2017 has been a good year for actresses of Vietnamese descent on the international stage.
On December 22, Netflix premiered the buddy-cop fantasy Bright, starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton as cop partners in a fictional universe where humans coexist with mythological creatures such as orcs, elves, centaurs and more. Swedish actress Noomi Rapace plays villainess Leilah who tries to resurrect the elusive – wait for it – Dark Lord.
The reviews so far haven’t been positive: the film was panned by critics for its clichéd storytelling and contrived allusions to the US’ current racial issues. However, Vietnamese viewers might be glad to see one of the country’s most prominent action stars, Ngo Thanh Van, on screen alongside Hollywood actors.
Van plays sterling assassin Tien, one of Leilah’s henchmen. Although Tien only appears sparingly in the movie and doesn’t have any lines, Van’s performance – which involves some sleek fighting sequences – was solid.
In February, Van shared on her personal Facebook account scores of photos taken on the set of Bright with Tien’s wig and costumes. She added that the part was only a supporting role, but she was excited for the opportunity to work in a highly professional environment. For the role of the dagger-wielding, flaxen-haired Tien, Van had to hone her shooting and martial arts skills, in addition to complying with strict dietary restrictions.
Ngo Thanh Van on the set of Bright. Photos via Ngo Thanh Van's Facebook account.
Ngo Thanh Van is no stranger to Hollywood productions: she previously starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, the 2016 Netflix sequel to Ang Lee’s award-winning action flick. Most recently, Van had a part in the latest Star Wars movie alongside Vietnamese-American scene-stealer Kelly Marie Tran.
However, Tien of Bright is definitely a step up for the Vietnamese actress, as her screen time saw an increase compared to the previous productions.
Have a look at Bright’s trailer below and see if you can spot Ngo Thanh Van:
Video via YouTube account Netflix.
[Photo via Kenh14]
