LIEN BINH PHAT Desire to make things difficult for myself

Lien Binh Phat is the dream face of the film industry. His face could not be more cinematic, his natural actor features exuded. His deep voice perfectly matches his angular face. Along with that is a strict discipline for his body. Phat also often jokes, sometimes charmingly, sometimes wrongly…

Lien Binh Phat and I have had a few failed attempts to work together. This conversation arose right after Lien Binh Phat returned to Vietnam from Taiwan with the prestigious Golden Bell Cup in hand for the Best Actor award in 2025 for his role in the TV series Doctor in a foreign land , becoming the first foreign actor to win this category in the 60-year history of the award.

Having just received an award at Kim Chung - an important milestone in your career, how do you feel? Did you have time to be elated with joy, or did you have to quickly "land" to return to the role you were performing?

That moment was truly beyond my imagination. It felt like an electric current had run through me, both surprised and extremely grateful. I can only say that I am very lucky!

And your question is very true to the psychology of a professional, there is joy, but not enough time to be elated... Right after the award ceremony, I had to quickly regain my balance to focus on the unfinished projects.

We know, the greater the joy, the greater the responsibility. The trophy is a motivation, but the work that awaits us still has to be a priority. I told myself to stay calm, let the joy settle in my heart.

With the golden bell trophy in hand, do you feel like you are part of the Taiwanese and Chinese filmmaker community?

Winning such a big 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 to the Taiwanese and Asian filmmaking community. I really appreciate that sentiment.

Lien Binh Phat and the cast of "Doctor in exile" after the 2025 Golden Bell Awards ceremony on the night of October 18. The film received 15 nominations and won 2 awards: Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.

When acting with Truong Quan Ninh (the main actress in the movie Doctor in a foreign land - BTV ), in cases where language is a barrier, how do you listen and react to still maintain the character's emotions?

The language aspect is indeed a huge challenge. There are times when I have to honestly admit that I cannot understand 100% of what Quan Ninh is saying. It feels like I am in a game of "guessing my teammates' intentions"! (laughs)

But the great thing about acting is the language of emotions. Those of us in the profession all understand this. We agreed to focus on eye contact and interaction. When facing each other, I put aside the language barrier, listen with my heart, observe the gestures, eyes and energy that my co-star conveys. At that time, the character's true emotions naturally appear. I just need to react most genuinely to the "soul" that Quan Ninh is giving me, and fortunately, that has created a very good "chemistry" on screen.

Lien Binh Phat and Taiwanese actor Truong Quan Ninh at the 2025 Golden Bell Awards

While working in Taiwan, there must have been many differences in filmmaking culture. What impressed you the most or what did you learn the most from the international crew?

It is their meticulous attention to detail and their professional and disciplined spirit. From preparing the scene, medical props to the coordination of departments, everything is carefully calculated.

I learned a lot from the respect for time and the high concentration of the whole team. Although the language barrier was a challenge, their working attitude made me feel that I had to work twice as hard to not delay the progress, to be worthy of that professionalism.

Is becoming an international actor something you have been aiming for? After the Golden Bell Award, how will you continue that journey?

I didn't dare to set a big goal of "international actor" from the beginning. My initial goal was just to find good scripts, not limited by geography. When the opportunity with Doctor in a foreign land came, I simply thought that I would be able to test myself in a professional environment and learn.

The Golden Bell Award is a milestone, a big door opened. I will continue that journey by being more careful in selecting projects, prioritizing quality over quantity. I want to look for universal stories, roles that can carry meaningful messages, and most importantly, I want to become a bridge bringing international experiences to contribute to Vietnamese cinema, and at the same time bringing Vietnamese stories further.

Lien Binh Phat received the award for Best Actor at the 2025 Golden Bell Awards (October 18 in Taiwan). He said he will donate part of the award to the Migrant Workers Support Fund in Taiwan, as a way to share with those who are trying to make a living in a foreign land.

Before Doctor in exile , many people (including me) still thought that only Leon Le (director of the film Song Lang - BTV ) could "exploit" Phat's qualities - both worldly and slightly playful but full of charm. What do you think about this prejudice - from the film industry and the audience?

Hearing him say that, I have to thank Leon Le and Song Lang even more. I understand that prejudice. Filmmakers and audiences often tend to stereotype an actor after their most successful role.

I think it is a sweet prejudice, because it proves that Dung's role in Song Lang was so successful. But I am not afraid of being stereotyped. I see it as an interesting challenge. Doctor in exile is my answer: I can fit in with many different directorial styles, many different film genres. Actors are storytellers, and I always crave to experiment with new materials, new working styles to explore other hidden corners of myself.

How is Phat's character in Quan Ky Nam (an upcoming work by director Leon Le - Editor) different from his role in Song Lang ? How do you prevent the "frugal" trait from becoming a recurring motif in your acting?

The role of Dung in Song Lang is a reticence due to the repressed inner self and the indifference of an artist who is lost and has suffered many scratches. It is a silence full of angles and resistance.

The character in Quan Ky Nam is completely different, not "frugal with words", but not knowing how to open his mouth when faced with great emotions. It is the hesitation of youth, of someone learning to love, learning to face the first vibrations...

In order to avoid repeating patterns, I have to focus on the differences in eyes, breathing, and body language. These come from understanding the character, living with the character, and being sensitive to the character's life.

