Actor Choi Banyah has smashed Hollywood’s glass ceiling.
Choi was recently cast in back-to-back projects at major U.S. platforms, securing a milestone opportunity after more than a decade of overseas work.
Following her appearance in Apple TV+’s flagship sci-fi series "For All Mankind" Season 5, which premiered on March 27, Choi is now in New York filming the Peacock/A24 co-produced drama "Superfakes." Landing significant roles in two major U.S. platform series in a single year is a rare feat for a Korean actor.
Choi first drew global attention with Apple TV+’s acclaimed sci-fi drama "For All Mankind" Season 5. The series has earned raves from critics and viewers alike, including a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Choi joins the cast this season.
She plays Nam Moon-young, the wife of North Korean astronaut Lee Jung-gil (portrayed by C.S. Lee). From the early episodes, Choi delivers tightly wound, emotional performances that leave a strong impression. Season 5 launched on March 27, with new episodes dropping every Friday.
The international critical response has been enthusiastic. One reviewer wrote, “From the start of Episode 2, Choi Banyah delivers an explosive emotional performance―she absolutely nails it,” praising how she embodies grief, despair, and fear. The farewell scene with C.S. Lee also drew acclaim: “Their goodbye exchange wrecked me.”
Choi has also joined the psychological drama "Superfakes," co-produced by A24 and UCP.
The series is led by Emmy-winning writer Alice Ju as showrunner, with Hollywood star Lucy Liu starring and producing―fueling high expectations from the jump. Set against the tense undercurrents of New York’s Chinatown, Choi is set to deliver nuanced work in a substantial supporting role.
A Yonsei University Architecture graduate, Choi made a distinctive debut as the screenwriter of the 2001 film "I Wish I Had a Wife." She later transitioned to acting, bringing bold color to roles in "Untold Scandal" and "Love Talk."
She has long invested in international work, internalizing Hollywood-style training under renowned acting coach Ivana Chubbuck and building her craft through countless auditions and on-set experience.
Her management company Stage Bridge (STB), which has offices in New York and Seoul, stated, “Choi Banyah is an actor who combines a writer’s eye for story structure with the flexibility to thrive within Hollywood’s production system.” They added, “These consecutive castings aren’t just luck; they’re an objective acknowledgment by the Hollywood casting system of her intelligence and acting prowess, both essential in the global market.”
Reflecting on the achievement, Choi said, “Every pain and lesson in an actor’s life becomes ammunition for performance―bullets, so to speak.” She added, “Korean shooters rank No. 1 in the world. Now that my bullets are finally firing, I want to hit every mark and carry that momentum to the next project. I hope to connect more deeply with more people through acting.”
Meanwhile, "For All Mankind" Season 5 is releasing new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+, and the Lucy Liu-led "Superfakes" is currently filming in New York with a release planned for next year.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
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