Lien Binh Phat and I had a few missed opportunities to work together. This conversation arose right after Lien Binh Phat returned to Vietnam from Taiwan with the prestigious Golden Bell Award for Best Actor in 2025 for his role in the television series " Doctor in Exile ," becoming the first foreign actor to win this category in the award's 60-year history.
Having just received an award at the Golden Bell Awards – a significant milestone in your career – how do you feel? Are you still basking in the joy, or do you need to quickly "land" to get back to your current role?
That moment was truly beyond my imagination. It felt like an electric current ran through me; I was both surprised and incredibly grateful. All I can say is I'm very lucky!
And he asked a question that perfectly captured the psychology of someone in this profession: there's joy, but there's no time to feel euphoric. Right after the awards ceremony, I had to quickly regain my balance to refocus on my unfinished projects.
We know that with great joy comes great responsibility. The trophy is a motivation, but the work that awaits must still be prioritized. I told myself to stay calm, and let the joy settle in my heart.
With the Golden Bell trophy in your hand, do you feel like you've become a part of the Taiwanese and Chinese-speaking filmmaking community?
Winning such a prestigious award makes me feel accepted and recognized. I hope that with this achievement, I am not just a guest or a foreign actor, but a friend and partner of the Taiwanese and Asian filmmaking community. I deeply appreciate that sentiment.
Lien Binh Phat and the cast of "Doctor in Exile" after the 2025 Golden Bell Awards ceremony on October 18th. The film received 15 nominations and won 2 awards: Best Leading Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
When acting alongside Zhang Junning (the lead actress in the drama "Doctors in a Foreign Land " ) , if language is a barrier, how do you listen and react to maintain the character's emotions?
The language barrier was a huge challenge. There were times when I honestly had to admit I couldn't understand 100% of what Ms. Quan Ninh was saying. It felt like I was in a game of "guessing your teammate's intentions"! (laughs)
But the great thing about acting is the language of emotion. We're all in this profession and understand this. We agreed to focus on eye contact and interaction. When facing each other, I put aside language barriers, listen with my heart, observe the gestures, the gaze, and the energy my co-star conveys. Then, the character's true emotions naturally emerge. I just need to react as authentically as possible to the "soul" that Ms. Quan Ninh is giving me, and luckily, that created a great "chemistry" on screen.
Lien Binh Phat and Taiwanese actress Zhang Junning at the 2025 Golden Bell Awards.
During your time working in Taiwan, you must have encountered many differences in filmmaking culture. What impressed you the most, or what did you learn the most from, from the international crew?
It's their attention to detail and their professional, disciplined spirit. From preparing the setting and medical props to coordinating the different departments, everything is meticulously planned.
I learned a great deal from the team's respect for time and intense focus. Although the language barrier was a challenge, their work ethic made me feel compelled to double my efforts to avoid delays and to live up to their professionalism.
Is becoming an international actor a goal you've always aimed for? After winning the Golden Bell Award, how will you continue that journey?
I didn't dare set overly ambitious goals like becoming an "international actress" right from the start. My initial goal was simply to find good scripts, without geographical limitations. When the opportunity with " The Wandering Doctor" came along, I simply thought of it as a chance to test myself in a professional environment and learn.
The Golden Bell Award is a milestone, a major door opening for me. I will continue that journey by being more cautious in selecting projects, prioritizing quality over quantity. I want to seek out stories with universal appeal, roles that can carry meaningful messages, and most importantly, I want to become a bridge connecting international experiences to contribute to Vietnamese cinema, while also taking Vietnamese stories further afield.
Lien Binh Phat received the Best Leading Actor award at the 2025 Golden Bell Awards (October 18th in Taiwan). He stated that he will donate a portion of his prize money to the fund supporting migrant workers in Taiwan, as a gesture of support for those striving to make a living abroad.
Before "The Doctor in Exile ," many people (including myself) thought only Leon Le (director of the film "Song Lang ") could truly capture the essence of Phat – a blend of ruggedness, playful mischief, and undeniable charm. What do you think about this preconceived notion – from both filmmakers and audiences?
Hearing him say that, I feel even more grateful to Leon Le and Song Lang . I understand that prejudice. Filmmakers and audiences often tend to stereotype an actor after their most successful role.
I think it's a sweet stereotype, because it proves that the role of Dung in Song Lang was so successful. But I'm not afraid of being typecast. I see it as an interesting challenge. The drama "Doctor in Exile " is my answer: I can adapt to many different directing styles and film genres. An actor is a storyteller, and I always crave experimenting with new materials and working styles to explore other hidden aspects of myself.
How does Phát's character in Quán Kỳ Nam (director Leon Lê's upcoming film) differ from his role in Song Lang ? How can you prevent your "reserved" demeanor from becoming a recurring motif in your acting?
Dũng's character in Song Lang is characterized by his repressed emotions and the recklessness of a lost artist, scarred by many wounds. It's a silence full of sharp edges and defiance.
The character in Quán Kỳ Nam , however, is completely different; not "reserved in speech," but rather unsure how to express strong emotions. It's the hesitation of youth, of someone learning to love, learning to confront their first stirrings of emotion…
To avoid repetition, I have to focus on the differences in eye contact, breathing, and body language. These things stem from understanding the character, living as the character, and being sensitive to the character's life.
Does working alongside senior actresses like Do Thi Hai Yen (the lead actress in Quan Ky Nam - BTV ) or Truong Quan Ninh make you feel pressured, and how do you build chemistry with them?
