Vietnamese actress Lê Trần Thanh Tâm, top of Hanoi Theatre University, sparks debate over TV role

Lê Trần Thanh Tâm, born in 2005 in Thanh Hóa, entered the 2023 entrance exam for Hanoi's University of Theatre and Cinema with the help of friends who bought a fake admission file. She unexpectedly became the top entrant. Three years later, while a third‑year student in acting, she landed her first cinematic role as Trang in the television series “Dưới ô cửa sáng đèn,” aired on the prime‑time show “Giờ vàng.”

The character has generated controversy, with some viewers labeling her a “tiểu tam” (villainous girl). Thanh Tâm described the intense pressure of filming, especially during intimate and emotionally demanding scenes, and noted that the director called a crew member to support her on set. She also recounted personal reflections on the role’s impact, her mother's simple encouragement, and her earlier experience in the film “Huyền tình Dạ Trạch," which she considers a formative milestone in her acting career.