“Asian Actress” – Vietnamese Talent Shines Globally
After two initial films, 2 in 1 (2006) and Chuyển tình Sài Gòn (2006), actress Ngo Thanh Van rose to prominence with her leading role in Dòng Máu Anh Hùng (2007), alongside Johnny Trí Nguyễn. To prepare for the project, she trained for several months and performed many challenging action scenes herself. Subsequently, Ngo Thanh Van also appeared in two notable action films, Bẫy Rồng (2009) and Lửa Phật (2013).
From then on, she became closely associated with the title “Asian Actress” in Vietnamese cinema. Notably, Dòng Máu Anh Hùng left a strong impression on director Charlie Nguyễn. When Charlie became the producer for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016), Ngo Thanh Van had the opportunity to “go international” as she portrayed the character Mantis and had many action scenes alongside the main character played by Donnie Yen.
Ngo Thanh Van in the blockbuster “Star Wars”
In 2017, Ngo Thanh Van continued to contribute to two Hollywood blockbusters: Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Bright. In the eighth installment of the Star Wars franchise, she played the role of Paige Tico, the sister of Rose Tico (Kelly Marie). In Bright, she portrayed a character named Tien, an elven assassin opposite the character Leilah (Noomi Rapace).
Another Hollywood blockbuster featuring Ngo Thanh Van was Da 5 Bloods (2020), alongside the late actor Chadwick Boseman. She played the role of Hanoi Hannah (or Trịnh Thị Ngân) – a famous radio announcer in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Additionally, she portrayed Quỳnh, one of the captives alongside Andy played by Charlize Theron. Ngo Thanh Van also collaborated with Lê Văn Kiệt in The Princess (2021), following the success of Hai Phượng (2019).
Ngo Thanh Van shares the frame with Charlize Theron
Coming up, the “Asian Actress” from Tra Vinh will be appearing as Kami in The Creator. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film is set in a near-future scenario where war rages between A.I. and humanity, with Asia being a central battleground. Kami is a robot on the journey of Joshua (John David Washington) and “the killing machine” Alfie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles). The film features many stunning scenes shot in the mountainous regions of Vietnam.
Bringing Vietnamese Culture to the World
In reality, Vietnamese actors have very few opportunities to perform on the international stage, especially in Hollywood. During the promotional campaign for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Ngo Thanh Van once shared: “When casting for Asian roles, they often prioritize those who are of Asian descent and have lived and worked for many years abroad, often from countries with strong international markets like China, South Korea, and Japan. Therefore, opportunities for Vietnamese actors to thrive in this market are becoming rarer.”
However, overcoming barriers, “the sister” remains a name recognized by many directors for Asian action roles on the big screen. Nevertheless, she continues to seek ways to promote Vietnamese culture to the international stage. In the original script of The Old Guard, Noriko was a Japanese character, but Ngo Thanh Van’s version was transformed into Quỳnh from Vietnam.
The characters she played in “Bright” and “The Princess” were also consistently named Tiên and Linh in Vietnamese. Notably, audiences will easily recognize the Vietnamese dialogue of Kami in the upcoming The Creator.
Ngo Thanh Van in The Creator
Ngo Thanh Van shares: “Whenever I participate in any Hollywood project, I always bring the Vietnamese essence to the character. If the character is Vietnamese, I often add distinct Vietnamese traits into the dialogue. I believe that when given the opportunity to appear in an international project, I always want to create an impression that lets everyone know I am Vietnamese. The Vietnamese lines in The Creator were also added by me.”
She also mentioned that she discussed many details regarding the setting and Vietnamese language with director Gareth Edwards: “Gareth is a very talented director, and he is creative, allowing actors the freedom to portray their characters. Working with Gareth, I felt very comfortable, and we had discussions to contribute and share about the settings and dialogues in Vietnamese. Gareth allowed me complete freedom to creatively express the lines for my character Kami.”
Having previously collaborated with Donnie Yen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Ngo Thanh Van believes that the Oscar-winning director has opened doors for many international actors, and the key work is “The Creator”: “I think Donnie Yen’s role with the Oscar-winning director has created a spotlight for actors from all over the world, not just for Asian actors. Because it highlights the uniqueness of all actors from different countries where English is not the primary language. This has been clearly demonstrated in The Creator, and I find it evident that it has opened up more opportunities for international actors. It is also a chance to showcase more colors globally.”
Notably, the line “Let anyone call me a has-been” from Donnie Yen is a significant motivation for Ngo Thanh Van in her career. The actress stated: “This line resonates with me deeply. It also implies a sense of responsibility, ambition, and the willingness to strive towards high achievements like Donnie Yen. Because in acting, there is no definite age or limit. The most important thing is that you must truly have talent, determination, and perseverance; at any age, you can shine.”
