Lee E-dam

Lee E-dam
Lee in July 2025
Born
Baek Hye-won

(1996-05-20) May 20, 1996 (age 30)
South Korea
OccupationActress
Years active2017–present
AgentGhost Studio
Korean name
Hangul
백혜원
RRBaek Hyewon
MRPaek Hyewŏn
Stage name
Hangul
이이담
RRI Idam
MRI Idam
Websiteghoststudio.net/ko/artists

Baek Hye-won (Korean: 백혜원; born May 20, 1996), better known by the stage name Lee E-dam (이이담), is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her role as psychiatric nurse Min Deul-re in the Netflix original series Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023), for which she earned a nomination for Best New Actress at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards. Later, she received another Best New Actress nomination at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards for her performance in the TVING and tvN series The Queen Who Crowns (2025).

Lee began her career in short films, making her debut in Hur Jin-ho's Two Lights: Relumino (2017). In 2019, she starred in the short film The Tale of Mari and Yimae, which was nominated for Best Student Fantasy Short Film at the 2020 IndieX Film Festival. She made her television debut in the fourth season of the crime thriller Voice (2021), followed by her first main role in the cable series Artificial City (2021).

Early life

Born as Baek Hye-won on May 20, 1996, Lee E-dam discovered her passion for acting in high school. Watching Princess Hours made her curious about acting, and she joined a theater club at Seomun Girls' High School [ko]. While practicing with friends using the same script and performing on stage, Lee was inspired by her peers, which led her to seriously pursue acting as a career.

Career

2017–2019: Beginning

After graduating high school, Lee pursued acting by auditioning for small roles. She decided to use a stage name instead of her real name. She wanted a more memorable and gender-neutral name. After considering several options, she settled on Lee E-dam. In 2017, despite initially failing an audition, she eventually starred in director Hur Jin-ho's short film Two Lights: Relumino after a recommendation from someone she met during the audition process.

In 2019, Lee landed a lead role in Won Ji-ho's short film The Tale of Mari and Yimae, which was selected for the Best Student Fantasy Short Film category at the IndieX Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA in May 2020. In 2021, the film was selected as a finalist for the Korean Short Film Competition at the 25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. In the film, Lee played Mari, a character who experiences oppression from her father. Lee's performance in this role demonstrated her exceptional ability to convey a wide range of emotions, showcasing her talent as an actress and earning her critical acclaim.

2020–2021: Breakthrough roles

CEO Choi Myung-gyu from Studio Santa Claus Entertainment discovered Lee after seeing her on a poster for an independent film and signed her to an exclusive contract. In February 2021, she was officially promoted as a rookie actress under the agency. Lee made her television debut in June 2021 in Season 4 of the Crime Drama Voice. The fourth season was premiered on June 18, 2021, and it aired on every Friday and Saturday until July 31, 2021. This marked Lee's television debut. She was praised for her acting performance in the series.

Prior to her television debut in March 2021, Lee secured her first lead role in the thriller drama Artificial City after a successful audition. Directed by Jeon Chang-geun, Artificial City premiered on JTBC on December 8, 2021, and aired every Wednesday and Thursday. The series also stars Soo Ae, Kim Mi-sook, Kim Kang-woo and Lee Hak-joo. Lee acted as Kim Yi-seol, a docent at 'Space Jin,' the Sungjin Group art museum run by Yoon Jae-hee (played by Soo Ae) and received positive feedback for her performance in the series, showcasing her ability to portray the character's complex emotions with mature acting.

2022–present: Streaming series roles

In 2022, following a reorganization at Studio Santa Claus Entertainment, Lee followed CEO Choi Myung-gyu to his newly established agency, Ghost Studio [ko]. In the following year Lee appeared in two Netflix original series. In the dystopian action drama Black Knight (2023), she portrayed "4-1," a delivery driver fighting for social equality. Her performance was noted for its physical agility and skill in sequences involving hand-to-hand combat, firearms, and wire work. Critics highlighted her portrayal of a loyal subordinate to 5-8 (Kim Woo-bin) and her role as a mentor to the character April, noting that these dynamics added depth to her performance.

Lee subsequently starred in the medical drama Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023), alongside Park Bo-young, Yeon Woo-jin, Jang Dong-yoon and Lee Jung-eun. Directed by Lee Jae-kyoo and based on the Kakao webtoon of the same Korean title by former nurse Lee Ra-ha, the series premiered on Netflix on November 3, 2023. Lee played Min Deul-re, a nurse in the psychiatry department at Myungshin University Hospital. Her performance received critical acclaim and earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.

