# Na Moon-hee

Na Moon-hee (Korean: 나문희; Na Kyung-ja, Korean: 나경자; 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), My Name is Kim Sam-soon, My Rosy Life, Goodbye Solo, Amnok River Flows (based on Der Yalu fließt), and It's Me, Grandma. On the big screen, Na has received acclaim for her roles in Crying Fist, You Are My Sunshine, Cruel Winter Blues 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.
After a series of comic roles in sitcoms such as Unstoppable High Kick!, the veteran actress garnered newfound popularity and played the title character in big screen comedy Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K, followed by starring roles in Girl Scout, Harmony, Twilight Gangsters, and Miss Granny.
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from MBC in 2010, and the prestigious Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2012.

## Early life

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.

## Career

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

## Personal life

Na is married and has three daughters.

## Filmography
### Film

| 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 |
| 2002 | Saving My Hubby | | |
| 2003 | Please Teach Me English | Moon-soo's mother | |
| 2004 | S Diary | Ji-ni's mother | |
| 2004 | Lovely Rivals | Yeo Mi-ok's mother | |
| 2005 | Crying Fist | Sang-hwan's grandma | |
| 2005 | 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 |
| 2007 | May 18 | Na Joo-daek | |
| 2007 | Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K | Kwon Soon-boon | |
| 2008 | Girl Scout | Lee Yi-man | |
| 2010 | Harmony | Kim Moon-ok | |
| 2010 | 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 | |
| 2020 | Pawn | Seungi, grandmother (special appearance) | |
| 2022 | My Perfect Roommate | Geum-bun | |
| 2022 | Hero | Cho Maria | |
| 2024 | Picnic | Eun-shim | |