There's pressure, but it's positive pressure. Working with Ms. Do Thi Hai Yen or Ms. Truong Quan Ninh is always an opportunity for me to learn. To build "chemistry," firstly, respect is key: Always listen and observe how they work. Secondly, authenticity is crucial: When I'm in character, I put aside any shyness about age or experience. I treat them with the genuine emotions of the character. Thirdly, preparation is essential: I always try to prepare thoroughly so that when I'm on set, I'm not passive and can proactively interact with them.
As long as both sides prioritize the authenticity of the characters, the "chemistry" will naturally develop.
Lien Binh Phat and Truong Quan Ninh in the film "Doctor in a Foreign Land"
What's so special about Phat's role in "Money Trap ," the upcoming film? Could it be Phat's most commercially successful role to date?
My role in "Money Trap" is definitely more commercially oriented than my previous projects (laughs). It's an action film with thrilling elements and requires physical exertion, quite different from the introspective nature of "Song Lang" or "The Wandering Doctor ." Besides that, the film's content is also contemporary, addressing issues that society is currently concerned about.
What's special about this role is that it allows me to "release" energy after playing roles that were so emotionally intense. I get to do visually stunning action scenes, and show more decisiveness and coolness. I hope the audience will embrace a "different" Lien Binh Phat!
But even though it's a commercial role, I still try to find depth in the character. No character is purely for entertainment; each one has its own story. I want the audience to see that Lien Binh Phat can balance commercial appeal with nuanced acting. This is a new challenge that I'm very excited about.
Over the past 7 years, besides his iconic roles in Song Lang and Doctor in a Foreign Land , Phat has also had a few roles that left a less strong impression on the audience. How did you overcome the trap of those bland roles to avoid repeating yourself?
I've always believed that every script I choose is the result of thorough research, investigation, and careful consideration by both myself and my team. Therefore, regardless of how the film is received in theaters, it's a valuable experience and a lesson for me. Even if the results aren't as expected, I don't get discouraged or fall into a negative state; instead, I continue until I win over the audience with better, more refined works. No matter what, we must keep going.
Phát participates in quite a few television shows, showcasing his humor, singing, and dancing – a very different image from his on-screen persona. Many people worry that this makes him "divided." How do you assign roles to these different personas?
I understand that concern. Indeed, the image of a "rising star in entertainment" on a game show is very different from that of a seasoned actor. But I'm not at all "distracted"; on the contrary, I see it as a necessary balance.
I have very clear roles for these "selves." As a film actor, I work seriously, focus, delve deep, and dedicate 100% to the character's emotions. That's Phát's quietude and exploration . As a game show contestant, I get to release energy, relax, and return to my true self – cheerful and humorous. That's where I recharge and stay fresh.
These two images complement each other. The authenticity of the game show helps me avoid becoming overly technical in my acting, and the discipline on set helps me maintain the necessary boundaries when participating in entertainment activities.
In the film "The Doctor in Exile," Lien Binh Phat plays Dr. Pham Van Ninh, who travels from Vietnam to Taiwan to care for his mother, who is critically injured in an accident. During this time, Pham Van Ninh constantly faces conflicting emotions between his professional ideals and the harsh realities of life in a foreign land.
If you hadn't become an actor or a public figure, what do you think your life would be like?
If I hadn't become an actress, I would probably have become a tour guide or done something related to exploration. I love traveling, meeting new people, and listening to their stories.
Life might be less glamorous, but it will certainly still be full of trips and new experiences. Whatever role I play, I will remain a curious and attentive listener, as that is my nature.
Phát came to acting relatively late and without formal training. Looking back on that "self-taught" journey, what do you find most valuable? If you could start over, would you choose a different path or approach?
The most valuable lessons I learned from my "self-taught" journey are observation and authenticity. Life is my greatest school. I learned acting by observing the people around me, by listening to their stories and feeling their sadness and joy.
If I could start over, I think I would still choose this path. I wouldn't choose any other way, because it was the twists and turns, the setbacks, the days of being an MC at fairs, the days of being rejected... that shaped Lien Binh Phat into the experienced actor he is today, capable of embodying the complex emotions of the characters he portrays. Everything happens for a reason.
Lien Binh Phat in "Quan Ky Nam" (released November 28, 2025), a film that just won the Shooting Star award at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
Does Phat often find himself lonely in a crowd?
I think loneliness is an indispensable part of being an artist. It's the loneliness of having to delve into the emotions of a character alone, confronting their hidden aspects and unshared sorrows. Sometimes, after bursts of laughter on game shows or glorious moments on stage, you still have to return to your empty room and ask yourself: "Who am I in all these roles?"
I'm not afraid of that loneliness. I see it as a necessary space to listen to myself, to recharge my emotions, and to remind myself to always remain authentic. Only through loneliness can I deeply empathize with the characters and bring the most genuine emotions to the screen.
Lien Binh Phat in the concert "Brother Overcomes a Thousand Obstacles" (March 2025)
What roles does Phat envision himself taking on in the coming years?
I hope to have the opportunity to try my hand at more challenging and groundbreaking roles. For example, a complex villain, a historical figure, or a role requiring extreme physical transformation. I want to break free from my current calm and composed image. I want to prove that I am capable of taking on edgy, complex characters with more nuanced psychology. I yearn to challenge myself.
Ultimately, what does cinema mean to you—is it your job, your passion, or a way to understand yourself?
For me, filmmaking is a combination of all three: It's a job that demands the highest level of professionalism and discipline. It's a passion because it allows me to live hundreds of different lives. And most importantly, it's a way for me to understand myself. Each role is a mirror reflecting and helping me discover limits and hidden aspects of myself that I've never touched before.
Filmmaking is not just a profession, but a journey of growth, a place where I find meaning and balance in life.
Author: Director TRINH DINH LE MINH
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lien-binh-phat-khao-khat-duoc-lam-kho-minh-185251025230200864.htm
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