In 2025, Lee portrayed Chae-ryeong, a royal servant who becomes the king's consort, in the series The Queen Who Crowns. The drama depicts the life of Queen Wongyeong (Cha Joo-young) and her rise to power alongside King Taejong Yi Bang-won (Lee Hyun-wook). The series aired on TVING and tvN from January 6 to February 11, 2025. Her performance earned a nomination for Best New Actress at the 2025 Blue Dragon Series Awards.

In 2026, Lee appeared in three Netflix original productions. Her first project of the year, the romantic comedy series Can This Love Be Translated?, premiered on January 16. Written by the Hong sisters and directed by Yoo Young-eun, the series features Lee as Shin Ji-seon, a talented producer and the director of a dating reality show titled Romantic Trip. Her character is also depicted as the first love of the protagonist, Joo Ho-jin (portrayed by Kim Seon-ho). Lee was confirmed for the role in June 2024, and principal photography took place from June 2024 to February 2025.

Lee subsequently starred in the thriller The Art of Sarah, which was released on February 13, 2026. She played Kim Mi-jeong, a worker in an illicit factory specializing in high-end counterfeits who is revealed to be the designer behind the Boudoir brand products. This was followed by the Netflix film Pavane on February 20, 2026, where Lee portrayed the character Se-ra.

Endorsements

In 2023, Lee and actor Lee Soo-hyuk were appointed as the primary models for the gender-neutral clothing brand Comgen. In May 2024, she became a muse for the body care brand De-mi-flor.

Personal life

Lee is a cinephile who enjoys watching films at late-night theaters and driving alone.

Filmography

Film

Acting credits in film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Two Lights: Relumino [ko] Sun-mi Short film
2019 The Tale of Mari and Yimae Ma-ri
2020 Beasts Clawing at Straws Daughter Bit part
2026 Pavane Se-ra Netflix film

Television series

Key
† Denotes television productions that have not yet been released
Acting credits in television series
Year Title Role Note(s) Ref.
2021 Voice 4 Lisa Jo (Jo Seung-ah)
2021–2022 Artificial City Kim Yi-seol
2023 Black Knight 4–1
Daily Dose of Sunshine Min Deul-re
2025 The Queen Who Crowns Chae-ryeong
2026 Can This Love Be Translated? Shin Ji-seon
The Art of Sarah Kim Mi-jeong
Happy Anding † Go Eun-young

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee Result Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards 2024 Best New Actress – Television Daily Dose of Sunshine Nominated
2026 Best Supporting Actress – Television The Art of Sarah Nominated
Blue Dragon Series Awards 2025 Best New Actress The Queen Who Crowns Nominated
Global OTT Awards 2026 Best Supporting Actress The Art of Sarah Nominated

Listicle

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Cine21 2023 Rising Star Actress Placed

