7 K-dramas where IU completely stole the show with her versatility!

IU is not just one of Korea’s biggest K-pop idols, she’s also an actor par excellence and these K-dramas are proof!

Every time IU comes on-screen she makes us forget that she is a singer or a celebrated public figure because that’s how much she gets into the skin of the character. Her recent performance as Ae-Sun and Geum-Myeong in When Life Gives You Tangerines had the entire K-drama world in tears and she's truly set a benchmark for what one should expect from an actor. Throughout her filmography, she has been drawn towards complex female characters who highlight that life isn’t all black and white. Right from Dream High where she took charge of her dreams to her critically acclaimed role in Hotel Del Luna where she managed a mysterious hotel, she hasn't failed to serve us complex characters we fell in love with. One can simply never get tired of watching her on-screen given that she always seems to amaze us with her command over the screen! 

Also Read: Nam Joo-Hyuk: one actor, infinite characters and a quintessential leading man in all his glory!

Here's proof!

Kim Pil-Suk - Dream High

IU made her debut as an actress in Dream High. She played a young girl named Pil-Suk, who much like her real life self, has a beautiful voice and sky high dreams. Her transformation from a shy, insecure student to a confident performer helped her make a name for herself as a promising newcomer in the K-drama world.

Hae-Soo - Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

In Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, IU played Hae-soo, a modern-day woman who time travels back to the Goryeo Dynasty after a near-drowning accident. She obviously feels out of place but does not let the unexplainable time travel dim her personality. When she is thrust into a world of royal politics and power struggles, she finds herself entangled with two royal princes. How she finds a way through heartbreaking rivalries and a tragic forbidden romance is what makes her stand out in the show. 

Lee Ji-An - My Mister

IU delivered a stellar performance as Lee Ji-an, a young woman burdened by hardship and emotional trauma. Crippled by financial debt and the responsibility of taking care of her ailing grandmother, Ji-an is barely surviving. IU’s portrayal of resilience and vulnerability resonated deeply with audiences, earning her much-deserved praise for this one!

Jang Man-Wol - Hotel Del Luna

Jang Man-Wol is probably one of her most iconic roles. When the new era of Hallyu wave hit the world, Hotel Del Luna was one of the first few K-dramas that made it to every K-drama lover’s list. She blends her elegance as a hotel manager with perfect comic timing for a hotel that has a lot of wandering spirits around it. She’s in an enemies to lovers situation with one of her colleagues which eventually melts her tough exterior. It is one of her most fun K-dramas and a good introduction to what she brings to the table!

Lee So-Min - Dream

IU, alongside K-drama heartthrob, Park Seo-Joon, plays a documentary filmmaker in this heartwarming sports drama. It’s about how the two team up to coach a group of misfits to become ace soccer players. In the drama, her character is an absolute go-getter and motivates everyone around her to go achieve their dreams no matter what. By the end of it, she leaves you with a lot to think about!

Ae-Sun and Geum-Myeong - When Life Gives You Tangerines

IU hits it out of the park with not just one but two characters who are generations apart in the same K-drama. In part 1 of When Life Gives You Tangerines she plays the younger version of Ae-Sun. As Ae-Sun, she wants to break free from the poverty that she has grown up in and eventually wants to have a life in the big city. But life happens and so her path takes another direction. At a young age, she becomes a mother of three but she carries that role with a lot of grace and vulnerability. 

In the latter half of the drama she plays Ae-Sun’s daughter Geum-Myeong. As Geum-Myeong, she is a lot more confident and sassy. She knows her standards and isn’t ready to budge on that for anyone or anything. She refuses to succumb to her family problems and keeps her head in the game. 

Even though both of these roles are played by the same person, the range is so poles apart that IU actually manages to convince you that they are two different people. Her conviction to her characters in this one is truly unparalleled!

Happy birthday IU! Thank you for making us fall in love with K-dramas everyday!

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