On the evening of 2/7, Katleen Phan Vo attended the premiere alongside fellow cast members Tien Luat, Dinh Y Nhung, Quoc Cuong, Avin Lu, Hoang Ha, and Quynh Ly. She caught the spotlight on the red carpet in a strapless gown with a full skirt, paired with monochrome heels.
"The Last Wish" marks Katleen Phan Vo's comeback after her leading role in "Martial Arts Students" (2021). She portrays Trang, the most popular girl in high school and the "dream girl" of Hoang (Avin Lu). Hoang, diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only a month to live, enlists the help of his close friends Thy (Hoang Ha) and Long (Quynh Ly) to confess his feelings for Trang. Their plan, however, leads to a series of bittersweet and comical situations.
The actress expressed her joy in reuniting with screenwriter Tran Khanh Hoang, her collaborator on a previous film. She praised the script's entertainment value in its portrayal of high school life, alongside its message about communication between parents and children. Playing a high school student for the first time, she worked on appearing 10 years younger and delved into the character's psychology. She also honed her skills in internal acting to portray emotional scenes with Avin Lu.
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Katleen Phan Vo returns to the red carpet after 4 years. Photo: Huy Tran |
Katleen Phan Vo has recently limited her acting work to focus on marketing, her field of study, as well as improving her language skills and soft skills. In early June, she accepted a marriage proposal from her businessman boyfriend in Canada after a two-year courtship. However, she prefers not to disclose further details about her personal life to concentrate on her career.
Katleen Phan Vo is the daughter of Grandmaster Nam Anh, head of the orthodox Wing Chun school, and 1992 Film Queen Thanh Xuan. In 2017, she returned from Canada to Vietnam to serve as an interpreter for Wing Chun master Flores during his martial arts challenges and exchanges. This experience sparked her interest in acting, leading her to pursue opportunities in the field despite studying law. Her parents fully supported her transition into the film industry.
She rose to prominence after appearing in "Face Off 4" (2019), a film directed by Ly Hai that earned 120 billion VND. Her first leading role was in the 2021 film "Martial Arts Students," directed by Ba Cuong. She also works as a model and has attracted hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
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From right to left: Quynh Ly, Hoang Ha, Avin Lu, Tien Luat, Dinh Y Nhung, Katleen Phan Vo, Hoang Minh Triet, and Quoc Cuong. Photo: Huy Tran |
Director Doan Si Nguyen explained that in addition to the theme of friendship, "The Last Wish" explores the generation gap. While Hoang has limited time left, his parents struggle to understand his final wish. Thy and Long, both grappling with a lack of familial affection, face emotional voids in their families. "With my debut film, I'm not focused on box office numbers, but rather on ensuring the audience connects with the film emotionally," he said.
"The Last Wish" reunites Avin Lu and Hoang Ha 3 years after their collaboration in "Em and Trinh" (2022), a film about musician Trinh Cong Son and his "musical muses." The film also features Tien Luat and Dinh Y Nhung as Hoang's parents, along with Quoc Cuong and Kieu Anh. It's a joint Vietnamese-Korean project, with the Korean production company having previously worked on films like "Train To Busan," "Peninsula," and "Handsome Guys."
Mai Nhat