A while ago I shared my top five favorite ahjussis. Now it’s time to share my favorite actresses! You may notice that most of the actresses on my list do not have as many dramas or movies listed that I’ve seen as my ahjussi list. Well, I’m busted; it’s because I don’t actively seek out Kdrama actresses the way I do my favorite ahjussis. My two favorite actresses however, I do actively search for dramas they have been in.
Without further ado, here’s my list.
#5 Jeong Ryeo Won
Birthdate: January 21, 1981
Height: 168 cm
What I’ve seen her in:
- The King of Dramas
- My Name is Kim Sam-soon
I plan on watching her in:
- Medical Top Team
Why I love her: The first drama I saw her in was The King of dramas. She plays a writer who aspires to succeed in the Kdrama business. Her character was very down to earth and this was a fantastic drama (although lacking eye candy). Her personality in My name is Kim Sam-Soon was quite different and I didn’t like her character as much. She’s a very good actress and I really like her look as well. I’m not sure why, but I find she really stands out. She also seems very natural and down to earth at the same time.
Her best performance for me: Writer Lee Go-Eun in The King of dramas
#4 Kim Sun Ah
Birthdate: October 1, 1975
Height: 170 cm
What I’ve seen her in:
- My name Sam-Soon
- The S-Diaries (Movie)
I plan on watching her in:
- She’s on duty (movie)
Why I love her: My name is Kim Sam-Soon is a great drama and I think she’s the main reason why. She plays an average woman, but adds so much spunk and life to the character. I really enjoyed watching her and found her entertaining. I need to watch more of her work.
Her best performance for me: Kim Sam-Soon in My Name is Kim Sam Soon
#3 Ha Ji won
Birthdate: June 28, 1978
Height: 168 cm
What I’ve seen her in:
- Secret Garden
- Love So Divine (Movie)
I plan on watching her in:
- Empress Ki
- King 2 Hearts
- Sex is Zero (movie)
Why I love her:
I find it really great that she does her own stunts. Secret Garden required her to show a lot of range. She had to be physically fit, play a tough but somewhat still feminine character and also switch into the soul of a man. I’m looking forward to watching more of her to be able to add more reasons to this section.
Her best performance for me: At the moment I’m going to say Secret Garden, but I have a feeling her outstanding performance is in Empress Ki. I’m waiting anxiously to see this drama, but I’m currently unable to find it available in my region.
#2 Yoon Eun-Hye
Birthdate: October 3, 1984
Height: 169 cm
What I’ve seen her in:
- Coffee Prince
- Goong (Princess Hours)
- Lie to Me
- Personal Taste (cameo)
- Marry Him If You Dare (part of it)
I plan on watching her in:
- I Miss You
Why I love her:
Eun-Hye was so amazing in Coffee Prince and I immediately appreciated her acting skills. I’ve seen various gender bender dramas, but she’s the only female that I’ve actually felt could pass as a guy. She’s very pretty and feminine, but she was believable as a young man because she played to tom-boy role flawlessly. In other dramas, she acted well also.
Her best performance for me:
I’ve already said it: Coffee Prince. I think this will forever be my favorite drama of hers. I love this drama!
And my number one favorite Kdrama actress is… Drum-roll please..
#1 Gong Hyo-Jin!!!!
Birth date: April 4, 1980
Height: 173 cm
What I’ve seen her in:
Pasta
Master’s Sun
Thank You
The Greatest Love
Teacher Biscuit and Star Candy
I plan on watching her in:
There’s nothing in particular I want to see her in, but I would like to watch her in some movies. I’m just not sure where to start.
Why I love her:
Because she is amazing! She’s so talented, she’s versatile and has that, as we say in french, je ne sais quoi (intangible quality). I thought she was whiny in pasta but still likable. Then I saw her in Master’s Sun and she really Wowed me! I gained mad respect for this actress in this role. Her personally is really quirky and everyone thinks she’s crazy. She showed a range of emotions and played scared very well. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; When she acts, she becomes the character. I forget I’m watching an actress and believe she is whoever she is playing. Love, love love her!
Her best performance for me:
It’s a tie. I refuse to pick. In my opinion from what I’ve seen her in, best roles are in Master’s Sun and Thank you.
In Master’s Sun I enjoyed watching the scenes where she was scared and desperately clinging onto So Ji-Sub for comfort. I laughed when she would get possessed by Spirits and have to be a variety of different souls including that of a cat.
