When it comes to talent mixed with versatility, Go Ara shouldn’t be missing on the list. Her Kdrama resume is not a one-way genre or trope. Over the years, she has successfully slayed historical dramas to modern ones. Born on Feb 11, 1990, the 35-year-old actress has successfully built an epic career in Kdrama.

From being a bright-eyed college student to a ghost seer and a court’s honorable judge, she killed every role she played, and who are we to argue? She’s the judge after all, so all power belongs to her.

If you’re into K-dramas, chances are you’ve seen at least one of Go Ara’s works. She’s one of those actresses who can take on anything and make it work. Her works speak for her. Let’s take a quick look into her most iconic roles that have graced our screens.

Reply 1994 (2013) – The Drama That Made Her a Star

This drama was a national sensation, and Go Ara’s role as Sung Na Jung was a major reason why it became unforgettable for fans even to date. She played the role of a loud, passionate college student obsessed with sports and her childhood friend by her side. She successfully made audiences laugh, cry, and debate endlessly over "Trash" versus "Chilbong" in one of K-drama’s most legendary love triangles. What a legendary queen!

Hwarang (2016)

How do you make an entire village of boys fall in love with you? Well, we might need Go Ara to give us the recipe for her stew because they all ate her love and left no crumbs! She claimed the title of legendary queen once again when she got two royal brothers at loggerheads over a space in her heart. In this drama, she played Ah Ro and made everyone go “Ah” indeed. She also served as a bridge for connecting both worlds without clashes.  

Black (2017)

In this supernatural drama, she played Kang Ha Ram, a woman who can see shadows of death; what a stressful talent. Go Ara proved she wasn’t just about romantic comedies and that she could pull off dark and suspenseful roles too. The sizzling chemistry she had with Song Seung Heon was the cherry on top! A cheesecake we all devoured.

Miss Hammurabi (2018)

If you like strong female leads, this drama is perfect for you. She played Park Cha Oh Reum, a rookie judge who challenges the status quo with her fiery determination and sharp mind. Although she was a pain in the neck for her fellow judges, she still managed to body her smart and sassy side well. She was in control of her courtroom and delivered a refreshing performance throughout all episodes. This, of course, showed a different side of her acting skills because she was extremely mature, bold, and confident compared to other roles.

The Scandal of Chunhwa

Her new drama is a historical romance in which she plays a princess choosing her own husband. It sounds like a mix of royal elegance and bold independence. She excels at this kind of role, and fans are already hyped to see her back after a while.

Go Ara doesn’t just act for the fun of it; she takes her roles seriously. For Miss Hammurabi, she actually studied real court cases to understand her character better. Despite playing tough roles, Go Ara has mentioned that she’s easily moved to tears – what a softie.

She’s not the type to be all over social media, but when she appears on screen, she makes sure you remember her. Whether she’s playing a rebellious princess, a fearless judge, or a girl next door with a heart of gold, her name will forever be in our memories as one of the best in the industry.

With The Scandal of Chunhwa coming up, it looks like we’re about to see another iconic performance. So, if you haven’t yet, go ahead and binge-watch her best dramas.