The Old Guard 2 marks the eighth international film featuring Ngo Thanh Van. Unfortunately, the movie received negative reviews for its lackluster and shallow storyline and rushed pacing.
The Old Guard 2 attracted much attention upon its release but was met with a wave of negative reactions from audiences.
The Old Guard 2: Ngo Thanh Van’s performance shines despite criticism, and her “scary” makeup startles her own mother
Since its release, The Old Guard 2 has received a significant amount of criticism from fans. Many expressed their disappointment with the script and pacing, commenting that while the first installment was excellent, the sequel felt like a “YouTube movie.”
Despite the negative feedback, Ngo Thanh Van’s performance as Quynh stood out and received high praise. Representing Vietnam, she left a strong impression, especially during the intense confrontation with the lead character, Andy (Charlize Theron).
Ngo Thanh Van’s performance as Quynh received high praise despite the negative feedback on the film.
With significant screen time, Ngo Thanh Van showcased her expertise in close-combat scenes and complex emotional sequences. In a climactic scene, she delivered a powerful line in Vietnamese: “You traitor. You will die alone and in darkness.”
The “chemistry” between Ngo Thanh Van and Charlize Theron was highly praised.
Most audience feedback was full of compliments for Ngo Thanh Van: “Ngo Thanh Van was excellent, Theron was top-notch, but the directing and cinematography were like a YouTube movie,” “Proud to be Vietnamese! Visuals, acting, and chemistry were all top-notch,” “Watched it for Ngo Thanh Van. The movie was dull, but her scenes were great,” “She had a lot of screen time and really stood out, especially in the final scene. Her performance was cinematic, stylish, and badass,” “The movie was meh, but the chemistry between Quynh and Andy was explosive,”…
Despite the negative feedback on the film, Ngo Thanh Van received an abundance of praise from audiences.
In addition to her performance, Ngo Thanh Van also caused a stir by sharing a behind-the-scenes video of her makeup transformation for her role in The Old Guard 2. Her appearance was strikingly different and haunting.
In a flashback scene, her character, Quynh, appears with a disheveled look, covered in blood and wounds—a stark contrast to Ngo Thanh Van’s usual beautiful appearance.
Ngo Thanh Van shared a behind-the-scenes video of her makeup transformation for her role in The Old Guard 2.
The video also featured Ngo Thanh Van’s mother, who accompanied her during the filming process abroad. Ngo Thanh Van jokingly said: “I wonder what my mother thinks now, seeing her daughter made up like this instead of as a princess or a beauty”.
Upon seeing her daughter’s transformed appearance, Ngo Thanh Van’s mother immediately jumped up in surprise and exclaimed: “Oh my God, it’s so scary,” “She looks like a ghost, it’s terrifying,” “That doesn’t look like my daughter,”…
Ngo Thanh Van’s makeup transformation startled her mother.
WATCH: Ngo Thanh Van’s makeup transformation.
Ngo Thanh Van’s journey to international recognition
To secure her memorable role in The Old Guard 2, the versatile “action lady” of Vietnamese cinema, Ngo Thanh Van, embarked on a challenging journey. Starting from minor, silent roles, she persevered even when her screen time was limited to a few seconds in international projects.
Her first step into the international arena was the musical film Rouge (The Angels), aired on MTV Asia in 2004. This 14-episode collaboration between MTV Asia and MediaCorp (Singapore) centered on a group of four young women who were both singers and warriors fighting against evil.
Ngo Thanh Van beat over 400 contestants from across Asia to land the role of Thuy.
To secure the role of Thuy, one of the four group members, Ngo Thanh Van competed against more than 400 contestants from across Asia. The rigorous selection process evaluated their English proficiency, singing, and dancing abilities. While her acting at the time was not yet polished, Ngo Thanh Van accomplished something that few actors from a small film industry like Vietnam had achieved up to that point.
Ngo Thanh Van appeared in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016).
Years later, when Ngo Thanh Van had firmly established her name in Vietnam, she surprised everyone by appearing in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)—the sequel to the Oscar-winning martial arts epic. Portraying the assassin Mantis, she faced off against the lead character played by Michelle Yeoh, showcasing stunning martial arts sequences and a cold, sharp demeanor.
