Squid Game actor Lee Jung Jae effortlessly used his charms and supremacy to make it to the New York Times' list of Breakout Stars of 2021.
The growing demand for Korean dramas and movies around the globe opened new doors for actors and actresses in the country, including Lee Jung Jae. Just like anybody else, the actor had a breakthrough series on top of all the flicks he made as an artist in the TV and film industry.
But with the arrival of Squid Game, Lee Jung Jae's career catapulted that he received several nods and nominations from different award giving bodies locally and internationally. Most recently, the actor impressed everyone by making it onto the exclusive list created by the New York Times.
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Lee Jung Jae Made It To New York Times' Breakout Stars of 2021 List
This month, the multi-awarded American daily newspaper dropped its list of the Breakout Stars of 2021. Under the TV section, Lee Jung Jae's name appeared and officially brought home more glory.
The New York Times noted that the actor became a global streaming sensation after playing the series' main role. For what it's worth, the South Korean star played the role of the protagonist, Seong Gi Hun, in the show. The character is a gambling addict who joins Squid Game to pay off his debt and win back his family.
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Before making it to the list, Lee Jung Jae told the New York Times that his character's emotions are complicated. Still, he nailed the role that helped him reap the fruit of his hard work.
Aside from Lee Jung Jae, another Korean also scored a spot on the list – classical musician Eun Sun Kim. She became the first female music director of a major opera company in the US, San Francisco Opera. The title also made her the first Asian to get the appointment.
More Awards For Lee Jung Jae
Like Squid Game, Lee Jung Jae has also garnered several nominations and international awards.
Most recently, he was nominated at the Gotham Awards 2021, where the series won Breakthrough Series in Long Format award. The 49-year-old also competes against Mike Colter, Sterling K. Brown, Brian Cox, and Jeremy Strong for Critics Choice Awards 2022's Best Actor category.
He, the series, and O Yeong Su also grabbed nods at the Golden Globes. Squid Game currently faces Lupin, The Morning Show, Pose, and Succession for the Best Television Series, Drama. Lee Jung Jae and his co-star, meanwhile, are up to possibly win the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role on Television, respectively.
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