Ngô Thanh Vân

Life

Ngo was born on February 26, 1979 in Trà Vinh, Vietnam. When she was 10, she moved to Norway with her family, but later relocated to Vietnam to pursue an entertainment career.

In 1999, Ngo returned to Vietnam where she participated in a beauty pageant organized by the magazine Women's World, and finished as second runner-up. After that, she launched her modelling career in Vietnam as a model for magazines, calendars, and fashion collections. Soon after, she had her first acting role on the small screen in Huong De, a short TV series on HTV Channel.

Singing career

In 2002, Ngo transitioned into the music scene as a pop-dance singer with the help of producer Quoc Bao. She recorded the duet album called Vuon Tinh Nhan (Lovers' Garden) with established singer Tuan Hung.

One year later, again with the help of producer Quoc Bao, Ngo released her debut solo album, The Gioi Tro Choi (Playworld), on February 26. This album was a power pop-dance LP with the theme "NTV Virus". Two music videos were filmed for the album; "The Gioi Tro Choi" & "Ngay Tuoi Sang", a cover version of jtL's "A Better Day", which was directed by Jackie Chen. These two videos were the first Vietnamese music videos to feature professional special effects and are listed among the most expensive Vietnamese music videos to date.

In 2004, Ngo followed up with her second album, Bi An Vang Trang (Mystery of the Moon), which featured a moon theme, on March 15. Three videos were released from this album: "Bi An Vang Trang", the cheerleader-themed "Vuon Toi tam Cao (Reach for the Sky)", and the ballad "Khi Nao Em Buon (Whenever I'm Sad)", which was later covered by many artists including Mat Ngoc, Minh Thuan and Thanh Thảo.

Television & international approach

In 2004, Ngo made her first international appearance in Rouge, a 13-part late night television series aired on AZN Television. 'Rouge' was produced by MTV Asia & MediaCorp Singapore and was broadcast widely in Asia and Australia. For the remainder of the year, Ngo was busy with the promotional campaign for Rouge throughout Asia and the recording of her third album. She was chosen as the favourite actress in Rouge on the MTV Asia website.

On September 5, 2005, My Way, Ngo's third album, was released. This album was produced by Ngo herself and featured a collaboration with a group of producers called The Dreams. My Way featured multiple genres, from alternative rock to pop, R&B, and hip hop. She remixed the famous Trịnh Công Sơn song "Quynh Huong".

Acting success

After My Way, Ngo engaged herself further in acting, with many starring roles in films such as Saigon Love Story by Ringo Le, 2 in 1 by Dao Duy Phuc, and The Rebel by Charlie Nguyen Chanh Truc with Johnny Trí Nguyễn, the latter becoming (at that point) Vietnam's highest-grossing film of all time. Ngo's performance was highly praised by both critics and the public, and she was nominated for "Best Actress" at the 'Canh Dieu Vang' awards (Vietnam's Oscars) for the second time. In the spring of 2007, Ngo also starred in a new thriller called Ngoi Nha Bi An (Haunted Manor), which premiered in Vietnamese cinemas in November 2007. That December, Ngo was awarded the "Best Actress" prize at the 15th Vietnam Film Festival.

After her success in The Rebel, Ngo went public about her relationship with Johnny Trí Nguyễn, which ended his marriage with Cathy Viet Thi, a singer on Van Son.

Return to music

In autumn 2006, after a 2-month break in America, Ngo returned to Vietnam, and started recording her 4th album which she promised would be a dance anthem record. On October 2006, Ngo premiered one of her new songs "I Won't Stop Loving You," a new collaboration with Quốc Bảo, on the final episode of 21st Century Woman on VTV. But due to heavy promotion for The Rebel, the album release was pushed back to the summer of 2007. In May 2007, Ngo announced that the fourth album title would be Studio 68 and claimed that 68 was her lucky number. She released Studio 68 on January 10, 2008.

In 2006, Ngo signed a contract to appear in the long-running music and comedy show Van Son, produced by Van Son Entertainment, an overseas Vietnamese music production company. She has since appeared in every Van Son DVD release to date.

During the first months of 2008, Ngo began working on her next album Nuoc Mat Thien Than (Tears of Angel), while Studio 68 was awarded "Most Creative Album" in a monthly "Album Vang" prize.

Talent scouting

2009 saw Ngo once again starring beside Johnny Trí Nguyễn in a Chanh Phuong action movie Clash. She also opened her own talent agency called VAA.

In 2010, Ngo competed as a contestant in the Vietnamese version of Dancing With The Stars. She finished as the victor for season one. After winning, Ngo revealed that she would return to music in 2011. In Autumn, she embarked on a national promotional tour.

In December 2010, after 2 years training, NTV presented the first act of her agency, a five-piece boy-band called 365.

In 2011, Ngo was busy with the promotion of 365 (a pop boyband she managed), and various commercial contracts. She also played the leading role in the thriller Ngoi Nha Trong Hem (House In The Alley). The movie premiered nationwide in February 2012.

Discography

Below is the list of albums released by Ngo Thanh Van and the various music productions, films and television shows she has appeared in.

Albums

Compilations

Van Son DVD appearances

TV dramas

Movies

Reality TV series