Does acting with seniors like Do Thi Hai Yen (main actress in Quan Ky Nam - BTV ) or Truong Quan Ninh put pressure on you, and how do you build interaction with them?

There is pressure, but it is 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", the first thing is respect: Always listen and observe how they work. The second is honesty: When playing a role, I put aside any shyness about age or experience. I treat them with the true emotions of the character. The third is preparation: I always try to prepare carefully so that when I get on set, I am not passive and can actively juggle with the ladies.

As long as both sides put the character's authenticity first, "chemistry" will automatically form.

Lien Binh Phat and Truong Quan Ninh in the movie "Doctor in a foreign land"

What is special about Phat's role in the upcoming movie Money Trap ? Is it Phat's most commercial role to date?

My role in Money Trap is much more commercial than my previous projects (laughs). This is an action film, with thriller elements and requires physical changes, completely different from the inner thoughts of Song Lang or Doctor in exile . Besides, the content of the film is also contemporary, with issues that are of concern to society.

The special thing about this role is that it allows me to "release" my energy after playing roles with a lot of inner feelings. I get to do eye-catching action scenes, show my determination, and be a bit cooler. I hope the audience will welcome a "different" Lien Binh Phat!

But even though it is a commercial role, I still try to find the depth of the character. No character is purely entertaining, each has its own story. I want the audience to see that Lien Binh Phat can balance between commercial elements and deep acting. This is a new challenge that I am very excited about.

In the past 7 years, besides the memorable roles in Song Lang or Doctor in exile , Phat also had a few roles that left a less impressive impression on the audience. How do you overcome the trap of bland roles so as not to repeat yourself?

I always believe that each script chosen means that both I and the crew have gone through a process of research, study and careful consideration. So when the film is released in theaters, no matter how the audience receives it, it is also an experience, a valuable lesson for me. Even if the result is not as expected, I will not be discouraged, I will not let myself fall into a negative state, but continue until I can conquer the audience with better, more complete works. No matter what, we must continue.

Phat has participated in many TV shows, showing humor, singing, dancing - a very different image from the screen. Many people worry that this will "distract" you. How do you assign roles to these different egos?

I understand that concern. Indeed, the image of a "young entertainer" in a game show is very different from that of an introverted actor. But I am not "distracted" at all, on the contrary, I see it as a necessary balance.

I assign roles to these "egos" very clearly. As a movie actor, I work seriously, focus, dig deep, and devote 100% to the character's emotions. That is Phat of stillness and discovery . As a game show player, I can release energy, relax, and return to my true self - happy, humorous. That is where I recharge my batteries and stay fresh.

Both of these images feed each other. The authenticity in game shows helps me avoid being "technical" when acting, and the discipline on set helps me always maintain the necessary limits when participating in entertainment activities.

In the film "Doctor in exile", Lien Binh Phat plays the role of doctor Pham Van Ninh, who leaves Vietnam to Taiwan to take care of his mother who is in a serious accident. During this time, Pham Van Ninh always has to face the conflict between his professional ideals and the harsh reality of 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 wasn't an actor, I would probably be a tour guide or doing some sort of exploration. I love traveling, meeting new people and hearing their stories.

Life may be less glamorous, but it will definitely be full of new journeys and experiences. Whatever role I play, I will still be a curious and a listener, because that is my nature.

Phat came to acting quite 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 way or a different path?

The most valuable thing I learned from my "self-study" journey is observation and honesty. Life is my biggest school. I learned acting from observing people around me, from 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 another path, because it was the twists and turns, the stumbles, the days of being a fair MC, the days of being rejected... that created a Lien Binh Phat with enough experience to transform into the inner roles like today. Everything has its reason.

Lien Binh Phat in "Quan Ky Nam" (released November 28, 2025), the film just won the Shooting Star award at the Hawaii International Film Festival

Do you often find yourself lonely in a crowd?

I think loneliness is an indispensable part of being an artist. It is the loneliness when you have to dig deep into the character's emotions, face the hidden corners, the sadness that cannot be shared. Sometimes, after the bursts of laughter on game shows or the glorious moments on stage, you still have to return to the empty room and ask yourself: "Who am I in all these roles?".

I am not afraid of that loneliness. I see it as a necessary space to listen to myself, to recharge my emotional "material" and to remind myself to always stay honest. Only with loneliness can I have deep empathy for the character, and be able to bring the most genuine emotions to the screen.

Lien Binh Phat in the concert "Brother overcomes thousands of obstacles" (March 2025)

What roles does Phat envision himself taking on in the coming years?

I hope to have the opportunity to try more challenging and groundbreaking roles. For example, a deep villain role, a historical character, or a role that requires extreme physical changes. I want to break away from my current calm and composed image. I want to prove that I am capable of taking on more complex, psychologically charged characters. I crave to challenge myself.

After all, what does cinema mean to you - is it a job, a passion, or a way to understand yourself?

For me, cinema is the combination of all three: It is a job that requires the highest level of professionalism and discipline. It is a passion because it allows me to live hundreds of different lives. And most importantly, it is a way for me to understand myself. Each role is a mirror, helping me discover the limits and hidden corners that I have never touched.

Cinema is not just a profession, but a journey of maturity, 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