Ngoc Xuan: "I want to keep my feet on the ground."

A young, amateur actress won the only Vietnamese film award at HANIFF VII for her debut leading role as a relatively unknown name in the film industry: Ngoc Xuan. What were the feelings of the actress playing Mien when her name was called?

I have to say I was extremely surprised because this is my debut film and the list of nominees has many strong contenders. From the moment I accepted the role until I completed all the filming, I put the audience first and dedicated everything I had to the role of Miền. Therefore, my biggest expectation was simply to make an impression on viewers rather than dreaming of winning an award at an international film festival.

My first step on the path to achieving my dreams has been recognized, and this is a huge motivation for me. I will continue to strive to develop myself, persevere on the path I have chosen, keep a heart full of emotion, a vivid imagination, and feet always grounded.

- Ảnh 2. — *The girl we both pursued back then.*

In Luis Sepúlveda's famous book , "The Story of a Cat Who Taught a Seagull to Fly," a novel for young people aged 8 to 88, there's a line that says, "Only those who dare can fly," without the parenthetical remark: "still must keep their feet on the ground," as you just mentioned. Why is that parenthetical remark necessary? Wouldn't it be making things difficult for yourself?

I truly don't mind being different from myself; on the contrary, I enjoy it and have the opportunity to understand myself better as I see myself changing a little each day. I see myself as an onion, with many different layers, and I have to peel them back one by one. The tool for this is meeting different people and having different experiences and turning points in life; or when I encounter a role that is similar to me, one that I can empathize with, yet different enough to make me want to conquer it, like Miền.

Who taught you your first acting lessons? What example do you remember most?

My first acting mentor was People's Artist Hong Van (a student majoring in Professional Communication at RMIT Vietnam University, who also took acting training at Hong Van's theater - PV). Her lesson was about self-confidence. Before that, I was a very insecure girl, not only insecure about my appearance but also lacking faith in my own inner strength. Her encouragement motivated me to break out of my shell and love myself more, allowing me to view the world around me with more calmness and serenity.

When playing the role of Miền, did you feel pressured by the similar character in Nguyễn Nhật Ánh's novel/film, *Mắt Biếc*: the Dutch girl portrayed by Trúc Anh? The two "muses" have quite similar fates and appearances, so how did you create a difference in your performance?

I don't feel pressured by this. Through Ms. Ánh's writing, the two stories have different plot developments and messages, and the world around them, as well as the inner world of the characters, are also different. Besides, I believe that with their life experiences, empathy, and imagination, each actor will have their own unique approach and portrayal of the characters, making it difficult to duplicate anyone else's.

I am delighted to take on the role of Mien - a girl with a deep soul and intense, surging emotions within, contrasting with her gentle and quiet exterior.

After making a beautiful first impression, many actresses dubbed the "screen goddesses" of Vietnamese cinema have become "typecast" by that very "specialty," even disappearing from the scene, especially since Vietnamese cinema currently lacks many films of the "youthful school romance" type. Do you think you have the ability to break free from that role?

I hope my next role will have greater psychological depth and a wider range of emotional expression. I've always been curious about human emotions when faced with the brink of life and death or struggling with psychological/mental trauma. Hopefully, in the future, I can take on such challenging roles.

- Ảnh 4. — *Our shared love of reading brought me and Miền closer together.*

Coincidentally, recent Vietnamese "blockbuster" films have all been heavily reliant on everyday life, raw and gritty, full of noise and drama. What bright prospects are there for a "muse" with an "ethereal" beauty to enter that world?

I find myself interesting because of the contrast between my seemingly gentle exterior and my strong inner personality. Furthermore, my life experiences are very diverse, having grown up and observed many different environments. What I need to do is enrich my life experiences and broaden the range of my emotional expression.

I understand it's a challenge, but I'm a mountain climber, and I'll persevere in conquering as many peaks as possible on this journey.

What are the similarities and differences between Xuan and Mien?

Mien is a girl with a very intense emotional flow and views on love and life that far surpass her context and era. To help Mien develop that worldview, the writer Nguyen Nhat Anh introduced her to the bookshelf of Mr. Giao Duong's house, and it was this shared love of reading that brought Mien and me closer. I believe that a person's inner world is built not only by their family or the events they observe in daily life, but also by the literary works they study/read.

Besides those overflowing emotions and profound inner feelings, Miền also attracted me because of the maturity of a young woman who always had to be more grown-up than her age, like a guava that was forced to ripen prematurely (I was even called a "little old man" because of my precocious thoughts). All of the above motivated me to try my hand at it, especially for my first foray into film.

There's an interesting detail in your resume: Besides your major in Communications at RMIT University, you're also particularly interested in food photography. Why? Is there a connection between how a dish is presented and how an actor analyzes a role?

During my time studying Communications in Australia, I also worked as a waitress at a buffet restaurant in Melbourne and had the opportunity to observe how people produced beautiful images from those meals to promote their products/services to their major clients and partners. Food photography is a fascinating art form and has given me some insight into the acting career I want to pursue.

When I cook or present a dish, I first need to know who my diners are, what they like, what they need, and when they would like to eat it. The essential first step is to find the right ingredients and how to combine them; then, when cooking, I need to know whether to use high or low heat first, when to add or remove water… It requires effort, dedication, and always thinking of the person I will be serving. But on the other hand, I must find joy first, in the entire process of making the dish, from selecting the ingredients, preparing them, and refining them…

I find those things quite similar to finding material for my character. First, I need suggestions from the head chef (screenwriter, director), then I add my own touches, enriching it with my own unique elements, to create the character's habits and lifestyle. Whether it's a dish in a restaurant or a character in a film genre, the presentation must first make the diner want to eat it, the viewer want to learn more about it – that's the first impression. And finally, the role, once created, must be something to "eat," just as the character, once born, must be something to "live."

- Ảnh 6. — *Ngoc Xuan's memorable portrayal in "Once Upon a Love Story."*

Possessing a pure, natural beauty – a rarity in an entertainment industry filled with so many surgically altered faces – how do you treat this "asset" of yours? Are you willing to take on a role where appearance isn't your strongest asset?

As someone who cares deeply about beauty, both inside and out, I understand that achieving beauty requires investment. Where does that investment come from? Time, effort, willpower… and money too. The form of investment varies from person to person.

For my part, I put in the effort to train to have a healthy physique, and I spent time learning about the beauty industry… The most important thing is that the motivation for self-development must come from within myself. For me, people who are confident, steadfast in their chosen path, understand what they need, want, and are doing are the ones who shine and attract me the most.

Even with roles that are considered unattractive (by the majority's perception), I'm still willing to embody them, as long as the character's story contributes to the film's aesthetic value.

How do you think a young person's innocent outlook on life will help them navigate life: Will they be easily exploited and hurt, or will they be optimistic enough to get back on their feet and move forward?

A pure and innocent perspective on life helps young people gather more emotional material, but it doesn't mean they're easily manipulated. Whether or not they are taken advantage of is a matter of personal choice.

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