There's a guy named Ta who stayed behind the screen.

The role felt effortless.

Immediately after the release of "Red Rain," the film crew shared that they couldn't have imagined the film would spread so rapidly. Just five days after its premiere, "Red Rain" achieved massive box office success and, upon leaving theaters, was recognized as the highest-grossing Vietnamese film ever. The characters in the film were quickly sought after and shared widely on social media platforms. One of those characters was Squad Leader Tran Dinh Ta. Ta captivated audiences not only with his genuine nature but also with his courage and kind heart… A character who resonated deeply with viewers through his striking portrayal, his strong regional personality, his simplicity, and his overwhelming love.

To embody Tran Dinh Ta – a soldier from Thanh Hoa – Phuong Nam stepped out of his comfort zone. He lost weight, learned his local accent, and endured the harsh sun and wind of the battlefield film set. Countless hardships and difficulties befell him and the actors of "Red Rain" in general, but driven by their love for the profession and their desire to bring vivid historical footage, recreating the image of the soldiers of Quang Tri Citadel during the 81 days and nights of life and death, the cast overcame these challenges and delivered the most authentic and moving images to the viewers. Among them is Phuong Nam, an actor who was previously unknown but is now sought after and loved by fans and the public...

Speaking about the grueling days on the set of Quang Tri Citadel, Phuong Nam is still deeply moved. He said, "Squad Leader Tran Dinh Ta showed me the brutality of war, the courage and optimistic spirit, and the yearning for peace in the most difficult and dangerous times. This squad leader and the soldiers of Quang Tri Citadel who fought alongside us showed us that 'the price of peace is priceless'."

"Brother Ta" brought Phương Nam a mix of conflicting emotions. After filming wrapped, Nam released a few clips of "Brother Ta" in the film: thin, dark-skinned, with yellow teeth... His disheveled appearance sparked a barrage of comments: some worried Nam was seriously ill, others speculated he had fallen into depravity... It wasn't until the film's release that the feedback finally settled on the right topic:"This isn't a performance; these are real soldiers from the Citadel."That "aesthetic ugliness" did its job: destroying the glitz and glamour to make way for "authenticity." For Phuong Nam, what greater happiness could there be?I never thought about making war films to become famous; I only hoped to participate to better understand history and appreciate the value of peace today.Phuong Nam shared.

In the film, Mr. Ta has something in common with Phuong Nam in real life: both are fathers with young daughters. During the filming, Phuong Nam's daughter, Nguyen Oc, broke her arm, so her father had to play the part."A soldier on the battlefield misses his child terribly."The letter to his child was also read aloud by "Mr. Ta," his voice trembling with the same longing and affection."I miss it so much."In the film, these words became the heartfelt words of the young father on the set of "Red Rain".

A performance that felt effortless left a lasting impression on both the actor and the audience. Phuong Nam shared:"When I'm with the film crew on tour or participating in the A80 event, many artists don't know my real name; they all call me: Anh Ta. That name is so dear to me, so endearing, and it brings me so much love."

The turning point from the football field to the stage.

Few people know that, before pursuing acting, Phuong Nam once dreamed of playing football. The young man from Thanh Hoa only thought he would be a soccer player. But fate took a different turn. That year, the program he chose at the University of Physical Education and Sports wasn't accepting applications, and he had a "gap year" filled with shame towards his parents and inferiority complex among his friends… The very next year, Phuong Nam applied to the Hanoi University of Theatre and Film because… he was good at Literature. Initially, it was just a test. It wasn't until a third-year exam, when he saw a classmate burst into tears on stage, that Phuong Nam realized:"It turns out acting is like living another life."From then on, Phuong Nam began searching for those lives…

Phuong Nam's first acting role wasn't flashy. It was a gangster role in a web series, but it brought him a special gift: Yen Trinh – a girl who had just graduated with a degree in directing, worked as a casting manager, and later became his wife. Phuong Nam remembers that casting session vividly; he and Yen Trinh addressed each other as uncle and niece, he looked incredibly handsome, but when he saw Yen Trinh sitting in the brightly lit cafe, her bangs falling down, her eyes quite cold, Phuong Nam was devastated and blurted out:"Do you know that feeling when you see someone for the first time and instantly want to marry them?" -Phuong Nam recounted the story with a touch of shyness. A quiet beginning, yet a serendipitous one!

"The King of Casting Failures" and the Principles of the Profession

Southern Vietnam admits:I'm a "master" of failing castings because I'm very slow to get into character.Without sufficient time for the character, he cannot embody the role. And so it became a professional principle: A sufficiently long process is needed to understand the character's life; avoiding saturation within the film industry. After "Red Rain," Phuong Nam will continue to challenge himself with different themes and film genres, so that audiences will see a different Phuong Nam, but still one who acts with genuine emotion.

When he leaves the film set, closing the chapter on his role, Phuong Nam returns to his small house, which is his true life. There, he hears his daughter's voice calling, "Dad, you're home?", and Yen Trinh – the woman who has been with him on his artistic journey. His daughter, Nguyen Oc, isn't old enough to watch "Red Rain," but she knows every character's name by heart thanks to the stories her father tells her every night. She even played the role of Ta's child in Hoa Minzy's music video "Pain in Peace.""The original snail again" I prefer Mr. Cuong, the handsome musician, to Mr. Ta, who is thin, dark-skinned, and has a lot of lice."- Phuong Nam scratched his head and shared.

Having made his mark with "Red Rain," actor Nguyen Phuong Nam chose a slow but steady approach, because he wanted to retain a part of his heart, a piece of emotion, and more than that, for him:"The audience might forget my name, but if they still remember Anh Ta – the soldier from 'Red Rain,' then I'll be happy enough."

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Actor Nguyen Phuong Nam has previously appeared in several supporting roles in television series such as "My House Is So Strange" and "Investigation Team No. 7". In 2021, he played Binh Tu - the tough-guy character in the film "Cau Vang". In 2023, he played Hoang - the main character in the feature film "The Rose Squad" (People's Army Film Studio).