Voting for Best Stage Actress: 5 outstanding candidates...

This year's Mai Vàng Awards' Best Stage Actress category is a colorful tapestry, yet all entries showcase the dedication and creativity of the artists.

The performances of Meritorious Artist Tú Sương and other artists such as Bình Tinh, Hồng Ánh, Lâm Vỹ Dạ, and Việt Hương demonstrate that the Ho Chi Minh City theater scene has touched many layers of emotion in the public through works on historical, contemporary, and family-social themes.

Three outstanding performances

Although she was a traditional Vietnamese opera actress, when she transitioned to spoken drama, artist Binh Tinh's appearance in the play "Emotional Reunion" (Truong Hung Minh Art Theatre) made a strong impression on the audience.

"Binh Tinh plays the role of a female police officer. This is a role that simultaneously portrays the rationality of a police officer and the vulnerability of a woman standing at the boundary between responsibility and compassion," commented People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc.

Meritorious Artist Ca Lê Hồng highly praised Bình Tinh's maturity in stage acting. She analyzed: "She maintained the necessary restraint for a character with so much inner turmoil. She didn't act boisterously, but every glance contained a story."

Journalist Hoang Kim (Thanh Nien Newspaper) noted that what is remarkable is that artist Binh Tinh did not bring the traditional Vietnamese opera style to spoken drama, but chose to embody the role with authenticity. In director Le Quoc Nam's "Emotional Reunion," the character Thuy Duong is the "heartbeat" of the story, taking the audience through a range of emotions, from separation to reunion.

Artist Binh Tinh plays the role of Thuy Duong in the play "Emotional Reunion".

Screenwriter Hoài Hương highly praised Bình Tinh's ability to "handle emotional nuances." She made conversations with her family into moments of being listened to. "Bình Tinh's inclusion in the 2025 Mai Vàng Awards voting round is entirely deserved, opening up a race that promises many surprises," she observed.

For actress Hong Anh, the character Thuy Kieu in the play "Under the Shadow of a Beautiful Woman" (IDECAF Theatre) - considered one of the most challenging roles in spoken drama in 2025 - was portrayed impressively. Hong Anh's Thuy Kieu is not melancholic or mournful, but rather a woman who is both beautiful and profound, resilient and full of pride.

Actress Hong Anh as Thuy Kieu in the play "Under the Shadow of a Beautiful Woman".

Journalist Nguyen Dinh Khiem (TFS Film Studio) commented: "What makes Hong Anh stand out in this role is her ability to balance profound inner emotions with stage presence. The drum dance was also a highlight." According to People's Artist Viet Anh, Hong Anh "internalized" Thuy Kieu, "not illustrating emotions but allowing the audience to feel the character's pain gradually spreading."

Under the direction of Quang Thảo, "Under the Shadow of a Beautiful Woman" - a derivative work of "Truyện Kiều" (The Tale of Kiều) - has taken on a modern feel. In it, Hồng Ánh acts as the "aesthetic anchor" of the play, creating enduring expressive energy that keeps the audience captivated. Her nomination for this year's Mai Vàng Award demonstrates that IDECAF remains a "brand name" for outstanding female performances on the stage of Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, the character Hoa in the play "Another War" marks a significant step in Lam Vy Da's artistic maturation, pushing her beyond her comfort zone. Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong stated that Hoa is a female doctor facing a harsh internal struggle between her profession and the corruption within the hospital where she works. This role helped Lam Vy Da win a gold medal at the 2025 National Theatre Festival on the image of a People's Police officer.

Actress Lam Vy Da plays the role of Hoa in the play "Another War".

"Lam Vy Da has only ever performed comedy. However, when she takes on a tragic role, she acts very deeply and powerfully," said Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong in surprise. People's Artist Phuong Loan believes that what is admirable about Lam Vy Da is that she has left behind her familiar television persona to step onto the stage with the mindset of a true actress.