I still get shivers remembering her performance in Thank You (her an Jang Hyuk both). Thinking about a mom finding out her little girl has accidentally been infected with blood tainted by HIV/AIDS makes me want to cry. She’s so strong in this drama, but she’s human, and gets run down like everyone else. I love the sexual tension and banter between her and Jang Hyuk. Even though her and Dr. Min both deny being attracted to each other, I can strongly sense an attraction. It’s much more than just physical attraction though. Part of her charm is that she resists him, as long as she can anyway. She puts her needs last, but he treats her as a woman. All I’ll say is : Watch it! Watch it! Watch it! Yes you! I’m tempted to re-watch it again soon.
Honorable Mention
To finish off this post, I would like to add an honorable mention to Lee Dae-Ha. I absolutely loved her in Robbers. She was very good in Chuno as well, but she really shined for me in Robbers. I would like to see more of her. I think she’s very charming and has a very strong screen presence.
Now it’s your turn; tell me about your favorites 🙂
Amazing! I agree with many on your list. Jung Ryeo Won is among favorites because of her character in History of Salaryman. I truly recommend this drama to you if you like her. She stole that show which was hard to do because it is full with cool characters. It is a funny drama and very original so it should relieve some of the tension from the intensity you have gone through recently ? I like Shin Min Ah even though I didnt love Kim Sam Soon as much but in retrospective I appreciate the originality and strength of that character. I want to watch her in City Hall which I hear is pretty good. You can watch Empress Ki with eng subs on http://www.dramacool.com . Definitely not the best sageuk Ive seen. It lacks depth but it is fun somehow. I dont love HJW acting style but I appreciate her “strong woman” aura. She sells this female warrior type characters rather well. Yoon Eun Hye was absolutely great in Coffee Prince. I hope to see her in something well written again. And of course Gong Hyo Jin is adorable and a great actress. Just like you I absolutely love her as Young Shin, loved her verrsatility in Master’s Sun but I’m a bit irritated with her character in Pasta, however there is something cute about her that makes me forgive everything. I also agree that Lee Da Hae was great in Robbers and some of her scenes in Chuno gave me goosebumps. Im interested in watching My Girl when Im in the mood for a rom com and Green Rose if I ever find it
Thanks for the recommendation. My drama list keeps getting longer and longer. I will watch this soon but I’m still hoping to watch TWDR after Midas. I think a drama to relieve tension will be much needed after TWDR.
You will certainly needed. Jung Ryeo Won plays an unforgettable character, Yeochi. Imagine her as your typical jerk chabeol who deep down is a lonely soul. But the female version. She started out a horrible byatch! but she was so hilarious and she evolves into a strong woman and you end up loving her
Oooh! Sounds good!
And thanks for the link.
I enjoyed watching Green Rose. I like the revenge plot line. My Girl is cute but halfway becomes dragging but eventually picked up the pace. She’s also in Sweet 18.
Cool
Haha, you can watch Green Rose here dear ^^
http://www.dramago.com/korean-drama/green-rose
I really love Da-hae there although the role itself is not that deep but she really added more to the role with her performance. Hope you like it too 🙂
And mentioning about Green Rose and My Girl. I guess after I watched both back in the days, it just made me appreciate Da-hae versatility.
Thank you apqaria! I should’ve asked you before! duh me! Do you recommend Miss Ripley? They have that one on DramaFever too
YES, surely I do. It has one of Da-hae best performances to date IMO but I must warn you that drama is not so easy to watch and not all could appreciate. I did write a review about it on the blog if you want to check ^^
I will check your review. Thanks!
I’ll have to check out your review. Thanks for the recommendation!
I don’t think I’ve heard of that drama.
I agree with your #1 and #2 choice. Yoon Eun Hye is so good with romantic comedies. You’re right she was really good in Coffee Prince. And she s one actress who is really good with the kissing scenes. Gong Hyo Jin is such a versatile actress. One of the best I’ve seen so far too.
Anyone else you like? I found the #1 and 2 spot easy to come up with but the rest was difficult.
So far I’m starting to like Lee Bo Young. She was really good in I Hear Your Voice. I’m also planning to watch her in God’s Gift -14 days. Song Ji Hyo of Emergency Couple. She s effective with the roles she plays. I love Han Ga In in The Moon Embraces the Sun :).
I want to watch the moon embraces the sun. It looks really good.
It was my first historical Kdrama. It was really good. Interesting plot. Good looking cast and acting wise they were pretty good. Though I have to say that I still have so much to learn about this particular genre. Any recommendations? Btw, The whole family ended up watching this drama with me and that is not an easy feat.
