On 25/11, the actress won the Best Lead Actress category at the 24th Vietnam Film Festival for her role as a massage therapist in "Mai". The actress was surprised by the news, not expecting to surpass veteran actresses like Hong Dao and Viet Huong to win the award. Phuong Anh Dao thanked director Tran Thanh and co-star Tuan Tran for helping her fully embody the character in the film. "I am grateful to be in this profession", she said.

Phuong Anh Dao and Tuan Tran in the film "Mai". Photo: Thanh Huyen

Before receiving the most prestigious golden trophy in Vietnamese cinema, the 33-year-old beauty endured many years of hardship. Her family originally lived in a poor village in Ca Mau, later moving to Ganh Hao, old Bac Lieu. She grew up in a coastal fishing village, accustomed to the smell of shrimp, fish, and sea salt from a young age. Her parents sold sticky rice at the market, and Phuong Anh Dao often woke early to help them collect money.

Phuong Anh Dao shared that life back then was not easy. Outside of school hours, she spent her time doing housework and helping her mother sell goods. It was not until she was 12 years old that her relatives gave her 10,000 VND for daily expenses. Despite a more challenging childhood than her peers, she found happiness in learning to work early to support her family, which taught her to cherish the money she earned.

The dream of acting did not clearly form for Phuong Anh Dao from the beginning but gradually blossomed throughout high school. She was a core member of her school's art team, and by 10th grade, she boldly performed in plays through several skits. Although friends encouraged her to pursue film, she initially enrolled in business administration because her parents believed "art is difficult, requiring a lot of money".

After about one year of studying economics, Phuong Anh Dao dropped out, realizing she did not belong in that field. She decided to give herself another chance, applying to Ho Chi Minh City University of Theater and Cinema. While acting can be self-taught through short courses, Phuong Anh Dao chose a formal environment for systematic training.

For cinema, Phuong Anh Dao believed in a "slow but steady" approach. During her university years, she felt anxious seeing classmates constantly auditioning and landing major projects. She recalled her lecturer's advice: study diligently to master techniques, and acting would gain more depth. To cover expensive living costs, she worked as a staff member for stores and took on advertising photoshoots, earning 500,000 - 1,000,000 VND.

Phuong Anh Dao in her debut film "Nham mat thay mua he". Video: Film crew provided

She began her career in 2014, but it was not until 2018 that she made her film debut. After the sitcom "Chien dich chong e 2", director Cao Thuy Nhi invited Phuong Anh Dao to star in the independent film "Nham mat thay mua he", a love story between a Vietnamese girl and a Japanese boy. Although the script and pacing of the film were considered immature, Phuong Anh Dao made her mark with her charming beauty and expressive face. In the same year, she received her first award: Best Lead Actress at the Hanoi International Film Festival (Haniff).

From then on, Phuong Anh Dao began to attract the attention of many filmmakers, including Charlie Nguyen. The director of "De Mai tinh" sought a young actress to star opposite Thai Hoa, a box office star at the time, in the romantic comedy "Chang vo cua em" (2018). Despite having less experience than her senior colleague, Phuong Anh Dao's performance was considered on par. She convincingly portrayed Mai, a beautiful businesswoman striving to assert her talent among men, yet constantly feeling emotionally unfulfilled. The film grossed 86 billion VND, becoming one of the top five highest-grossing Vietnamese films of all time.

Phuong Anh Dao at 33 years old. Photo: Character provided

"Tro tan ruc ro" marked another significant role for Phuong Anh Dao in literary adaptation films. Initially, she was among the first candidates whose profiles were sent to the director, but Bui Thac Chuyen rejected her, deeming her "too beautiful" for the character of a woman living in the Mekong Delta.

She was determined to meet the producer to persuade them and ask for an opportunity. One month before filming began, Phuong Anh Dao returned to her hometown of Ca Mau to sunbathe for darker skin and learn more household skills. During filming, she used makeup to make her teeth less white. Shedding her sharp features, she played Nhan, a wife neglected by her husband after an accident caused their child's death. The actress delivered many subtle internal performances, allowing viewers to feel Nhan's deep pain when tragedy struck. The film was a major winner at the Vietnam Film Festival 2023, including Best Feature Film.

Phuong Anh Dao in the film "Tro tan ruc ro". Video: Film crew provided

It was with "Mai", the 18+ film by Tran Thanh, that Phuong Anh Dao truly shone, becoming a film star. The director spent two years searching for top talents in the film industry to audition for Mai, a woman facing much gossip due to her profession as a massage therapist. Before choosing Phuong Anh Dao for the lead role, he watched many of her films, recognizing her as a capable actress who carefully selected projects. Upon meeting the actress, Tran Thanh exclaimed, "This is destiny; this role must be hers".

She captivated both audiences and critics by embodying a 37-year-old woman with deep past traumas. Phuong Anh Dao's expressions transformed through scenes of struggling to raise her child alone, helplessness when her child cried, and the resentful gaze towards her gambling father who indirectly pushed her to the brink.

One of the film's most memorable scenes is when Mai embraces Duong (Tuan Tran), a musician seven years her junior, bursting into tears and revealing her yearning for love because she is "almost 40 years old". The role earned Phuong Anh Dao her second career award: Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film at Canh Dieu 2024.

After watching "Mai", Lucas Luan Nguyen, a translator of film books, stated that Phuong Anh Dao was born to play this character. According to him, her acting helped audiences fully envision the fate of a woman burdened by social prejudice, doubting her worthiness of love. He particularly admired the third act, when Mai decided to release all her inner turmoil, leading to a tense climax.

Scene where Duong brings Mai home to meet his family in the film "Mai". Video: Film crew provided

Not all films starring Phuong Anh Dao achieved box office success or critical acclaim for their content. Her first venture into horror, "Vo dien sat nhan" in 2022, was poorly received. Her character, a woman plagued by nightmares of being chased by an unknown assailant, did not resonate. The film was criticized for its convoluted script, forced ending, and illogical plot, becoming one of the lowest-grossing films of the year, earning 4,7 billion VND.

"Chiem doat", an 18+ film about a love triangle in 2023, also garnered negative feedback due to its illogical plot. Phuong Anh Dao stated that she was not overly disappointed by each failed project. Believing her acting journey is long, the actress calmly accepts both praise and criticism to gain more experience.

At one point, Phuong Anh Dao suffered facial distortion after thyroid surgery, forcing her to decline many project offers. During this time, despite her career stalling, she cherished these quiet periods of life. The actress focused on recovering her health and learning to slow down to understand what she truly wanted. "I realized that to go the long distance, one must know when to let go, because earning a lot of money is pointless if you cannot enjoy it", she said.

Mai Nhat