Doãn Quốc Đam is a Vietnamese actor who has won plaudits for his roles in many films and television series and is noted for expressing interest in diverse roles. He has played parts on the small screen such as Người phán xử (The Arbitrator), Quỳnh búp bê (Quỳnh the Doll) and films Mê cung (Labyrinth) and the film Đào, Phở và Piano (Peach Blossom, Phở and Piano). He received the Cánh Diều Vàng (Golden Kite) Award in 2020 for his best supporting actor role in the film Labyrinth.

Actor Doãn Quốc Đam has a reputation for tackling a number of diverse roles. — Photo courtesy of the actor

Đam talked with Việt Nam News reporter Minh Khuê about why he still believes he has much to learn.

Where do you find the learning sources for your acting?

I learn from life – from what I have observed, what I have experienced or the stories others told me – these can all be material for me to learn from. I also often watch my Vietnamese co-stars, to learn from their performances and I also watch foreign films.

Each actor and actress has a wide spectrum of acting. It can be done very well in one aspect, but it might not be as nice in a different one. That is a common thing so I frequently consider different aspects of other people to grow and improve.

Which role is the most difficult for you?

Every role is challenging and I always strive to give my best performance in every role. The audience and the director are the ones who give the evaluation and recognition. Additionally, I don't believe that playing the lead is harder than playing a supporting character, because the entire film crew – not just me – have made the film.

I initially struggled because certain acting roles were decided as a matter of urgency. I portrayed two characters in the film Labyrinth: Fedora, a murderer and Long Nhật, an autistic IT genius. About two weeks before the production date, director Khải Anh assigned me the roles, so I had to wonder about these characters the entire day. Every night for a week, I learned about Canadian physics genius Jacob Barnett, who has autism and I observed an actual autistic person to learn from him.

But when the camera was cut, Fedora was Fedora and Đam is still Đam. I always keep going – if a role is recognised as excellent, I must try to improve the next role. I don't think I'm at my peak because everyone is looking at me and admiring me. I have learned that there is always someone better, so I cannot be head and shoulders above the rest. I've never felt the urge to seek awards or recognition. Acting is how I find happiness for myself, if the audience finds it enjoyable, so will I.

Doãn Quốc Đam (left) in the film 'Đào, Phở và Piano' (Peach Blossom, Phở and Piano). — Photo courtesy of Film 1 Joint Stock Company

Is there any Vietnamese actor that you like and respect the most?

Among the male actors in our country, I like and respect actor Thái Hoà the most.

Thái Hoà is a talented actor and his career and acting abilities offer abundant knowledge for upcoming actors but I don't try to model myself on anyone.

The multifaceted characters in American films have influenced me; I find their character development to be rather compelling. Every character is not entirely evil, they are all at least partially human. And nobody is born to commit theft or robbery, are they? But a lot of outside circumstances influence and force them to that point.

Is acting in films or television series more difficult?

I think both are difficult. As for me, whether good or bad is not the question, but acting correctly and truthfully is the most important thing. Because if it's real, only then will the audience believe it.

What type of character do you want to try in the future?

I want to try a character in the LGBT community. I am worried that I might not be good enough for it and I am still waiting for an invitation. There are many other options out there that I want to try, but I haven't yet touched on this kind of character. – VNS