“Queen Seon Deok” child star then and now: upgraded visuals, acting skills are no joke

The girl who plays the young self of Queen Seon Deok in the drama of the same name has grown up to be a talented and gorgeous actress. 

Born in 1995, Nam Ji Hyun has been acting since she was only 9 years old. Her appearance may have not stood out as much as some other child actresses of the same generation, but Nam Ji Hyun was noticed for her convincing acting skills. During the first 4 years of her career, Nam Ji Hyun took part in many works, even had the opportunity to star as one of the leads. However, it was not until her excellent performance in the hit East of Eden (2008) that she caught the eye of the audience. In the following year, by playing the young self of the female lead in Queen Seon Deok, Nam Ji Hyun captured the hearts of many viewers.

Queen Seon Deok Nam Ji Hyun
Queen Seon Deok Nam Ji Hyun
Nam Ji Hyun in Queen Seon Deok
Queen Seon Deok Nam Ji Hyun
Her visuals were not as outstanding as some other child stars of the same time, but Nam Ji Hyun’s acting in Queen Seon Deok is impressive

After Queen Seon Deok, Nam Ji Hyun continued to work hard to develop her career. Her bright, expressive eyes and emotional acting are highly appreciated by the audience. The more she matures, the prettier and more elegant Nam Ji Hyun looks, which helps her draw more attention from the public. 

In 2016, she had her first leading role (as an adult actress) in the successful romcom Suspicious Partner alongside Ji Chang Wook. In 2018, she co-starred with EXO’s D.O in 100 Days My Prince, one of the highest rated dramas on cable TV. Most recently, she took on the female lead role next to senior Song Ji Hyo in the dark fantasy series The Witch’s Diner. Although she has yet to become a top actress in the industry, Nam Ji Hyun is a rare name that has successfully moved past the image of a child star and achieved much success with her acting career as a grownup. 

Queen Seon Deok Nam Ji Hyun