Recognition after "40 years of not giving up"
The Chinese-born Malaysian actress has been a big star in Asia for decades, especially during the golden age of Hong Kong (China) action cinema.
Duong Tu Quynh has acted in dozens of famous films such as "Yes Madam", "police Story 3", "Supercop"... She performed dangerous and bold actions herself, even Thanh Long had to admire her. In fact, Duong Tu Quynh was once the highest paid actress in the history of Hong Kong cinema in the early 90s.
Becoming a "Bond girl" paired with Pierce Brosnan's James Bond in the movie " Tomorrow never Dies" in 1997, Duong Tu Quynh's name began to become famous in the US, when the phrase "Asian actress" was still a strange thing in Hollywood.
Subsequent works such as "Scarlet of a Dragon", "Memories of a Geisha", "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor", "The Son of the Super-rich of Asia" continued to help Duong Tu Quynh's reputation spread globally.
But there is a paradox that Yang Zi Qiang has never been recognized by important academic awards. The rare award she received was the Golden Eagle Award for Supporting Female Members of Hong Kong Cinema in 1997.
While his colleagues at the same time such as Cung Loi, Lam Thanh Ha, and Truong Man Ngoc have won countless prestigious domestic and international film awards. Even juniors like Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Jin have become "The Golden Eagle Queen" at the peak of their youth.
When receiving the Best Actress award for Golden award for the first time in a Golden award, Yang ZiQing emotionally shared: For 40 years, I have never given up. It was a wonderful journey and an incredible battle for me to be here today. But I think it's worth it."
International media said that perhaps the Golden award or many other awards have made Yang ZiQing wait too long.
Then when her female colleagues of the same period had passed their peak or retired, in middle age, Duong Tu Quynh still diligently acted in one film after another.
When it seemed that " too old" stars like her would no longer have the opportunity to shine, Duong Tu Quynh was recognized by the Goldenove for her female lead role in the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once".
Asian-born star positiones himself in Hollywood
According to SCMP, 2022 will go down in history as a year of recording outstanding achievements and progress of famous people in Asia and around the world. In the film industry, it is certain that Duong Tu Quynh cannot be left unmentioned.
The role of Evelyn Wang in Everything Everywhere All at Once was truly a spectacular breakthrough for Duong Tu Quynh. Evelyn is the wife and mother of a Chinese family that settled in the United States. Her life was full of boredom, pressured by the burden of food, money and a difficult family.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is a Evelyn adventure through many pillars with dozens of different personalities. The adventure is a journey to help women who are oppressed by duty and responsibility be released, to experience other personalities and versions of themselves. Help her find true human nature, help her appreciate and believe in precious things, that is the source of strength to save the world, and save her own life.
Many experts consider Evelyn to be the best role in Duong Tu Quynh's career.
In addition, the character Waymond Wang - Evelyn's husband - played by Vietnamese-American actor Quan Ke Huy is also highly appreciated.
Returning after 20 years of "hiding" due to lack of screen time for Asian actors, Quan Ke Huy had a transformation that made him shine at the age of 51, when playing the role of a husband who appeared suspicious but was actually a strong, tough and intelligent man.
As Duong Tu Quynh said at the Golden award ceremony, regardless of gender, race or age difference in Hollywood, everything is never too late.
I turned 60 last year. I think all women understand that every day, every year and every number that seems to be greater, our opportunities seem to be smaller. But the best gift has come to me - everything Everywhere All at Once. And I can beat everything."
Not only Duong Tu Quynh or Quan Ke Huy, in the past year, many other Asian actors have shined in Hollywood.
Simu Liu plays the main role in the film Marvel. Vietnamese actress Hong Chau shines in "The menu". Japanese-American actor Will Sharpe played a key role in the second season of the hit HBO drama The White Lotus. Thang Duy has an impressive role in "Decision to leave"...
The Asian-born actor is overcoming prejudice and discrimination to assert himself.
