Quynh Kool in the role of Thuong in the new TV series "Steps into Life" is being reacted to on social media platforms.
In the role of the eldest sister in a poor family with many burdens, having to struggle to raise younger siblings early, but Quynh Kool always puts on careful makeup, dark lipstick, and elaborate eyelashes. The image and costumes of the actress were reacted to by the audience. Many viewers said that Quynh Kool's gorgeous and elaborate makeup was not suitable for the family situation, setting and character's personality.
Before Quynh Kool, the story of many Vietnamese actors being "afraid of being ugly", not giving their all in shaping the character or being unprofessional when refusing to act in kissing scenes has caused many controversies on film forums.
In many works, despite playing poor and hard-working roles, having to struggle with many manual labor jobs, the actors still have "flowery faces and powdered skin", elaborate makeup, fingernails - working hands but still smooth, nail polish... when on screen.
On forums, audiences have asked questions about whether "Vietnamese actors are afraid of being ugly" when transforming into characters who need to sacrifice their image.
In 2008, the movie "Ugly Girl" Vietnamized from the original movie "Yo soy Betty, la fea" of Colombia was released and caused a fever. In the movie, actress Ngoc Hiep plays Huyen Dieu - a girl who is ugly in appearance but talented deep down. Huyen Dieu's image once received a shower of praise from the audience, helping actress Ngoc Hiep create a unique mark. For many years after that, Ngoc Hiep was still called "Ugly Girl" by the audience.
To date, nearly 20 years have passed, and television dramas have hardly created an impressive "ugly" character image enough to replace them. The trend of Vietnamese television dramas and even movies is still to create beautiful female leads.
To name the "ugly" female leads who have made a special impression on the audience, after many decades, Vietnamese films probably still only have Huyen Dieu and... Thi No (cinema "Vu Dai Village in Those Days").
Meanwhile, world cinema and television have created "classic ugly" roles, even shocking audiences through the spectacular transformations of famous beauties.
Charlize Theron is one of Hollywood's most famous beauties with captivating beauty, but she won an Oscar for a shockingly ugly role in the movie "Monster". To play the serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Charlize Theron gained weight, wore dentures, used contact lenses and applied wrinkled, sunburned skin makeup... Charlize Theron's image created a shock to moviegoers, helping her transform excellently, and turned the Aileen role into a historical milestone in her career.
In Asia, beauty Mac Van Uy was also once likened to Chau Tinh Tri's "victim" when playing a "bad, painful, and ugly" role in the movie "God of Food".
Many Korean dramas also build impressive "ugly" characters, causing a storm when they air, including the role of Lady Lim in "Taxi Driver 2".
The diversity and richness of shaping, fate, and ways of building characters on screen will bring colorfulness, diversity, and excitement to Vietnamese films. Especially at a time when we are expecting the cultural industry, film industry, and television industry.
Being willing to make a bad impression, throwing yourself into the character is also a way for actors to show professionalism, wholeheartedly with the role.