### Television series

| Year | English | Korean | Network | Role | Note |
| 1969 | Weird Kid | 이상한 아이 | MBC | | |
| 1970 | Waterwheel | 물레방아 | MBC | | |
| 1973 | In-laws | 시댁 | MBC | | |
| 1975 | Hello | 안녕 | MBC | | |
| 1975 | One's Way Home | 귀로 | MBC | | |
| 1976–1977 | Girls' High School Days | 여고 동창생 | MBC | Bong Ran-yi | |
| 1977 | One Star or One | 별 하나 나 하나 | MBC | | Children's drama |
| 1977 | Correspondent 001 | 특파원 001 | MBC | | Children's drama |
| 1977 | Arirang Oh! | 아리랑 아! | MBC | Full-time wife | |
| 1977 | Until the Red Gold is Opened | 빨간 능금이 열릴때까지 | MBC | | |
| 1977 | I Regret | 후회합니다 | MBC | In-sook | |
| 1978 | The Master | 주인 | MBC | | |
| 1978 | X Search Party | X 수색대 | MBC | | Children's drama |
| 1979 | White Dandelion | 하얀 민들레 | MBC | | |
| 1979 | Mom, I Like Dad | 엄마, 아빠 좋아 | MBC | | |
| 1979 | Ms. Anguk-dong | 안국동 아씨 | MBC | | |
| 1980 | Power Diary | 전원일기 | MBC | Multiple roles | A minor role |
| 1980 | Hundred Years Guest | 백년손님 | MBC | | |
| 1981 | Jang Hee-bin | 장희빈 | MBC | Queen Myeongseong | Big dramas |
| 1981 | Hello | 안녕하세요 | MBC | | |
| 1982 | Market People | 시장 사람들 | MBC | | |
| 1982 | Can't Forget | 못 잊어 | MBC | | |
| 1983 | The Stars are My Stars | 저 별은 나의 별 | MBC | | |
| 1984–1985 | Love and Truth | 사랑과 진실 | MBC | Mrs. President | |
| 1985 | The Seaside Village | 갯마을 | MBC | | |
| 1986 | First Love | 첫사랑 | MBC | | |
| 1986 | Raw Hand | 생인손 | MBC | Yeon-ju | The special play of the two-part 8.15 |
| 1987 | Firebird | 불새 | MBC | | |
| 1987 | Life Story | 인생화보 | MBC | | |
| 1988 | Three Women | 세 여인 | MBC | | |
| 1989 | Making Memories | 추억 만들기 | MBC | | |
| 1989 | Miscarriage | 유산 | MBC | Mrs.Oh | |
| 1989 | Second Republic | 제2공화국 | MBC | Kwon Chan -ju | |
| 1990 | Dangchu-dong People | 당추동 사람들 | KBS2 | | |
| 1990 | Two Diaries | 두 권의 일기 | MBC | Principal teacher | |
| 1990 | Weird Family Weird School | 별난가족 별난학교 | MBC | | Children's drama |
| 1990 | My Mother | 나의 어머니 | MBC | | |
| 1991 | Another's Happiness | 또 하나의 행복 | MBC | | |
| 1991 | City People | 도시인 | MBC | | |
| 1993 | On Foot to the Sky | 걸어서 하늘까지 | MBC | Yeon-su Mo | |
| 1993 | Hope | 희망 | KBS2 | | |
| 1993 | Dear Guitars | 친애하는 기타 여러분 | SBS | suwondaeg | |
| 1993 | MBC Best Theater: "Sundal, Byeong-gu and Okju-yang" | MBC 베스트극장: 순달씨와 병구씨와 옥주양 | MBC | Ms. oh | One-act play |
| 1993 | One Roof Family | 한지붕 세가족 | MBC | An aunt | |
| 1994 | The Moon of Seoul | 서울의 달 | MBC | Grandma of the owner's house in Dal-dong | |
| 1995 | New Year's Special Drama: "Relationship is" | 인연이란 | KBS2 | Mrs. So | One-act play |
| 1995 | Changsha Special Drama: "Chanshangdanja" | 창사특집극 - 찬품단자 | MBC | choegosang-gung | One-act play |
| 1995–1996 | Even if the Wind Blows | 바람은 불어도 | KBS1 | grandmother | |
| 1996 | MBC Best Theatre: "Mom and the Gardenia" | MBC 베스트극장: 엄마와 치자꽃 | MBC | Ha Yi-sun | One-act play |
| 1996 | Thief | 도둑 | SBS | The priest's sister-in-law | |
| 1996 | Mom's Flag | 엄마의 깃발 | SBS | Jeongsuk Mo | |
| 1996 | Open Your Heart | 가슴을 열어라 | MBC | Ha Yi-sun | |
| 1996 | The Most Beautiful Goodbye | 세상에서 가장 아름다운 이별 | MBC | Mama | One-act play |
| 1996–1997 | Im Kkeok-jung | 임꺽정 | SBS | 봉단 모 | |
| 1997 | Brothers | 형제 | KBS1 | 병천댁 | One-act play |
| 1997 | Because I Love You | 사랑하니까 | SBS | 장모 | |
