Clara Lee

Quick Facts: Who was Clara Lee?

Subject:

Clara Lee

Known for:

British/South Korean actress and model known for her versatile roles in Asian cinema.

Born:

1986-01-15

Century / Era:

1986s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Clara Lee (Korean: 클라라 리; born 14 January 1985), birth name Lee Sung-min (이성민) and better known by her mononym Clara, is a British and South Korean actress and model. 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.

Career & Major Achievements

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. 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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1985: 1985 Milestone — Clara Lee (Korean: 클라라 리; born 14 January 1985), birth name Lee Sung-min (이성민) and better known by her mononym Clara, is a British and South Korean actress and model.
2. 1986 (1986-01-15): Birth of Clara Lee — British/South Korean actress and model known for her versatile roles in Asian cinema.
3. 2005: 2005 Milestone — Clara made her entertainment debut under her birth name in 2005 and starred in her first film in 2009, Five Senses of Eros.
4. 2012: 2012 Milestone — 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.
5. 2013: 2013 Milestone — 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.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Clara Lee

True or False: “Clara Lee's initial career focus after moving to California was solely on English language acquisition.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While she moved to California to learn English, she also earned an associate degree in Fashion Design from El Camino College.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Clara Lee