by Thu Anh

After years of working hard, three young film actresses of HCM City are making their mark and leading a new generation that is inspiring audiences.

Hoàng Yến began her career with a 100-episode sitcom on Việt Nam Television when she was 14 years old.

She is now a new idol in both film and music after nearly 10 years working in the industry.

Her latest film, Tháng Năm Rực Rỡ (Splendid Years), a remake of a South Korean hit called Sunny, was released last month and was a hit in Việt Nam.

The film on urban women earned more than VNĐ65 billion (US$2.85 million) in ticket sales 10 days after release.

Yến performed a leading role besides stars Hồng Ánh and Mỹ Duyên, winners of the Golden Kite for Best Actress, presented by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association.

Last year, Yến played a supporting role in Cô Gái Đến Từ Hôm Qua (The Girl from Yesterday), a production by CJ Entertainment of South Korea, in co-operation with its Vietnamese partner, Yeah1 CMG.  

The film features a group of boys and girls, their problems and conflicts in life and love.      

It was sent for competition in World Fantastic Blue, a category for international fantasy, science fiction, comedy and drama, at the Busan International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in South Korea last year.   

“After working with Yến, I knew that her career would be film,” said the film’s director Phan Gia Nhật Linh.     

Cô Gái Đến Từ Hôm Qua helped Yến have a big chance in Tháng Năm Rực Rỡ, a production by veteran director Nguyễn Quang Dũng.

Dũng directed a series of quality films, including Nụ Hôn Thần Chết (A Kiss of Death), Những Nụ Hôn Rực Rỡ (Vivid Kisses) and Mỹ Nhân Kế (Beauty Trap), favourites among young audiences that broke records in ticket sales at that time.   

Yến later was invited to perform in two comedies, Kế Hoạch Đổi Chồng (Plan of Marriages) and Ả Xe Ôm và Gã Đứng Đường (Female Motorbike Taxi Driver and Homeless Man), both of which will be released this summer.

“I’m young so I wanted to develop my career in both films and music,” said 23-year-old Yến, who has released 20 MVs and albums in pop and dance.  

Younger than Yến, Kaity Nguyễn studied in the US before returning to HCM City for her career.  

Kaity performed in Em Chưa 18 (Jailbait), a drama-comedy hit by director Lê Thanh Sơn last year. 

She played Linh Đan, a 17-year-old student from a bilingual school who discovers herself through her relationship with a handsome yoga instructor.

Kaity won the Best Film Actress at Việt Nam Film Festival 2017 presented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

The film earned VNĐ170 billion (US$7.5 million) with 2.5 million tickets sold in the first three weeks of its release, becoming the highest-grossing film in the country of all time, overcoming Hollywood blockbusters Kong: Skull Island and Fast and Furious 8.   

With the film’s success, Kaity was added to the list of young stars together with talented actresses Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc and Phương Trinh.   

“Passion for work is not enough for young women to overcome difficulties in this industry. You should be dynamic and energetic, and be prepared for failure at any time,” said 18-year-old Kaity, who has nearly 500,000 fans on her Facebook fanpage.

 “I wanted to develop my career in a professional way,” she added.

Kaity’s new project is a comedy film that will be released in December.

Another new face, Nhã Phương, began her career three years ago making TV series and short films. Her works have won acclaim from young audiences.

Her latest films, Yêu Đi Đừng Sợ (Don’t Be Affair, Just Love) and Lôi Báo ((In the Storm), were big hits last year. 

In a recent interview with local media, Phương said: “I love featuring the aspirations and difficulties in young women’s lives. I hope my art provides both entertainment and valuable lessons to young people, especially female teenagers,” said the 27 year-old, a graduate of the HCM City University of Theatre & Cinematography.

Her latest film, Hoán Đổi (Changes), a science fiction work by director Võ Thanh Hòa, will be released this year. VNS