Actress Thanh Hien Sparks Audience Frenzy with Villainous Role

Actress Thanh Hien is drawing significant attention for her portrayal of the villainous Ba Phan in the currently airing 55-episode drama "Nợ đời vay trả." The character, described as ambitious, cunning, and cruel, has elicited strong reactions from viewers. Since its premiere in May, the drama has garnered hundreds of thousands of views per episode on YouTube. In the episode aired on July 12, Ba Phan's past crimes were brought to light. The truth about her poisoning bà Mai 20 years ago to seize the position of matriarch in the Hội đồng Bân family was exposed. Furthermore, her illicit relationship with a former lover was revealed by her daughter-in-law. Throughout the nearly two months the series has been on air, Thanh Hien's name has been frequently mentioned on forums and fan pages dedicated to the show. Many viewers have visited her personal page, using her real name to criticize her, with comments like, "Seeing Thanh Hien makes me sick; how can she play such an evil third party?" and "Watching this makes my blood boil; I hope Ba Phan pays soon." Hien shared that she has faced pressure since the early episodes. As a mother of two, she finds solace in her husband's encouragement: "Your performance makes people hate you like this, which is a success." Conversely, a segment of the audience has praised Hien's acting. Viewer Thu Hiep commented, "Thanh Hien has built a villain who avoids clichés, creating impact with her gaze, a half-smile, and calculated silences." To embody the character, Hien lost weight to achieve sharper facial features. She explained that upon receiving the script, she not only deeply researched the character's psychology but also meticulously focused on details such as costumes, makeup, gestures, and demeanor. She deliberately narrowed her eyes to better convey the character's cunning and malicious nature. Before each scene, Hien would envision how to perform it and actively observed similar archetypes in real life to portray the character as authentically as possible. She recounted that some emotionally taxing scenes left her exhausted, trembling, and breathless after the director called "cut," particularly a scene depicting a mother's grief over her daughter's death. Director NSƯT Hồ Ngọc Xum praised Hien's performance, stating, "Thanh Hien has delivered even better than I expected." At 37, Thanh Hien is a familiar face on television, known for her roles in "Nghiệp sinh tử" and "Cuộc chiến hào môn." In her personal life, she married actor Gia Bảo in 2014 and welcomed their daughter the same year. After three years of marriage, they divorced. She raised her daughter as a single mother for some time before finding happiness with her current husband, Thanh Long. The couple is expecting a new addition to their family by the end of 2025.