| Life Story | ||||
| 1988 | Three Women | |||
| 1989 | Making Memories | |||
| Miscarriage | Mrs.Oh | |||
| Second Republic | Kwon Chan -ju | |||
| 1990 | Dangchu-dong People | KBS2 | ||
| Two Diaries | MBC | Principal teacher | ||
| Weird Family Weird School | Children's drama | |||
| My Mother | ||||
| 1991 | Another's Happiness | |||
| City People | ||||
| 1993 | On Foot to the Sky | Yeon-su Mo | ||
| Hope | KBS2 | |||
| Dear Guitars | SBS | suwondaeg | ||
| MBC Best Theater "Sundal, Byeong-gu and Okju-yang" | MBC | Ms. oh | One-act play | |
| One Roof Family | An aunt | |||
| 1994 | The Moon of Seoul | Grandma of the owner's house in Dal-dong | ||
| 1995 | New Year's Special Drama: "Relationship is" | KBS2 | Mrs. So | One-act play |
| Changsha Special Drama: "Chanshangdanja" | MBC | choegosang-gung | One-act play | |
| 1995–1996 | Even if the Wind Blows | KBS1 | grandmother | |
| 1996 | MBC Best Theatre "Mom and the Gardenia" | MBC | Ha Yi-sun | One-act play |
| Thief | SBS | The priest's sister-in-law | ||
| Mom's Flag | Jeongsuk Mo | |||
| Open Your Heart | MBC | Ha Yi-sun | ||
| The Most Beautiful Goodbye | Mama | One-act play | ||
| 1996–1997 | Im Kkeok-jung | SBS | 봉단 모 | |
| 1997 | Brothers | KBS1 | 병천댁 | One-act play |
| Because I Love You | SBS | 장모 | ||
| The Reason I Live | MBC | Kim Sook-ja | ||
| 1998 | As We Live Our Lives | KBS1 | Lee Gan-nan | |
| Three Men and Three Women | MBC | Kim Yong-Rim's high school alumni | Special appearance | |
| Romance | SBS | 강 여사 | ||
| 1999 | House Above the Waves | |||
| Beautiful Secret | KBS2 | 유민 모 | One-act play | |
| Last War | MBC | |||
| Did We Really Love? | Sin Sin-ja | |||
| You Don't Know My Mind | Na Do-ja | |||
| 2000 | Mr. Duke | |||
| Mom and Sister | 서씨 | |||
| 2001 | MBC Best Theater "My Fiancee's Story" | One-act play | ||
| Tender Hearts | KBS1 | Ohbunhee | ||
| 2001–2002 | The Merchant | |||
| 2002 | The Woman | MBC | 임상옥 모, 한씨 | |
| You Are My World | SBS | Bong Soon | ||
| Drama City "A Very Special Gift" | KBS2 | A grandmother | One-act play | |
| 2002–2003 | The Maengs' Golden Era | MBC | 금자 모 | |
| 2003 | While You Were Dreaming | Mrs. Hwang | ||
| 2003–2004 | Apgujeong House | SBS | Na Moon-hee | |
| 2004 | Love is All Around | MBC | Shin Young-ja | |
| Dog Bowl | SBS | Oksoon | ||
| People of the Water Flower Village | MBC | 윤 여사 | ||
| Changsa Special Drama: "We Become Water" | Insoon | |||
| 2004–2005 | Precious Family | KBS2 | 창수 모 | |
| 2006 | My Name is Kim Sam-soon | MBC | Na Hyun-sook | |
| My Rosy Life | KBS2 | Kang-tip-soon | ||
| 2006 | Goodbye Solo | Grandma Miyoung | ||
| Famous Chil Princesses | Namdal-gu | |||
| High Kick! | MBC | Na Moon-hee | ||
| 2007 | Several Questions That Make Us Happy | KBS2 | ||
| Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung-geum | Yoon Myung-ja | |||
| Worlds Within | KBS2 | Geomo | ||
| Amnok River Flows | SBS | Mireuk Mo | ||
| 2007–2008 | Kimcheed Radish Cubes | MBC | 나달래 | |
| 2008–2009 | My Precious You | KBS2 | Mrs. Song In-soon | |
| 2010 | Happiness in the Wind | KBS1 | 나끝순 | |
| MBC Best Theater "It's Me, Grandma' | MBC | Jiyoon's grandmother | A one-act play | |
| 2011 | I Believe in Love | KBS2 | 차귀남 | |
| 2011–2012 | Padam Padam | JTBC | Yang Kang Chil Mo | |
| 2012 | Five Fingers | SBS | Minbanwol | |
| The Sons | MBC | Jung Jung-sook | [34] | |
| Mom is Acting Up | Na Moon-hee | |||
| 2013 | Wang's Family | KBS2 | Ahn G-shim | |
| 2014 | Glorious Day | SBS | Lee Sun-ok | |
| 2015 | The Three Witches | Cheon Geum-ok | ||
| 2016 | Dear My Friends | tvN | Moon Jung-ah | |
| Father, I'll Take Care of You | MBC | Hwang Mi-ok | ||
| 2017 | Rain or Shine | JTBC | Drug staker grandma | [35] |
| 2021 | Navillera | tvN | Haenam | |
| Taxi Driver | SBS | |||
| 2024 | I Am Home | Hong Jeong-hee | ||
| Title | Role | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||||
| 2024 | When Life Gives You Tangerines | 폭싹 속았수다 | Grandma | Netflix Series | [36] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Attack on Grandma | Host | The production is in full pre-air. | [37] | |
