I first saw NANA as a member of the utterly cute, highly colorful and honest to goodness earworm inducing girl group Orange Caramel. Just like millions of people who have watched them, my eyes and attention was caught by the lovely Nana.
Though I followed her career as a Korean Pop Idol, I began to admire her more with her television commercials and modeling career. I asked myself how can one person portrayed such different characters and communicate messages just by her eyes and smile.
People began to finally give her more important as an actress when she began winning acting awards. As a long term fan, I am finally happy that the time has finally come for her to really shine and be her own self through her acting projects. So, here are the things you didn’t know about Nana, the leading actress in the television series Oh! Master.
EARLY LIFE
Nana was born Im Jin-ah on September 14, 1991 in Cheongju, South Korea. She is the only child. She obtained her high school degree from the Cheongju Ochang High School. For her higher education, she also pursued her studies at the Seoul Institute of the Arts.
We can safely say that Nana has it all. in front of the camera, she is a supermodel and had participated at the 2009 Asia Pacific supermodel contest. Behind the camera, she is a professional makeup artist and is actually a member of the Makeup Artist Association.
CAREER BEGINNINGS
Nana started in the entertainment industry when she as a third generation member of the South Korean girl group After School under Pledis Entertainment in 2009. The following year she with other after school members such as Raina and Lizzy were included in a girl group subunit called Orange Caramel.
Her associated acts included being a member of another subunit of after school which is the A.S. Red with different members this time in 2011. The same year, she was chosen to model for the Tokyo Girls Collection fashion show. Her modeling stints became continuously active simultaneously with her Kpop career.
BREAKTHROUGH
Only a few years after her debut, she gained global recognition when she bagged a spot at the Independent Critics List Of 100 Most Beautiful Faces Of 2013. For the next two years in 2014 in 2015, she remained in the number one position.
What could be considered as her acting breakthrough in the television drama is when she won the first Asia Artist Awards in 2016 for The Best Rookie Award For An Actress for her incredible portrayal of her character in the show The Good Wife. She continuously won awards for popularity.
ACTING PORTFOLIO
NANA became a household name for her role in the TVN television series The Good Wife, playing the role of Kim Dan. Three years after her first acting award, she was yet again recognized at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards and was given the Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries for her role in Justice.
Nana also receive two awards for her role in the television series Memorials. She received the Excellence Award Actress in a Miniseries and the Best Couple Award opposite Park Sung Hoon at the 2020 KBS drama awards.
RECENT PROJECTS
Nana currently plays the character Oh Joo In, the popular actress who can’t love in the romantic comedy television series Oh, Master. As the lead actress, her character is a famous actress who always stars in romantic comedy projects but in reality is terrible with her own romantic relationships. She works opposite with the veteran actor Lee Min-Ki.
Are you somewhat surprised on how versatile Nana is? She can sing, she can dance, she can model, she can do professional level makeup, and of course she can act. to say that she is a lot of people’s girl crush is an understatement. How to be you po?
