Actress Lee Na Young is returning to film for the first time in seven years, taking on a demanding dual role in the short film "Baby Doe." The project marks her first appearance since the 2018 feature "Beautiful Days," drawing significant anticipation from the Korean film industry for her newest transformation.
Per AllKpop, Lee portrays both a criminal mastermind behind a child disappearance case and the detective assigned to find the organization of which she is the mastermind. The film is her initial foray into playing dual roles in the same project, indicating an exceptionally bold change in her acting trajectory.
"Baby Doe," about children who have had their names taken from them and have been rendered invisible, before subsequently transitioning into identity, the notion of being nameless, and erasure. It highlights the struggle of a figure like Shepherd—an activist working against the system—against the realization of none of that will have meaning in the pursuit of Jin Yi, a detective who is entirely constrained by the institutional realities they inhabit.
The film explores how polarized lives, representing entirely different versions of the same individual, are shaped by their environments.
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According to WikiTree, Lee Na Young approached the twin roles with marked emotional variance: the Shepherd character is colder in its defiance, while Jin Yi wrestles with moral tension and ambiguity. The film is structured in such a way that Lee can explore two poles of psychological experience, raising much discussion on how this can reboot her career.
Director Cho Hee Soo addressed the casting choice: 'I was looking for an actor who could freely cross the boundary between two characters. When Lee Na Young said during our first meeting, 'Make me the face of someone without an identity,' I knew she was the only person who could lead this film." Cho added, "Lee dismantled the boundary between Shepherd and Jin Yi completely, digging into the core of both characters.."
Lee said, "I've always had a deep interest in short and independent films. As soon as I read the script, I knew I wanted to do it. Even though it's been a while since I've returned to the screen, the process was meaningful and enjoyable as an actor."
"Baby Doe" was selected for the 2025 Creative Talent Development Project and is expected to enter major film festivals in 2026. A philosophical sci-fi noir, it has earned early praise for its depth of narrative despite its short format.
Lee, who married the actor Won Bin in 2015 and also shares a son, continued working across dramas, films, and shorts while balancing family life. With "Baby Doe," she marks a powerful and deliberate return to the screen—one hinting at a renewed artistic chapter rather than a simple comeback.
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