| Hot Singers | Cast Member | [38] | |||
| 2022–present | One Round of the Neighborhood | Narrator | Season 2 | [39] |
| Title | Role | Theater | Date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | ||||||
| 1965 | Look Homeward, Angel | 천사여 고향을 돌아보라 | National Theater of Korea (Myeongdong) | Nov 30–Dec 3 | [40] | ||
| 1992 | Family on the road | 길떠나는 가족 | Batangol Small Theater in Seoul | July 1–August | [41] | ||
| Grand Theater of the Cultural Arts Center, Hyundai | October 1 to 6 | [42] | |||||
| 1996 | Mother | 어머니 | Thelma | Grand Theater of Dongsoong Art Center | May 18 to June 23 | [43] | |
| 1998 | Sinpaguk The Unfilial Man Cries | 신파극 불효자는 웁니다 | Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul | January 10 18 | [44] | ||
| 2008 | 'night, Mother | 잘자요, 엄마 | Thelma | Wonder Space Square Theater | November 2–29 | [45] | |
| 2015 | 'night, Mother | 잘자요 엄마 | Thelma | Art One Theater | July 3–August 30 | [46] |
| 1973 | Most Popularity Award (Theater) | |||
| 1976 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Radio Performance | |||
| 1983 | Excellence Award, Actress | The Stars Are My Stars | ||
| 1995 | KBS Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Even if the Wind Blows | |
| 1996 | 32nd Baeksang Arts Awards | |||
| 23rd Korea Broadcasting Awards | Best Actress | Talent | ||
| 2002 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a One-Act Special | You Are My World | |
| 2005 | 42nd Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Crying Fist | |
| You Are My Sunshine | ||||
| 13th Chunsa Film Art Awards | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | ||||
| 2006 | Best Supporting Actress | |||
| 2006 KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Goodbye Solo, Famous Princesses | ||
| 7th Women in Film Korea Awards[47] | Best Actress | Cruel Winter Blues | ||
| 2007 | ||||
| 4th Max Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress | |||
| 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards[48] | Best Supporting Actress | |||
| 1st Korea Movie Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | May 18 | ||
| Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Comedy/Sitcom | Unstoppable High Kick! | |||
| 2008 | Achievement Award | |||
| 2010 | Best Supporting Actress | Harmony | ||
| Lifetime Achievement Award | It's Me, Grandma | |||
| 2011 | 6th Seoul International Drama Awards[49] | Best Actress | ||
| 2012 | Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit | |||
| 2014 | 14th Korea World Youth Film Festival | Favorite Actress - Senior Actress | ||
| 2015 | 10th Max Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Miss Granny | |
| 2017 | 18th Women in Film Korea Awards | Woman in Film of the Year | I Can Speak | |
| 6th Korea Film Actors Association Awards[50] | Top Star Awards | |||
| 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actress | |||
| Popular Star Award | ||||
| 11th Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Actress | |||
| 1st The Seoul Awards[51] | Best Actress | |||
| 37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards[52] | ||||
| 17th Director's Cut Awards | ||||
| 4th Korean Film Producers Association Awards | ||||
| Cine 21 Awards | ||||
| 2018 | 9th KOFRA Film Awards | |||
| 55th Grand Bell Awards[53] | ||||
| 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards[54] | ||||
| 27th Buil Film Awards[55] | ||||
| 54th Baeksang Arts Awards[56] | Best Actress | |||
| 2022 | 30th Korea Culture Entertainment Awards[57] | Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards | Na Moon-hee | |
| 2023 | 32nd Buil Film Awards[58] | Best Supporting Actress | Hero | |
| 59th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress[59] | |||
| Award Ceremony | Year | Honor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards | 2012 | Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (3rd class) | [60] |
| Year | List | Placement | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KBS | 2023 | The 50 people who made KBS shine | [61] [62] |