Clara Lee (; born 14 January 1985), birth name Lee Sung-min () and better known by her mononym Clara, is a British and South Korean actress and model.
Early life Clara was born January 14, 1985 in Bern to Korean parents. Her father is Lee Seung-kyu, a member of the bilingual band Koreana. She spent part of her childhood in South Korea. Clara's mother reportedly encouraged her to pursue a career in acting. At the age of 14, she relocated to California, United States, to learn English, where she lived for six years separate from her parents. She later earned an associate degree in Fashion Design from El Camino College.
Career 2005–2015: Debut and early projects Clara made her entertainment debut under her birth name in 2005 and starred in her first film in 2009, Five Senses of Eros. In January 2012, she adopted Clara as her stage name, which was announced at a press conference for the drama series, Take Care of Us, Captain. Reasons given for the name change included that her birth name, Sung-min, was "male-sounding" and that her English name had always been Clara.
In May 2013, Clara became an overnight sensation online after throwing a ceremonial first pitch in a professional baseball game dressed in form-fitting leggings. She has since been hailed as an up-and-coming star and a sex symbol. In September 2013, Clara drew criticism from South Korean netizens for apparently contradicting herself on television by saying she liked to eat chicken and drink beer in one program and stating the contrary in another. Consequently, she closed down her Twitter and Facebook accounts. Afterwards, she again played supporting roles in the television series Goddess of Marriage (2013) and Emergency Couple (2014), followed by a leading role in the sex comedy film Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies (2015).
In December 2014, she filed a lawsuit against her agency Polaris Entertainment to nullify her contract on the grounds of being sexually harassed by its president Lee Kyu-tae; Polaris denied those allegations and countered that Clara had been blackmailing the agency to end her contract which is due to expire in 2018. In July 2015, prosecutors cleared Clara of the blackmail allegations and indicted Lee for making threats against her that implied physical violence.
On 18 September 2015 Clara dropped her suit against Polaris Entertainment, bringing their legal battle to an end.
2016–present: Expansion into the Chinese entertainment industry
After 2015, Clara shifted her focus toward the Chinese film industry, where she gained increasing recognition. She starred in the romantic comedy Some Like It Hot (2016), which was a major box-office success in China. Clara subsequently appeared in several other Chinese-language films, including the action thriller Bodies at Rest (2019) and the science fiction blockbuster The Wandering Earth 2 (2023).
In 2024, Clara was awarded with the Best Actress in Asian Film, and Outstanding Actress in Asian Film awards at the Asia International Film Festival (AIFF) for her work in Chinese-language productions.
Personal life In January 2019, she announced her marriage to a Korean-American businessman. The couple divorced in August 2025.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role 2009 Five Senses of Eros Lee Yoon-jung (segment "Believe in the Moment") 2013 Ask This of Rikyu Joseon noblewoman 2015 Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies Oh Nan-hee 2016 Line Walker Assassin Some Like It Hot Yoyo2017The Jade Pendant Peony 2018 Fat Buddies Chinese immigrant's wife Love Illusion Killing Mobile Webcam model 2019 Bodies at Rest Ankie Cheng Shenzhen Love Jump Out of Primitive Tribe Space Intellectual Run AmuckAK Queen 2021 Kill the Monster Big Red Envelope Ellie Empathic Master Double Patty Foreign journalist Detective Chinatown 3 Photo-taking girl Some Like It Hot 2 2023 The Wandering Earth 2 Space-elevator attackerThe Man's Secret2025Never a Thief
Television series Year Title Network Role 2006 Invisible Man, Choi Jang-sooKBS2 Cha Hye-jin 2006–2007 High Kick!MBC Kim Yoon-joo (ep.64)2009 Hilarious Housewives Lee Sung-min Creating Destiny Shin Jin-hee 2010 Happiness in the WindKBS1 Choi Mi-ran 2011 Baby Faced BeautyKBS2 Chae Seul-ah2012 Take Care of Us, CaptainSBS Hong Mi-joo Tasty Life Min Young-woo2013 Goddess of Marriage Cynthia Jung Reckless Family 3MBC Every 1 Clara Park Love For Ten - Generation of YouthMobile drama Kim Yang2014 Emergency CoupletvN Han Ah-reum You Are My DestinyMBC Hye-jin (ep.1)America's Next Top ModelThe CWHerself (season 21 ep.14) 2016 EntouragetvN Herself (ep.2) 2017 Strong Girl Bong-soonJTBC Lee Bong-soon/Dental Hygienist (ep.16) MeloholicOCN Yun Kyung-ae 2018 Happiness ChocolateMango TV The City of ChaosiQIYI Zheng Mengqi 2020 Detective Chinatown beauty in S1E9
Variety show Year Title Network Notes Saturday Night Live Korea - Season 4tvN Cast (episode 20-38) Fashion King Korea - Season 2SBS Cast The Taming of the Shrew 2JTBC2
Music video Year Song title Artist2007 "Same Pillow"Tei "Love Song"2009 "Empty Bet" Kim Joon "Toy" Moon Hee-joon2010 "Nothing to Lose" Juno "Shout to the World"December "Dazzling Tears" "오고있나요"2013 "Joah" Jay Park "Invitation" House Rulez2014 "Gwiyomi Song 2" Clara "Fear" Clara ft. Yasu2017 "Hitchhiking"Clara "I Am Clara" (Chinese ver of Hitchhiking)
Clara Lee at hkmdb.com
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2004 1st Foce Digital Ulzzang Photo Contest 2013 Men's Health Cool Guy Contest Vital Woman Award 6th Style Icon Awards Chevrolet Find New Star Award 6th Korea Drama Awards Hot Star Award Goddess of Marriage
References
External links