Five Fun Facts About Lee Yeon Hee

With Lee Yeon Hee considering a role in the upcoming MBC drama "Miss Korea" and appearing as Taecyeon's fiancée in the film "Marriage Blue," it may be time to learn more about this ever-evolving actress.

She is enjoying a rush of popularity after appearing as Lee Seung Gi's mother and Choi Jin Hyuk's love interest in the hit drama "Gu Family Book," but her acting has not always earned rave reviews.

Here are some facts that may interest you:

1)    Even though she is only 25, she has been working for a dozen years, having signed on with SM Entertainment at the age of 13. After winning a contest, she received singing, acting and dancing lessons from the agency.

2)    SM originally wanted to place her in the girl group Girls Generation but she decided to pursue acting instead of singing.

She modeled successfully for a few years then earned some small roles. She won praise for her work in "Millionaire" and "M" but her acting in the drama "East of Eden" drew criticism.

"The unwelcome comments made me feel so embarrassed," she said.

She was also criticized for the way she played a police detective in "Phantom" and admitted then that she needed to upgrade acting skills.

"I understand that there are a lot of inadequacies," she said when criticized for her work on that drama. "I'm working hard to improve."

Fortunately her hard work paid off and she is enjoying new success with her acting efforts.

3) Meanwhile, she also became a popular figure in music videos, appearing in more than a dozen videos, including videos by TVQX, Moon Heejun, Shinwha and Kangta. She was also featured in Super Junior's third album.

4)    Actress Natalie Portman is her idol.

"When I was younger, I watched Natalie Portman in 'Leon' and thought, 'I want to be like her.' She is my idol," said Lee Yeon Hee. "She's an actress I want to take after in all aspects of acting."

5)    Lee Yeon Hee a talented amateur photographer. While appearing in the drama "Paradise Ranch," she exhibited a collection of her photographs at Olympus Hall in Seoul. The exhibit was called Time.

"Pictures capture exactly one moment in time," said Lee.

 The photographs were auctioned off after the show with the proceeds to be donated to a charity for the disabled.

Her favorite photographs capture candid moments.

"Even if the focus is not quite right or the picture is blurry, the picture itself is beautiful for what it is."