As the assassin Mantis, she faced off against the lead character played by Michelle Yeoh.
Mantis only appeared in the final battle, but she made an impact by taking down several characters from the protagonist’s side. Ngo Thanh Van’s inclusion in the film’s poster, despite her minor role, came as a surprise to the actress. She shared that she joined the project primarily to learn about film production.
Despite her minor role, Ngo Thanh Van appeared in the film’s poster.
In 2017, Ngo Thanh Van took on the role of Paige Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. As a female pilot on the Resistance side, she had a quick yet professional combat scene and a segment that showcased her character’s inner turmoil. Her appearance in such a significant cultural phenomenon as Star Wars was undoubtedly a source of pride for the actress and Vietnamese cinema, even with limited screen time.
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Ngo Thanh Van played Paige Tico, a female pilot on the Resistance side.
That same year, in Bright—a fantasy action film by Netflix starring Will Smith—Ngo Thanh Van portrayed an Elf assassin named Tien. However, this character only made a brief appearance and lacked depth.
In 2020, she appeared in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods as the voice of Hanoi Hannah, a radio broadcaster. This role did not involve much screen time, as the character was primarily heard over the radio.
Ngo Thanh Van in The Old Guard.
It was only with The Old Guard (2020) that Ngo Thanh Van truly broke through in her Hollywood career. She played Quynh, an immortal warrior imprisoned at the bottom of the ocean. Although she only appeared in a flashback scene at the end of the film, her character was crucial, serving as the key to the second installment. Ngo Thanh Van proactively suggested changing the character’s name and nationality from Japanese to Vietnamese, and the production team agreed.
Quynh, played by Ngo Thanh Van, is a pivotal character despite her brief appearance.
While her role was short, it left a lasting impression. For the first time, she received recognition from international critics for her emotional depth rather than her action scenes. Greg Rucka, the film’s screenwriter, commented: “I think what she does with her one line in that scene is chilling”.
The Los Angeles Times noted: “Critics and audiences were intrigued by this character, finding her centuries-long imprisonment in an iron maiden, constantly dying and reviving, haunting. Her performance left a deep impression, leaving viewers eager to see more of Quynh in the sequels.”
Ngo Thanh Van received international acclaim for her emotional depth in The Old Guard.
Additionally, Ngo Thanh Van has been involved in other international projects like The Princess (2022) and The Creator (2023), consistently incorporating Vietnamese elements into her characters to promote her homeland on the global screen.
The “action lady” once shared: “Whenever I join a Hollywood project, I always change the character’s origin to Vietnamese. And if the character is already Vietnamese, I add distinct Vietnamese traits to the Vietnamese dialogues. Because whenever I have the opportunity to be in an international project, I always want to leave an impression that I am a Vietnamese. The Vietnamese dialogues in The Creator were also my own addition.”
Indeed, each of Ngo Thanh Van’s international roles, regardless of size, has left a unique mark thanks to her exceptional martial arts skills, strong presence, and emotionally rich performances. Notably, her unwavering determination to promote herself in the global film industry and showcase Vietnamese culture is truly commendable.
Ngo Thanh Van – A versatile talent in Vietnamese entertainment
Ngo Thanh Van, born in 1979 in Tra Vinh, began her career as a model and singer before transitioning into acting. She was the first runner-up in the Miss Vietnam Photography contest in 2000 and quickly made an impact with her roles in popular Vietnamese action films such as The Rebel, Clash, Burning Paradise: Revolution, Furie. Beyond acting, she has also ventured into producing and directing, contributing to the international success of Vietnamese films like Tam Cam: The Untold Story, Song Lang, Co Ba Saigon.
In addition to acting, Ngo Thanh Van is a producer, director, and entrepreneur, contributing to the global success of Vietnamese films.
In her journey to international recognition, Ngo Thanh Van has faced challenges related to language, culture, and prejudices. She shared that opportunities for Vietnamese actors in Hollywood are limited, as there is a preference for Asian actors who have lived abroad for many years. However, with perseverance and passion, she believes that the day when Vietnamese talent is recognized and valued on the world stage is not far off.
Ngo Thanh Van believes that Vietnamese talent will soon be recognized and valued in the global film industry.
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