Lan Phuong files for divorce after seven years of marriage

Actress Lan Phuong has filed for divorce from her British husband, seeking to "end a tiring process and rediscover myself."

On 27/7, she filed for divorce at the Hanoi People's Court. While awaiting the court's decision, the couple is living separately. After careful consideration, she believes separation is the best course of action for herself and her two daughters.

"Each time I'm summoned to court, even just to submit additional paperwork, I feel a little more relieved. It feels like the door to freedom is getting closer, even though I don't know how long it will take or how many more difficulties lie ahead," Lan Phuong shared on social media.

Lan Phuong with her youngest daughter on her birthday in March. Photo: Provided by the subject

Lan Phuong with her youngest daughter on her birthday in March. Photo: Provided by the subject

The actress did not disclose the reason for the separation from David Duffy, only stating that the connection with her husband was lost. In January of this year, she brought her two daughters, Lina (7) and Mia (1), back to Hanoi from Da Nang, where Duffy was working. He was not present for her and her daughter's birthdays in March.

Previously, when Lan Phuong was pregnant with her second daughter in 2023, her husband relocated to Da Nang for work. During their two years apart, she expressed feelings of loneliness and struggled with postpartum depression. She and her children moved to Da Nang to be closer to him, but the simmering rift in their relationship proved difficult to mend.

Lan Phuong and David Duffy began their relationship in 2017 after a brief courtship. Before meeting the actress, he had lived in Vietnam for two years, working as a manager at a five-star hotel. He proposed during a Christmas 2017 car trip from the Welsh countryside back to his home in Sheffield, England.

In May 2018, they registered their marriage shortly before the birth of their first child. Duffy was a supportive presence during the birth, studying prenatal education materials with Lan Phuong and taking on many household tasks. He frequently accompanied her to events and movie premieres. With his hospitality industry experience, he helped her establish and manage a cafe for mothers and children.

Lan Phuong and her husband at an event. Photo: Provided by the subject

Lan Phuong and her husband at an event. Photo: Provided by the subject

She once mentioned that the biggest challenge for her husband living in Vietnam was the language barrier. While he could use English at work and at home, Duffy felt isolated when shopping or navigating social situations. When watching his wife's films, unable to understand the dialogue, he relied on the characters' gestures and expressions to follow the story.

Every year, Lan Phuong's family would spend a month in England visiting Duffy's parents. He had suggested that she move to England permanently, but she couldn't due to her work commitments in Vietnam.

Amidst the marital difficulties, Lan Phuong focused on her career and raising her children. She returned to television filming after a two-year hiatus and took up running, participating in several community races. She stated, "I run to remind myself that I still have vitality, energy, and freedom. Each step is a beat of trust—trust in my body, trust in the new journey, and trust that I can be strong in my own way."

Lan Phuong, 42, was born in Hanoi and moved to Ho Chi Minh City with her family during high school. She graduated from the Foreign Trade University, campus 2, and the College of Theater and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City. The actress is known for her roles in television series such as Ugly Betty (2008), White-robed Angels (2009), The Children of Saigon Special Forces (2010), A Lifetime of Resentment (2017), The Ordered Bride, and Dear Sunny Day. Her film credits include Scandal (2012), The Bride Wars Part Two (2013), The Girl from Yesterday (2017), Glorious May (2018), and Tet in Hell Village (2023).