Let's start the conversation with the question, what are your expectations for 2026?
- 2026 will be a year with many important milestones, a stage where I lay the foundation for many jobs that I cherish. I am preparing for a journey with many challenges and pressures, but I am very excited about the upcoming journey.
You started working as a model when you were very young, then switched to acting, directing, producing... Looking back at the journey you have gone through, what is the most satisfying thing for you, and the greatest value you have achieved?
- In 2025, I celebrated 30 years of artistic activity. At the age of 16, I entered cinema like a dream after winning first prize in the Elegant Female Student contest of Hanoi city. Immediately, I became famous, received thousands of letters to get acquainted with people and was interviewed, invited to take photos, and be on magazine covers. I started practicing fashion shows and caught the eye of directors. In my high school and university years, I acted in many movies.
Many people say that "Candles in the Night" is my debut film, but in fact it is the 18th film I have participated in. Thanks to the role of Truc, after decades, the audience still remembers and calls me by that name. Gradually, I went from being an actor to a producer and recently tried my hand at the role of director.
After 30 years, what I have "won" most is experience, being able to try my hand at many different roles, learning and growing up through each project. I have also met many teachers, seniors and become more mature.
With cinema, when switching to production work, you have had controversial films, and did not achieve the expected revenue success. What lessons have been learned from those projects, for you?
- I think there are many factors that affect film revenue. Many films are highly appreciated for their expertise, but if the media process and release time are not favorable, they cannot achieve good revenue. That is not only a disadvantage for the producers and those who participate in the film, but also a disadvantage for the audience when they cannot enjoy quality works.
I also learned a big lesson when I realized that after investing in making films, we still have to think about how to distribute them. Quality films but not knowing how to distribute them will also not be able to reach the audience.
Have you ever asked about whether your views and perspectives on art and filmmaking have not reached the majority of audiences?
Each project that comes to me is fate, I have my own reasons. My films do not follow the mass tastes. I always look for new things. There are films that I determine will face reactions from public opinion, will be picky about audiences, will be suitable for different audiences. Therefore, I am not too shocked or surprised by the results because I knew it before choosing to make that genre of film. I am satisfied with my choice.
On the other hand, I try my best to do my role in the project. I don't compare myself with this person or that person because each film will have its own destiny, its own audience and its own form of expression. Each film will have the director's own color, I don't want to mix it with others and compare myself with anyone. That is my professional thinking.
In recent years, the Vietnamese film market has had prominent names, such as Tran Thanh, who always has films with high revenue. How do you see when there are directors who have created a "power" in the Vietnamese film market?
- Tran Thanh is a younger brother that I admire very much. I think Tran Thanh is a very good person, not only when producing movies but from before until now, when Tran Thanh was MC, comedian and now director, screenwriter... he has always been good.
Tran Thanh also has a strong fan base. To be fair, audiences praise and criticize Tran Thanh's films, but Tran Thanh's skills have improved a lot through each film.
For me, Tran Thanh is a talented director, and success came to Thanh is understandable because Tran Thanh has gathered the necessary things of a talented artist.
I believe that Tran Thanh will be even more successful, a person who is always creative and seeks to change.
Always praised for beauty, happy married life..., are you a woman who has everything?
- I feel lucky to have a happy family, especially a husband who is always understanding and supportive. My family always supports all my decisions. In work, I encounter many difficulties and hardships.
But I believe that there is only one time to live, so I want to live meaningfully, create good values. I am happy to do what I like. I am satisfied with what I have, but also understand that life cannot predict anything.
I belong to the traditional type of woman. My husband is my first love. I am always grateful for our meeting, always grateful to my man. Family is always a solid support for me.
Especially, I really love traditional Tet. Because Tet is an occasion when I am very happy to meet my extended family again, after a year of hardship and busyness. My family, many people live in the South and North, including members living abroad. Tet is an important time, because we are reunited and reunited.
The first and most difficult thing I do during Tet is to divide the schedule to go out to eat, meet and wish Tet to relatives and both sides of the family. Just that alone is already very busy. After a year, both husband and wife are vất vả, the family can meet, go out to play... is a rare opportunity.
During Tet days, I leave all work behind, spend all my time for my family. For me, Tet is always the most precious moment I cherish.