According to journalist Hoang Kim, Lam Vy Da's portrayal of Hoa is one of the most profound contemporary female characters on stage in 2025. Hoa is both fragile and strong, both wanting to let go and determined to rise again. Her restrained acting, skillful creation of climaxes at the right moments, and especially her sensitivity to the character's psychology have helped Lam Vy Da break free from the label of "comedian" and enter the ranks of true stage actors...

The personal hallmark of the three aforementioned female artists is their ability to create an "emotional center" for each performance. "That emotional value has helped these three actresses deliver three roles worthy of their three nominations for the 31st Mai Vàng Awards - 2025," affirmed People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc.

Two impressive Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) roles.

Meritorious Artist Tú Sương, with her dual role as Nguyễn Phục in the play "Bức ngôn đồ Đại Việt," also made a strong impression. Meritorious Artist Ca Lê Hồng believes that Tú Sương has the rare ability to convey the mindset of a military general through her powerful singing and acting. "That is an outstanding creative achievement, bringing out the spirit of the late People's Artist Thanh Tòng when he wrote this script and highlighting patriotism," she commented.

Meritorious Artist Tú Sương as Nguyễn Phục in the play “The Great Viet Proclamation”

According to journalist Nguyen Dinh Khiem, the outstanding strength of Meritorious Artist Tu Suong is the seamless integration of singing, dialogue, and dance. She makes epic scenes appear soft and imbued with humanistic values.

In this cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) play directed by Hoa Hạ, Meritorious Artist Tú Sương hopes to recreate history with a new cải lương aesthetic. She expects to bring emotion and elegance to the work. The nomination of Meritorious Artist Tú Sương for this year's Mai Vàng Award is a positive sign for historical plays, especially in the context of traditional cải lương plays which remain popular with many audiences.

For artist Viet Huong, the role of Mrs. Phan in the Cai Luong play "Then 30 Years Later" is an introspective character. The role showcases Viet Huong's stage presence, allowing her to break away from boisterous comedies and focus on exploring the psychological depth of the character.

The character of Mrs. Phan in the play "Then 30 Years Later" is played by artist Viet Huong.

"The role of Mrs. Phan shows that Viet Huong has become much more profound, calm, and mature. The character, carrying many secrets and layers of suppressed emotions over 30 years, is a great challenge for her acting," journalist Hoang Kim assessed.

Meritorious Artist Ca Lê Hồng observed that Việt Hương portrayed the role of Mrs. Phán with strong intuition and experience. It was this simplicity in her acting that made the role so impactful. According to People's Artist Việt Anh, the role of Mrs. Phán showcased Việt Hương's class and demonstrated that "when the stage calls, artists are there with utmost seriousness."

"Then 30 Years Later" is a meticulously produced project by the Truong Hung Minh Art Theatre. In it, Viet Huong serves as the "emotional anchor," transforming the family story into a deeply humane narrative, creating many moments that bring tears to the audience's eyes...

Regarding all five nominees for the Mai Vàng Award mentioned above, People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc summarized: "Binh Tinh has made a strong transition to spoken drama, leading the story with profound inner feelings. Hong Anh is subtle and sharp, raising the standard of stage expression. Lam Vy Da is increasingly mature, fully immersed in emotion. Tu Suong is elegant and rich in the essence of traditional opera. And Viet Huong has demonstrated depth, professional maturity, and commendable seriousness."

People's Artist Phuong Loan emphasized: "The stage thrives thanks to characters with souls. And the five female artists nominated for this year's Mai Vang Award have breathed that soul into each of their roles."

Many experts believe that with 5 nominations for Best Actress at the 2025 Mai Vàng Awards, the diversity and quality of Ho Chi Minh City's stage scene are evident. These artists have contributed to bringing a new look to performing arts this year.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/bau-chon-hang-muc-nu-dien-vien-san-khau-5-bong-hoa-toa-sang-196251211212500232.htm