For romantic comedy historical sungkyunkwan scandal is really good. For epic historical watch chuno. It’s well worth it but I warn you, it’s sad and emotional. It also is kind of slow the first half but picks up and is outstanding. The acting is amazing (especially the main character daegil).
*Butts in* I agree with Lee Bo Young on I Hear Your Voice. Zhaoul, if you haven’t watched that drama I recommend it too. It is one of the best I’ve seen. Not a boring moment
Lol. It’s on my list but I haven’t gotten to it yet 🙂 Once I watched it I’ll probably review it too
Thanks for the recommendations. Will find time to watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal.
I think you’ll like it. It’s fun.
What a nice list Zhaoul 🙂 at least my girl made it in the honorable mention,kkk ^^ 😀 and we surely have some names in common 😉
I totally LOVE GHJ, one of the most talented actresses over there. I LOVE her almost in everything and specially like her project choices.
I also love JRW, and I must say she really stepped up a lot in recent years with her great choices and different roles.
YEH, while I really adored her in coffee prince which is one of my all time favorite but other than that unfortunately nothing is memorable for me
I might add from my favorites is “Im Soo-jeong” and “Son Ye-Jin” <3
Reblogged this on kdramaostersheet.
I love your list! The top four are my faves too but maybe it’s because I haven’t seen a lot of Jeong Ryeo Won. If I may include Son Ye Jin, Jun Ji Hyun, Song Hye gyo, Kim Ha neul, Ham Eung-jun and Im Soo-jung. They’re my top ten. =)
Cool! I like your list
For me, Lee Da Hae’s best performance was in My Girl. I love every part of her in that drama.
Yay for Gong Hyo Jin, Yoon Eun Hye and Kim Sun Ah. Did you watch Kim Sun Ah in Scent of a Woman?? I love it. And Shin Min Ah too, from My Girlfriend is a gumiho. Jeon Jihyun, Han hyo Joo, aarrgghhh, I can’t choose my top 5.
I haven’t seen scent of a woman or my girlfriend is a gumiho.
You should, I love both dramas. Scent of a women is full of tears while My girlfriend is a Gumiho is romantic comedy. Just beware, Scent of a Woman have an open ending.
I don’t mind open endings most of the time.
I love Jung Ryu Won and Gong Hyo JIn ♥ they are very natural and effortless in their acting…no over-the-top expressions….and they are very charming!
Plus, I like Park Ha Sun and Shin Min Ah as well…so graceful..
Cool!
Hey there!
Firstly, thank you for liking my post over at my crazy blog. Much appreciated 😀
Secondly, solid list you have happening there. I second the comment that said you need to catch Jung Ryeo Won in Salaryman. She will totally rock your socks and undies off XD
Re Kim Sun A, I think her best performance to date is still as Sam Soon (that series is one in a million) but if you loved her there, I would second Ahjussi Fan’s rec of Scent Of A Woman as she embodies a very similar natural comedic flair there (at least for the earlier part of the series). Actually, just watch it for the freaking tango scenes btwn her and Lee Dong Wook and have tissues ready for this – no, not for the tears, it will be for the nosebleeds.
Re Ha Ji Won, I think from the list, she is the most chameleon-like. She has played a huge diversity of roles and has pretty much nailed every single character. Not just that, she has incredible chemistry with every male lead I’ve seen her with. Would HIGHLY recommend Damo, Hwang Jin I, and if you get time as well, What Happened In Bali. All a little older, but for me, they were career defining roles for the actress. Btw, thanks for the Empress Ki heads up! I’m so out of the loop that I didn’t even realise the series is airing, lol.
Re Yoon Eun Hye – 100thousand per cent agree and side with your love for her and Coffee Prince. Best girl-pretending-to-be-boy girl ever.
Re Gong Hyo Jin – I LOVE her as well and second everything you say about her! The whole, “je ne sais quoi” – totes! I’ve always had a thing for her, and over the years, she’s just garned more and more real estate in dorama-lovin’-heart-o! LOL. She is so totally likeable even in a whiney situation, exactly as you say. I would definitely recommend Ruler Of Your Own World to you if you are a Hyo Jin fan – she’s phenomenal in it. And of course, Sang Doo. Ah, her and Bi baby… <3 <3 <3
Sorry I talk a lot. But kudos to your girl power post! XD
Hey! Thanks for all your comments 🙂 Kleelex for nosebleeds eh? Lol. Sounds like my kind of drama! Haha!