Viet Anh: The thrilling journey from economics student to VTV's "villain king"?

Possessing a bright appearance, confident acting style and a spirit of constant dedication, Viet Anh has gradually affirmed his name and was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist by the State in 2023.

Born into a civil servant family in the Kim Lien housing complex – a symbol of Hanoi’s life during the subsidy period, Nguyen Le Viet Anh’s childhood was associated with cramped rooms, a simple but loving lifestyle. A major event occurred when his parents divorced, forcing the two brothers to live with their mother – a difficult period that soon tempered the maturity and determination of the young man.

Graduating from the National Economics University, Viet Anh's artistic path was not at all planned. In 2003, as a fateful turning point, he joined the first television actor training course of the Vietnam Television Film Production Center (VFC). It was here that he met Meritorious Artist Hoang Dung - who was not only a teacher but also a close co-star, an inspiration and laid the first bricks for Viet Anh's future artistic journey.

The big turning point came in 2006 when Viet Anh was assigned the role of Cao Thanh Lam in Chay An - a film in the Criminal Police series. Lam is a young intellectual who has fallen from grace, from a wild young man to a criminal. This complex villain image, with many psychological depths, became the first mark in Viet Anh's career.

The film was a huge success, and continued into the second part, which aired in 2008. With his realistic acting, Viet Anh touched the sympathy of the audience and became a sought-after name on the small screen. Running for Justice won the Golden Kite Award for Best Television Series and the Special Award at the 2008 Tokyo International Film Festival – milestones that recognized the talent of the crew and Viet Anh personally.

After his success, Viet Anh did not stop at acting. In 2009, he founded the media company New Style and produced the film Where Love Begins. Although the project was not successful due to legal problems, this was a milestone marking the first time Viet Anh tried his hand at the role of producer and director, showing his desire to explore new directions.

In 2014, he returned to the screen with the role of Thanh - a forest ranger in When the Birds Return (Part 3), one of the rare positive roles in his career. The role helped him win the Best Actor award at the National Television Festival and the Golden Kite Award in 2015. This was the first time he escaped the shadow of a villain role to affirm his ability to transform in many ways.

Not only limited to television, in 2016, Viet Anh invested in cinema with Bodyguard, Miss and the Fool - an action comedy film set in Ha Long Bay. The project had the participation of many famous artists such as Angela Phuong Trinh, Hong Van, Bang Kieu... Although the film received mixed opinions, it showed Viet Anh's efforts to enter the commercial film market - something that few television actors dared to do at that time.

In 2017, Viet Anh truly entered his most brilliant period with the role of Phan Hai in Nguoi phan xu. As the son of tycoon Phan Quan (NSND Hoang Dung), Phan Hai is a reckless, arrogant character, but also harbors many psychological instabilities. With his sharp performance, Viet Anh has created a new television icon - a villain who is not simply a villain, but a victim of power and ambition. This character also marks an impressive reunion between him and NSUT Hoang Dung, creating a powerful, emotional and very beloved father-son pair.

This role marked a great step forward in Viet Anh's acting. He controlled his emotions, deeply exploited psychology and turned Phan Hai into a character widely mentioned on both social networks and mass media. Lines like "Bo gia roi, quit!" or "If you don't do it, who will?" became viral phenomena, bringing Viet Anh's name closer to young audiences.

Also in 2017, Viet Anh appeared in the sitcom Wise Citizen, playing the role of single father Thinh – a familiar image, different from his previous socially-oriented roles. Although it was just a small project, this was a testament to his flexibility and determination to reinvent himself.

After more than 20 years of working in the arts, Viet Anh has clearly defined the image of a multi-talented artist - someone who is not afraid to try his hand at drama, psychology, comedy and action. He has gradually broken the stereotype of "specializing in villain roles" to affirm his ability to transform through each role.

With more than two decades of dedication to art, in 2023, Nguyen Le Viet Anh was officially awarded the title of Meritorious Artist by the State. This is not only a worthy recognition of his talent and tireless efforts, but also an important milestone, affirming a journey of serious, persistent and responsible artistic work - with the audience, with the profession, and with the national television industry.

Not only is he the most beloved "golden villain" on the small screen, Viet Anh is also a typical model of the generation of actors who grew up in the television environment. He brings together professionalism, a progressive spirit and a solid professional spirit. He constantly experiments and renews himself to avoid repetition, while gradually expanding his influence by taking on new roles such as producer and director - a testament to his burning and limitless artistic aspirations.

Nguyen Le Viet Anh's artistic journey is a living testament to a simple but profound truth: with talent, passion and perseverance, an artist can reach worthy heights. From an economics student who accidentally turned to art, he has made constant efforts to escape the shadow of his first roles, gradually affirming his own mark through many genres and character images. After more than two decades of being attached to the screen, Viet Anh has not only been recognized by the audience's affection but also by the noble title of Meritorious Artist - a worthy reward for a persistent, serious and constantly innovative journey in art. He is a testament to the generation of artists who grew up from television, reaching far thanks to their courage and belief in the path they have chosen.

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