Blackpink’s Jisoo to Receive Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at Canneseries

Jisoo of the global K-pop phenomenon Blackpink is set to be honored with the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at the upcoming Canneseries festival in Cannes, running from April 23 to 28. The award, which recognizes an emerging talent who has evolved into a major industry force, will be conferred during the opening ceremony on April 23. She follows in the footsteps of previous honorees like actresses Sydney Sweeney, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Phoebe Dynevor.

Artistic director Albin Lewi highlighted Jisoo's unique qualifications for the accolade, pointing to her artistic growth, worldwide popularity, and proven capacity to excel in new creative fields. He described the ceremony as a potential highlight of the festival calendar. This accolade from a prestigious European institution underscores the widening international influence of Korean artists beyond the music sphere, a shift that cultural analysts have observed for some time. Canneseries, though a younger festival founded in 2018, has rapidly established itself as a premier venue for high-quality television, lending its awards considerable weight for performers aiming for global recognition.

Jisoo's path to this recognition began with her 2016 debut in Blackpink, a group that has broken numerous records and become one of the world's best-selling girl groups. Alongside her group activities, she has cultivated a massive solo fanbase, boasting over 80 million Instagram followers, which places her among South Korea's most-followed personalities online. She has simultaneously built a strategic acting career, expanding her artistic range and connecting with new audiences.

Her pivotal acting role came as the lead in the 2021 drama "Snowdrop," which attracted a huge international audience despite facing some controversy. She later featured in the 2023 film "Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman" before landing significant roles in the upcoming 2025 film "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" and the series "Newtopia." Her most recent venture is the Netflix series "Boyfriend on Demand," where she plays Seo Mi-rae; its premiere on March 6 has further cemented her standing as a dedicated dramatic actress. As media analyst Clara Shin noted, "Jisoo's selection of varied and complex projects after 'Snowdrop' demonstrates a strategic move to avoid being pigeonholed and to establish a long-term acting profile, a decision that award juries are increasingly acknowledging."

This expanding body of work has already garnered award recognition. Her previous honors include Best New Actress at the 2nd DDU Awards, Best Actress in a Series at the Brazil Acervo Awards, the Hallyu Drama Actress Award, and the Asian Star Award in the International Category at the Seoul International Drama Awards. The Canneseries award therefore acts as a major international validation of her successful transition from pop icon to respected actress, signaling a new phase in her diverse professional journey. This trend of K-pop idols moving into acclaimed acting roles, as seen with peers like Bae Suzy and Im Yoon-ah, reflects a broader industry evolution where performance skills are being leveraged across multiple entertainment mediums.