| 1997 | The Reason I Live | 내가 사는 이유 | MBC | Kim Sook-ja | |
| 1998 | As We Live Our Lives | 살다보면 | KBS1 | Lee Gan-nan | |
| 1998 | Three Men and Three Women | 남자 셋 여자 셋 | MBC | Kim Yong-Rim's high school alumni | Special appearance |
| 1998 | Romance | 로맨스 | SBS | 강 여사 | |
| 1999 | House Above the Waves | 파도위의 집 | SBS | | |
| 1999 | Beautiful Secret | 아름다운 비밀 | KBS2 | 유민 모 | One-act play |
| 1999 | Last War | 마지막 전쟁 | MBC | | |
| 1999 | Did We Really Love? | 우리가 정말 사랑했을까 | MBC | Sin Sin-ja | |
| | You Don't Know My Mind | 남의 속도 모르고 | MBC | Na Do-ja | |
| 2000 | Mr. Duke | 신 귀공자 | MBC | | |
| 2000 | Mom and Sister | 엄마야 누나야 | MBC | 서씨 | |
| 2001 | MBC Best Theater: "My Fiancee's Story" | MBC 베스트극장: 내 약혼녀 이야기 | MBC | | One-act play |
| 2001 | Tender Hearts | 우리가 남인가요 | KBS1 | Ohbunhee | |
| 2001–2002 | The Merchant | 상도 | | | |
| 2002 | The Woman | 상도 | MBC | 임상옥 모, 한씨 | |
| 2002 | You Are My World | 그 여자 사람잡네 | SBS | Bong Soon | |
| 2002 | Drama City: "A Very Special Gift" | 드라마시티: 아주 특별한 선물 | KBS2 | A grandmother | One-act play |
| 2002–2003 | The Maengs' Golden Era | 맹가네 전성시대 | MBC | 금자 모 | |
| 2003 | While You Were Dreaming | 그대 아직도 꿈꾸고 있는가 | MBC | Mrs. Hwang | |
| 2003–2004 | Apgujeong House | 압구정 종갓집 | SBS | Na Moon-hee | |
| 2004 | Love is All Around | 물꽃마을 사람들 | MBC | Shin Young-ja | |
| 2004 | Dog Bowl | 설날특집극 - 개밥그릇 | SBS | Oksoon | |
| 2004 | People of the Water Flower Village | 사랑을 할거야 | MBC | 윤 여사 | |
| 2004 | Changsa Special Drama: "We Become Water" | 창사특집극: 우리가 물이 되어 | MBC | Insoon | |
| 2004–2005 | Precious Family | 부모님전상서 | KBS2 | 창수 모 | |
| 2006 | My Lovely Sam Soon | 내 이름은 김삼순 | MBC | Na Hyun-sook | |
| 2006 | My Rosy Life | 장밋빛 인생 | KBS2 | Kang-tip-soon | |
| 2006 | Goodbye Solo | 굿바이 솔로 | KBS2 | Grandma Miyoung | |
| 2006 | Famous Chil Princesses | 소문난 칠공주 | KBS2 | Namdal-gu | |
| 2006 | High Kick! | 거침없이 하이킥! | MBC | Na Moon-hee | |
| 2007 | Several Questions That Make Us Happy | 우리를 행복하게 하는 몇 가지 질문]] | KBS2 | | |
| 2007 | Woman of Matchless Beauty, Park Jung-geum | 천하일색 박정금 | | Yoon Myung-ja | |
| 2007 | Worlds Within | 그들이 사는 세상 | KBS2 | Geomo | |
| 2007 | Amnok River Flows | 압록강은 흐른다 | SBS | Mireuk Mo | |
| 2007–2008 | Kimcheed Radish Cubes | 깍두기 | MBC | 나달래 | |
| 2008–2009 | My Precious You | 내 사랑 금지옥엽 | KBS2 | Mrs. Song In-soon | |
| 2010 | Happiness in the Wind | 바람불어 좋은 날 | KBS1 | 나끝순 | |
| 2010 | MBC Best Theater: "It's Me, Grandma' | MBC 일요 드라마 극장: 나야, 할머니 | MBC | Jiyoon's grandmother | A one-act play |
| 2011 | I Believe in Love | 사랑을 믿어요 | KBS2 | 차귀남 | |
| 2011–2012 | Padam Padam | 빠담빠담… 그와 그녀의 심장박동소리 | JTBC | Yang Kang Chil Mo | |
| 2012 | Five Fingers | 다섯 손가락 | SBS | Minbanwol | |
| 2012 | The Sons | 아들녀석들 | MBC | Jung Jung-sook | |
| 2012 | Mom is Acting Up | 엄마가 뭐길래 | MBC | Na Moon-hee | |
| 2013 | Wang's Family | 왕가네 식구들 | KBS2 | Ahn G-shim | |
| 2014 | Glorious Day | 기분 좋은 날 | SBS | Lee Sun-ok | |
| 2015 | The Three Witches | 마녀의 성 | SBS | Cheon Geum-ok | |
| 2016 | Dear My Friends | 디어 마이 프렌즈 | tvN | Moon Jung-ah | |
| 2016 | Father, I'll Take Care of You | 아버님 제가 모실게요 | MBC | Hwang Mi-ok | |
| 2017 | Rain or Shine | 그냥 사랑하는 사이 | JTBC | Drug staker grandma | |
| 2021 | Navillera | 나빌레라 | tvN | Haenam | |
| 2021 | Taxi Driver | 모범택시 | SBS | |
| 2024 | I Am Home | 아임홈 | | Hong Jeong-hee | |