References

  1. 1 2 Ryu, Hyun-kyung, ed. (April 7, 2022). 이이담의 무수한 시작 [Lee E-dam's Countless Beginnings]. The Singles (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Cine21 2023 Rising Star Interview
  3. ↑ Hwang, So-young (February 18, 2022). [인터뷰] '공작도시' 통해 발견한 원석 '이이담' [[Interview] Lee Yi-dam, the raw gem discovered through 'Artificial City']. JTBC News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  4. 1 2 스튜디오 산타클로스 이이담부터 이원정, 꽃길 예약 신인 5人 공개. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ [SC인터뷰] "수애 선배와 '멜로'였죠"..이이담, '이매몽'→'공작도시' 발견한 신예(종합). The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). February 20, 2022. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ '美영화제 주목' 원지호 감독, '이매몽'으로 BIFAN 韓단편공모 최종 선정. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). July 9, 2021. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  7. ↑ LUCKY FEVER / 이이담. Allure Korea (in Korean (South Korea)). December 26, 2023. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  8. ↑ 5개 연예기획사 수장들이 '대놓고 키우는 라이징스타'. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024 – via Nate News.
  9. ↑ 이이담, '공작도시' 이어 '보이스4' 출연 확정. Edaily (in Korean). June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ Kim, Bo-ra (June 19, 2021). '보이스4' 이이담, 브라운관 사로잡은 신예. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  11. ↑ 김, 지영. 신예 이이담, '공작도시' 주연 발탁...수애와 호흡(공식). 조이뉴스24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  12. ↑ Hwang, Hye-jin (November 3, 2021). '공작도시' 수애X김강우 대본리딩 포착, 제작진 탄성 자아낸 호흡 ['Peacock City' Suae X Kim Kang-woo script reading capture, the production team's resilience breathing]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021 – via Naver.
  13. ↑ Lee, Min-ji (March 29, 2021). '공작도시' 수애→김강우, 첫촬영 완료 "현장 열기 뜨거워" ['Duke City' Soo-ae → Kim Kang-woo, first filming completed "The field is hot"]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021 – via Naver.
  14. ↑ 5개 연예기획사 수장들이 '대놓고 키우는 라이징스타'. 스포츠동아 (in Korean). December 31, 2021. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  15. ↑ [인터뷰]이이담 "'공작도시' 속 수애와 관계, 우정보다 사랑". 뉴스컬처 (NEWSCULTURE) (in Korean). February 23, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  16. ↑ 산타클로스 엔터, 매니지먼트 손 뗀다...주원·수애 등 소속 배우 대거 이적. The Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). November 1, 2022. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  17. ↑ 주원·수애·김옥빈·이다희, 신생 고스트 스튜디오로 이적...의리 동행. 케이스타뉴스 (in Korean). November 1, 2022. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ 주원·김옥빈·김성오→류경수·차주영 '고스트' 식구들, 따뜻한'새해 인사'. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). January 22, 2023. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  19. ↑ '4-1' 누구야? '택배기사' 이이담, 전세계가 주목한 신예. 뉴스컬처 (NEWSCULTURE) (in Korean). May 18, 2023. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  20. ↑ Lee, Jae-lim (July 21, 2022). "Lee JQ to direct upcoming Netflix original 'Daily Dose of Sunshine'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023 – via Naver.
  21. ↑ Lee, Si-jin (October 6, 2023). "Netflix to release 'Daily Dose of Sunshine' in November". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  22. ↑ Park, Jeong-sun (January 17, 2023). '경성크리처'부터 '퀸메이커'까지...2023 넷플릭스 韓 라인업 [From 'Kyungsung Creature' to 'Queen Maker'... 2023 Netflix Korea Lineup]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023 – via Naver.
  23. ↑ Kang, Min-kyung (October 5, 2023). [공식] 박보영→장동윤 '정신병동에도 아침이 와요', 11월 3일 공개 확정 [[Official] Park Bo-young → Jang Dong-yoon 'Morning Comes Even in the Psychiatric Ward', confirmed to be released on November 3]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023 – via Naver.
  24. ↑ 조, 수민 (November 27, 2023). [정신병동에도 아침이 와요]에서 발견한 얼굴 3. GQ korea (in Korean (South Korea)). Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  25. ↑ Star News Korea 2023 Interview:
  26. 1 2 Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024). 60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024 – via Naver.
  27. 1 2 Moon, Ji-yeon (June 27, 2025). [공식] '폭싹 속았수다'·'SNL코리아' 최다노미..제4회 청룡시리즈어워즈 후보 경쟁 시작됐다 [4th Blue Dragon Series Awards Nominee Competition Begins]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
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  29. ↑ Park, Hyun-min (January 25, 2026). 김선호·고윤정만 있나? '이사통' 흥행으로 재발견된 배우들 | 하퍼스 바자 코리아 [Is it just Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung? Actors rediscovered thanks to the success of 'Can This Love Be Translated?']. Harper's Bazaar Korea (in Korean (South Korea)). Archived from the original on April 3, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  30. ↑ Ahn, Ji-young (June 28, 2024). 이이담, 넷플릭스 '이 사랑 통역 되나요?' 주연 발탁...프로듀서役 [Lee Yi-dam, Netflix 'Can this love be translated?' Main character selection... Producer role]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  31. ↑
  32. 1 2 Jeon, Seung-min (February 14, 2026). 이이담 "넷플릭스 레이디두아 오픈"...모니터 속 촬영 현장 공개 [Lee Yi-dam: "The Art of Sarah Opens on Netflix"...Filming Behind the Scenes Revealed]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  33. 1 2 Seo, Jun-hyeok (February 21, 2026). 이이담 "안녕 나는 세라"…넷플릭스 파반느 근황 공개 [Lee Yi-dam reveals her current status with Netflix's Pavane: "Hello, I'm Sarah."]. Topstarnews (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 21, 2026. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  34. ↑ Nam, Seon-woo (March 13, 2026). [인터뷰] 진짜가 되고 싶어, <이 사랑 통역 되나요?> <레이디 두아> <파반느> 배우 이이담 [[Interview] Aspiring to Be the Real Deal: Actor Lee Yi-dam of "Can This Love Be Interpreted?," "The Art of Sarah," and "Pavane"]. Cine21 (in Korean (South Korea)). Archived from the original on March 14, 2026. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
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