Lee Chang-dong
After graduating with a degree in Education from Sungkyunkwan University, Moon So-ri became part of the theater group "Hangang" ("Han River") from 1995 to 1997, and debuted in the play "Classroom Idea" (she also collaborated in its creation). She appeared in plays and short films such as "Black Cut" and "To the Spring Mountain" before finding fame as a leading actress. Her first film role was in Lee Chang-dong's acclaimed "Peppermint Candy", however her acting skills were not really showcased until she appeared in her second film "Oasis", also by Lee Chang-dong. Her powerful portrayal of a woman with cerebral palsy earned her strong praise as well as the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Emerging Actor or Actress at the 2002 Venice Film Festival (Moon is only the second Korean to win a prize there, after Kang Soo-yeon in 1985 for "The Surrogate Woman"). She was also named Best Actress at the 2003 Seattle International Film Festival.