Many colleagues expressed shock and disbelief upon learning of the actress's passing on the afternoon of 1/9, following a period of hospitalization and coma. Actor Hoang Hiep last saw Ngoc Trinh while having coffee with director Ruby Hong Ngoc in Ho Chi Minh City on 18/8. Two days later, Ngoc Trinh was hospitalized due to declining health. "The play we planned for the end of this year, she and I will never perform together," Hoang Hiep shared on his social media page.

Actress Ngoc Trinh in a photo she posted on her personal page on 25/5. Photo: Facebook Pham Thi Ngoc Trinh

Actress Ngoc Trinh in a photo she posted on her personal page on 25/5. Photo: Facebook Pham Thi Ngoc Trinh

Director Nguyen Thu Phuong, who last met Ngoc Trinh about two weeks prior, said the actress was in good spirits and shared her idea of staging a play and bringing it to the US for performances later this year. "The lasting image I have of Ngoc Trinh from her final days is of someone who lived a joyful and optimistic life. Before her sudden passing, Trinh had many plans," Nguyen Thu Phuong stated.

According to colleagues, the actress led an active life in her final months. Ngoc Trinh filmed vlogs on travel and food, participated in various workshops on performance techniques and public speaking, and taught acting classes and at beauty pageants in Ho Chi Minh City.

In the memories of many fellow actors, Ngoc Trinh was a talented, dedicated, and hardworking artist, both in acting and teaching. She, along with Le Giang, Huy Cuong, and Thai Minh Nhien, formed the Le Giang - Ngoc Trinh Comedy Group. According to Le Giang, Ngoc Trinh was the group leader, responsible for booking shows and scheduling performances. "At that time, we were very popular, performing at 5 or 6 venues each night in Ho Chi Minh City. Trinh was very agile, serious in her work, and kind," she shared.

Artist Nhut Cuong acted alongside Ngoc Trinh at 5B Theater, 135 Hai Ba Trung Street, Nam Quang Theater, and Nu Cuoi Moi Theater, and filmed comedy skits such as "Don't Joke About Love," "Unexpected Story," and "Melody of Roses." To him, Ngoc Trinh was a talented and eager learner with a clear voice.

He recalled a memorable experience while performing with Ngoc Trinh in the play "Melody of Roses," directed by artist Cong Ninh. He played an old man, while she played a young woman. During rehearsals, they practiced a scene where they fought over a park bench. Ngoc Trinh felt her character's personality wasn't clearly conveyed and suggested a new approach, leading to a disagreement with her colleague. "Ngoc Trinh stomped her foot and said 'stop it,' feigning anger. I immediately told her she could incorporate this into her character, and she did," Nhut Cuong said.

Ngoc Trinh as Mrs. Vy in the play "Cloudy Rain," which won a gold medal at the 2021 National Drama Festival. Photo: Ly Vo Phu Hung

Ngoc Trinh as Mrs. Vy in the play "Cloudy Rain," which won a gold medal at the 2021 National Drama Festival. Photo: Ly Vo Phu Hung

Director Quoc Thao and actress Tuyet Thu, who co-starred with Ngoc Trinh in the play "Student's Song," praised her dedication, determination, and in-depth psychological portrayal of her characters. To play the role of a student in a reformed opera class, Ngoc Trinh diligently practiced traditional Vietnamese opera singing and dancing.

Artist Huu Quoc shared that Ngoc Trinh loved reformed opera and had a clear voice, so she was often invited to participate in opera performances. They performed together in the reformed opera "The Scent of the Countryside" and the play "Student's Song." "Trinh shone on stage, her acting was endearing and unique, so she was loved by the audience," he said.

Besides acting, Ngoc Trinh dedicated herself to her studies to pursue a teaching career. Last year, she returned to school, enrolling in the Master's program K22 at Hanoi University of Theater and Cinema. The actress had been studying for almost two years and was about to defend her thesis in November.

Thanh Hong, the instructor in charge, remembered the actress as an active and enthusiastic student. Although not the class president, Ngoc Trinh "acted like the eldest sister," always taking care of and connecting the members into a close-knit group. The actress was eager to learn and diligently absorbed knowledge, meeting with her advisor outside of class to discuss research methods and topics in the field of theater. "She often confided in me that she wanted to improve herself so that she could be more confident in teaching the next generation of actors," Thanh Hong said.

Actress Hanh Thuy often met Ngoc Trinh when they both taught at Ho Chi Minh City University of Theater and Cinema. To Hanh Thuy, her senior colleague was a passionate and caring teacher who always strived to improve her expertise, meticulous and serious in her work. "She was preparing to defend her master's thesis on the play 'The Night Drumbeats Yearn for the Past.' Now, all her plans are left unfinished," Hanh Thuy said emotionally.

Actress Ngoc Trinh in the film "The Scent of Coriander". Video: HTV

The actress's full name was Pham Thi Ngoc Trinh. She was born in 1974 into a family with no artistic background. Since childhood, she loved reformed opera and idolized artist Ngoc Huyen. While studying at the School of Dramatic Arts 2 (Ho Chi Minh City), Distinguished Artist Bach Lan, then director of the City Youth Theater, invited her to join the troupe and play leading roles in plays such as "My Hoai Thu," "Schoolgirl," and "Rang Jued on High." She was an actress at 135 Theater, 5B Theater, Idecaf Theater, and Tran Cao Van Theater.

In addition to stage acting, Ngoc Trinh also acted in television series and worked as an MC for Ho Chi Minh City Television. She was loved by the audience for her role as Vy in the Vietnamese-Korean co-produced television series "The Scent of Coriander" in 2006, a breakthrough in Ngoc Trinh's career. After this period, she participated in staging many stage and television plays such as "It Can Only Be Love," "The Incorrigible Liar," and "49 Days of Love."

The actress won the Gold Medal at the 2012 National Professional Theater Festival (for her role as Be Ba in the play "Life As Desired"), the 2014 Golden Orchid Award (for directing the play "49 Days of Love"), and the 2005 Golden Orchid Award (for her role as Xang in "Dancing Heart"). In 2019, she was awarded the title of Distinguished Artist.

In 2009, Ngoc Trinh married Korean film producer Kim Se Hyuk. They divorced after several years. She acted in plays and films, and also participated in several game shows as a judge and producer.

Hoang Dung