Pom Klementieff Biography
Audiences first met the unforgettable Mantis when she joined the Guardians of the Galaxy team in 2017's sequel. Actress Pom Klementieff brought to life a lonely yet empathetic heroine with an otherworldly appearance, desperately trying to connect with those around her.Over the next five years, she reprised Mantis five more times, catapulting herself to international stardom. She also seamlessly jumped from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to another blockbuster franchise, landing a role in "Mission: Impossible 7".

Early Years
Pom Klementieff was born in Quebec, Canada on May 3, 1986. Her father, Alexis Klementieff, was half French, half Russian, while her mother, Pak Yu Ri, was Korean. The couple already had a son when Pom arrived.Her parents chose the name Pom because it echoed two Korean words – 'tiger' and 'spring'.

In 1991, cancer took Pom's father. With her mother battling schizophrenia and unable to care for the children, Pom went to live with her aunt and uncle.Pom KlementieffWhen I was a little girl, I got used to meeting people, knowing that by the end of the year we would part forever, so I have a kind of gypsy soul. I certainly consider myself a citizen of the world.
But tragedy wasn't finished with the future actress yet. In 2004, right after she turned 18, her uncle died. At her aunt's insistence, Pom enrolled in law school, but the creative young woman felt no pull toward the profession. The girl worked part-time as a shop assistant and a waitress.My mother is schizophrenic. I would love to be brave enough to learn more about it. I try to understand her, I try to be positive about it. She can be so absent and tired by her medication; sometimes she's so lucid, funny, and smart.

First Roles
Pom made her film debut in 2007, landing a part in the independent movie "After Him". Klementieff played the stepdaughter of Catherine Deneuve's character. The young actress spent just three days on set. During one scene where she was supposed to push a man down the stairs, she accidentally fell herself. The director kept this scene in the final cut. Deneuve praised Pom's performance.Two years later, Klementieff landed her first leading role in the movie "Wolf". The filming took place in Eastern Siberia. The actress called working on the film an incredible experience - she befriended local nomads, played with trained wolves and even swam with a horse in a lake. "I learned to ride reindeer, drive a reindeer sled, cook reindeer meat and sew pants from reindeer skin," she said.



Career Breakthrough
In 2013, Pom broke through to worldwide fame with Spike Lee's film "Oldboy". The movie was a remake of a South Korean film. Klementieff was cast as the bodyguard of the main villain, appearing on screen with a distinctive yellow umbrella.
Following "Oldboy's" success, Pom relocated from France to the US to pursue more auditions. In 2015, she landed a role in the thriller "Hacker's Game". Her character was similar to Lisbeth Salander from the book "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".

Marvel Cinematic Universe and Other Roles in Hollywood
In 2017, Pom Klementieff entered the Marvel universe with "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2". Klementieff played Mantis, a being with beetle-like eyes and antennae who could sense and manipulate others' emotions. Pom had always been open about her love for Marvel comics and movies, so joining the cinematic universe was a dream come true. "She was completely isolated, living alone, and interacting with people was totally new to her," Pom explained about her character.




Personal Life of Pom Klementieff
Klementieff keeps her personal relationships under wraps. She's never been spotted with boyfriends on red carpets or sparked dating rumors through social media posts.In 2011, there were rumors about her romance with French director Nicolas Bedos. When Pom joined the Marvel Universe, fans began speculating about a possible romance with Star-Lord himself, Chris Pratt. The timing seemed suspicious since Pratt filed for divorce from his wife Anna Faris. But it turned out Klementieff wasn't involved in her co-star's marriage breakdown – Pratt had actually fallen for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Pom Klementieff Now
Pom reprised her role as Mantis in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," which hit theaters in May 2023. The film earned rave reviews and ranked among the year's biggest box office hits.

Interesting Facts
- Pom actually created her character's name for "Oldboy" herself. Haeng-bok means "happiness" in Korean.
- "Oldboy" sparked Pom's interest in martial arts. She earned a purple belt in taekwondo in 2014.