### Web series

Web series appearance :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2024 | When Life Gives You Tangerines | 폭싹 속았수다 | Grandma | Netflix Series | |

### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2022 | Attack on Grandma | Host | The production is in full pre-air. |
| 2022 | Hot Singers | Cast Member | |
| 2022–present | One Round of the Neighborhood | Narrator | Season 2 |

## Theater

List of Stage Play(s) :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1965 | Look Homeward, Angel | 천사여 고향을 돌아보라 | | National Theater of Korea (Myeongdong) | Nov 30–Dec 3 | |
| 1992 | Family on the road | 길떠나는 가족 | | Batangol Small Theater in Seoul | July 1–August | |
| 1992 | Family on the road | 길떠나는 가족 | | Grand Theater of the Cultural Arts Center, Hyundai | October 1 to 6 | |
| 1996 | Mother | 어머니 | Thelma | Grand Theater of Dongsoong Art Center | May 18 to June 23 | |
| 1998 | Sinpaguk The Unfilial Man Cries | 신파극 불효자는 웁니다 | | Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul | January 10 18 | |
| 2008 | 'night, Mother | 잘자요, 엄마 | Thelma | Wonder Space Square Theater | November 2–29 | |
| 2015 | 'night, Mother | 잘자요 엄마 | Thelma | Art One Theater | July 3–August 30 | |

## Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations :
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1973 | 9th Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popularity Award (Theater) | — | Won |
| 1976 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Radio Performance | — | Won |
| 1983 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress | The Stars Are My Stars | Won |
| 1995 | KBS Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Even if the Wind Blows | Won |
| 1996 | 32nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actress | Even if the Wind Blows | Won |
| 1996 | 23rd Korea Broadcasting Awards | Best Actress | Talent | Won |
| 2002 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a One-Act Special | You Are My World | Won |
| 2005 | 42nd Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Crying Fist | Won |
| 2005 | 4th Korean Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Crying Fist | Nominated |
| 2005 | 4th Korean Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | You Are My Sunshine | Nominated |
| 2005 | 6th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | You Are My Sunshine | Won |
| 2005 | 13th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actress | You Are My Sunshine | Nominated |
| 2005 | 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | You Are My Sunshine | Nominated |
| 2006 | 43rd Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | You Are My Sunshine | Nominated |
| 2006 | 2006 KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Goodbye Solo, Famous Princesses | Nominated |
| 2006 | 7th Women in Film Korea Awards | Best Actress | Cruel Winter Blues | Won |
| 2007 | 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress | Cruel Winter Blues | Nominated |
| 2007 | 4th Max Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Cruel Winter Blues | Won |
| 2007 | 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Cruel Winter Blues | Won |
| 2007 | 1st Korea Movie Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | May 18 | Won |
| 2007 | MBC Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Comedy/Sitcom | Unstoppable High Kick! | Won |
| 2008 | 2nd Korea Drama Awards | Achievement Award | — | Nominated |
| 2010 | 31st Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Harmony | Nominated |
| 2010 | 2010 MBC Drama Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | It's Me, Grandma | Won |
| 2011 | 6th Seoul International Drama Awards | Best Actress | It's Me, Grandma | Won |
| 2012 | Bo-gwan Order of Cultural Merit | — | — | Recipient |
| 2014 | 14th Korea World Youth Film Festival | Favorite Actress - Senior Actress | — | Won |
| 2015 | 10th Max Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Miss Granny | Won |
| 2017 | 18th Women in Film Korea Awards | Woman in Film of the Year | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | 6th Korea Film Actors Association Awards | Top Star Awards | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Popular Star Award | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | 11th Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Nominated |
| 2017 | 1st The Seoul Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | 37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | 17th Director's Cut Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | 4th Korean Film Producers Association Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2017 | Cine 21 Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2018 | 9th KOFRA Film Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2018 | 55th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2018 | 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Nominated |
| 2018 | 27th Buil Film Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Nominated |
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress | I Can Speak | Won |
| 2022 | 30th Korea Culture Entertainment Awards | Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards | Na Moon-hee | Won |
| 2023 | 32nd Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hero | Nominated |
| 2023 | 59th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hero | Nominated |

### State honors

List of State Honour(s) :
| State | Award Ceremony | Year | Honor | Ref. |
| South Korea | Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards | 2012 | Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (3rd class) | |

### Listicle

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | List | Placement | Ref. |
| KBS | 2023 | The 50 people who made KBS shine | 28th | |