Yen Chi: the 'Queen Nam Phuong' still as beautiful as ever after 20 years

Recently, the 2000s film The Royal Candle (2004) suddenly became popular again. The reason is that many cuts of the film were posted on social networks such as TikTok and Facebook.

The audience was delighted with the film’s unique content, as well as the exquisite acting of the cast. In particular, the female leads of the two films were also noticed and highly praised.

"The Royal Candle" consists of 45 episodes, recreating and explaining the collapse of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam before the climax of the August Revolution in 1945. The film brings together hundreds of actors. One of the main and most impressive roles is that of Queen Nam Phuong, played by actress Tran Yen Chi.

With her delicate acting, Yen Chi has revived the image of Queen Nam Phuong, beautiful, elegant, and noble, always devoted to her husband, children, and country despite having to go through many storms. Up to now, many audiences still believe that Artist Yen Chi is the one who most successfully portrayed the image of Queen Nam Phuong.

Queen Nam Phuong was not only the last queen of Vietnam but also a symbol of beauty with noble character and a virtuous "mother of the world", always devoted to her country and to her husband - Emperor Bao Dai. During her lifetime, Queen Nam Phuong was not only talented but also possessed a proud, elegant beauty with a height of 1m75, white skin and elegant fashion style. Thanks to that, Queen Nam Phuong was awarded the title of Miss Indochina 3 times.

Taking on such a famous historical character was a huge pressure for Yen Chi, who had to spend many years learning how to act, from her gait, gestures to her speech to most realistically portray Queen Nam Phuong.

And not disappointing the audience's expectations, Yen Chi when on screen not only transformed excellently, reviving the image of a noble queen in everyone's heart but was also commented to possess a beauty 90% similar to Queen Nam Phuong from the eyes to every side angle. Yen Chi also portrayed the gentle beauty of a Southern girl, gentle and charming.

It is known that artist Yen Chi was the top student in the first class of the university system, Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema. With excellent academic achievements, she was retained as a lecturer in the Faculty of Performing Arts.

Later, she moved to Ho Chi Minh City, teaching at the University of Theatre and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, she is an Associate Professor - Doctor of Art Studies, and was promoted to Head of the Department of Acting.

It is known that the female Associate Professor, Doctor has completed a ministerial-level scientific research project, entitled: Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi Stage with its unique features. She hopes that through this scientific research project, she will analyze the differences between the two regions' stages, thereby having a basis for contributing to the orientation and investment strategies for stages that have influence on the public and are funded to stage high-end works according to the State's orders.

Artist Yen Chi is loved by students for her modesty, diligence and enthusiasm in teaching. "All the months of filming used up a lot of family money. Meals on set only had vegetables and tofu. But our extreme love for the profession at that time overcame all adversity" - artist Yen Chi once shared with the media.

Her artistic journey has included many impressive roles in films: Ngay ve; Nhung duong duong phu sa; Toi vao doi... especially the role of Queen Nam Phuong in the film Ngon can Hoang cung directed by Quoc Hung, produced by TFS film studio. The role of Khuyet in the play Bao khong mua is a beautiful mark for her stage career when she participated in plays on the stage of Ho Chi Minh City Drama Theater.

It is known that artist Yen Chi, since high school, was a math major, but in the end chose to be an actor. "I was a math major at Nguyen Gia Thieu secondary school (Hanoi), determined to pass the entrance exam to the University of Science and Technology. While waiting, I listened to my father's advice and registered to take the acting exam at the Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema, which opened its first university system that year. After several rounds of professional exams, I was valedictorian. When the cultural exam happened to be on the same day as the University of Science and Technology, I wondered and pondered for a long time, not knowing what to do.

Thinking that I had already gone halfway well, it would be a waste to drop out of art school, so I decided to continue. This made my mother angry for many months. She did not like me pursuing an acting career. After graduating from university with honors, I was retained as a lecturer at the school, something that had never happened before. On my first day as a teaching assistant, I "encountered" a specialized directing class whose students were cadres and famous actors, many of whom were "aunts and uncles" who knew my father, so I was scared to the point of trembling, always worried that... I would be scolded by my "students". I was forced to attend the class as a teaching assistant to make lecture outlines, a mandatory requirement in the process of becoming an official lecturer. Up to now, after more than 10 years of teaching, as well as being an actress, I increasingly love and feel responsible for the profession" - the actress shared.

Although current images of artist Yen Chi are quite rare, young generations of audiences still give endless praise to the female artist's dedication and beauty.

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