The action star reappeared at the exhibition "Initiation" – showcasing 10 artworks she painted during her nearly nine-month pregnancy, on the afternoon of 19/7 in Ho Chi Minh City. One of the pieces that caught the attention of guests was titled "The Father," an oil painting on canvas. She depicted the moment of lying in Huy Tran's arms, embraced and protected by him.

Ngo Thanh Van with her husband at her first painting exhibition, on the afternoon of 19/7. Photo: Mai Nhat

Ngo Thanh Van said that when Huy Tran first saw the painting, he jokingly asked, "Why does the husband look so dark?" It was the actress's intention to portray her husband as a silent shadow, yet always present, enveloping her throughout her pregnancy. "I feel lucky to have his support in my life. He makes me feel comfortable and secure in every way, giving me the confidence that I can be a good mother," she said.

The director said that towards the end of her pregnancy, her anxiety lessened thanks to her husband and the medical team's constant care. Every time she felt baby Gao move in her womb, she became more eager, counting down the days until she could meet her child.

As they approach parenthood, the couple has meticulously planned and purchased everything from strollers and baby clothes to breast pumps. Huy Tran even took a newborn care class at home, having a specialist come and teach him skills like holding the baby, changing diapers, and handling situations when the baby cries.

The painting "The Father." Photo: Mai Nhat

For Ngo Thanh Van, painting was a way for her to understand herself better throughout her pregnancy. She incorporated into her artwork the struggles of her journey to motherhood, from physical pain ("The Pain") to prolonged sleepless nights ("Insomnia").

In many paintings, the actress chose to paint herself nude to celebrate the beauty of women during pregnancy. "Every time I looked at myself in the mirror with my growing belly, I felt the magic and felt most beautiful when I was pregnant," she said.

The painting "Insomnia." Photo: Mai Nhat

She was guided in her first painting techniques by her senior, artist Tran Trung Linh. Since 2023, Ngo Thanh Van has participated in painting courses organized by him. The artist praised her interesting style of expression with rustic, instinctive strokes, painting whatever comes to mind. Thanks to her years of filmmaking, she has an advantage in visual thinking, easily grasping the arrangement of a painting's composition or the layering of colors.

Ngo Thanh Van will auction the series of paintings to raise funds for "Vet seo cuoc doi" (Scars of Life) – a charity program she has been supporting for many years, which provides free heart surgery for children.

Ngo Thanh Van is an actress, film producer, director, and entrepreneur. She earned the nickname "action star" after the success of the film "Dong mau anh hung" (The Rebel) (2007), co-starring with Johnny Tri Nguyen. In the 2010s, she shifted to film production, with works such as: "Tam Cam: Chuyen chua ke" (Tam Cam: The Untold Story), "Co Ba Sai Gon" (The Tailor), and "Song Lang" (The Tap Boxer). In 2019, the film "Hai Phuong" (Furie), which she produced and starred in, grossed over 200 billion VND and was selected as Vietnam's representative in the "Best International Feature Film" category at the 2022 Oscars.

The actress and Huy Tran – 11 years her junior – got married in May 2022 in Da Nang after two years of dating. In early May, on their 1,000th day wedding anniversary, she announced her pregnancy after undergoing IVF treatments.

Mai Nhat