With the role of Tan Chi Loi in the film The Sun Rises On Us All, after 14 years, China has had another actress win the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival.
Tan Chi Loi made history by becoming the third Chinese to win this award after Cung Loi ( film "Thu Cuc di an applause") and Diep Duc Nhan ( film "Dao Ty" 2011).
Holding the prestigious trophy, Tan Chi Loi emotionally shared: A few years ago, when I first started my career, I showed off my confidence and wished to stand on a world-class stage and become an international superstar. At that time, many people mocked him. But today the dream came true".
Tan Chi Loi was born in 1986, in a poor family in a rural area of Heilongjiang Province (China). As the eldest sister, she has taken care of her younger siblings since their parents were away from work.
After that, Tan Chi Loi majored in fashion design at university. But her father suddenly became paralyzed, making the family even more miserable. Tan Chi Loi had to stop studying and do many part-time jobs to make ends meet.
In 2007, she entered the entertainment industry when she was discovered by a company and signed a contract. But it was not until 2011 that she had her first small role in the film Hoa Bi.
Due to limited company resources, she struggled with supporting roles for many years, with a very low income. Tan Chi Loi once confided that there were times when she was kicked out of the film crew, she wanted to give up acting, just lying on the road crying.
But after that, Tan Chi Loi still persevered, she attended training courses of the Central Academy of Drama to practice her acting skills.
In the movie "Bunshinsaba 2" (2013), Tan Chi Loi endured the cold below 0 degrees Celsius and a high fever for 3 consecutive days, determined not to use a stunt double when filming sensational scenes.
"At that time, even a full meal was a luxury, but as long as I could act, it was worth it," the actress confided.
In 2016, she had her first turning point when she played the main role in the movie Truong Giang Do. To complete the role, Tan Chi Loi wade barefoot into the cold water on a snow-white winter day, broken glass stuck to her feet, but still persevered until the end.
The work was shortlisted for the main prize at the Berlin Film Festival. Although it did not win, the film made the film industry start to miss Tan Chi Loi.
A year later, Tan Chi Loi became more known thanks to Tu Xuan Dao 2. However, she was suddenly involved in a scandal because her statement was considered too arrogant, showing her famous reputation in a variety show.
Fortunately, in 2018, Tan Chi Loi had a breakthrough with the role of Gia Gia Phuong Chi Kim Ngoc Nghien in the famous Thai drama "Nhu Y Truyen".
But after this work, Tan Chi Loi's career somewhat stagnated. The actress was even heavily mocked for uncontrolled weight gain. Once, she helplessly told fans to switch to admire others because she was no longer a good example.
In 2020, when the movie "Prosperity" introduced its actors, Tan Chi Loi was called by the audience as "the ugliest female lead in Vuong Gia Ve movie", unable to compare with the stars Truong Man Ngoc, Lam Thanh Ha, Vuong Phi, Chuong Tu Di...
But 3 years later (2023), when "Prosperity" was released, Tan Chi Loi completely conquered the audience with the role of a proud, noble Shanghai woman.
Tan Chi Loi herself must admit that the role of Ly Ly in "Prosperity" is her most beautiful image in her life.
To reach the top with The Sun Rises On Us All at the Venice Film Festival, Tan Chi Loi also went through a difficult filming process. At the time the film started filming, she was busy filming for another variety show.
There were times when Tan Chi Loi worked continuously for 20 hours on set, completing a scene late at night and then hastily returning early in the morning. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep while standing.
In the end, all the efforts over the past 18 years have been rewarded. The media believes that Tan Chi Loi's victory has reshaped the situation of the 8X generation of actresses in China.
