Phung Duc Hieu: Embodying two contrasting roles and a 'slow but steady' path.
The actor shared about the challenge of simultaneously taking on two contrasting roles in 'Wind Across the Blue Sky' and 'The Dividing Line', and revealed his philosophy of pursuing a sustainable career instead of seeking quick fame.
Actor Phung Duc Hieu is attracting attention for appearing simultaneously in two television dramas with two completely contrasting character portrayals. He plays the romantic Dung in "Wind Across the Blue Sky" and a tough police officer named Tran Van Thanh in "The Dividing Line". For him, this is an opportunity to grow professionally, with the hope that the audience will remember the character rather than the actor's name.
The challenge: to embody two contrasting roles.
Phùng Đức Hiếu stated that he had completely different mental preparations for the two roles. For the character Dũng in "Wind Across the Blue Sky," he played a man around 35 years old, somewhat whimsical and romantic, yet still practical. Conversely, Lieutenant Trần Văn Thành in "The Dividing Line" was an investigator with a serious, decisive personality and resolute actions, embodying the high discipline of a police officer.
The fact that the two films aired almost simultaneously was seen as a valuable opportunity for the actor to delve deeper into psychological analysis, explore the differences between the characters, and avoid being typecast into a particular role.
Memorable moments on set
During the filming of "Wind Across the Blue Sky," Phung Duc Hieu had many memorable experiences. He shared about a scene where he had to run away with his co-star Viet Hoa through the streets. Although it only lasted a few minutes in the film, they had to film continuously for nearly four hours, running non-stop throughout the neighborhood. Another scene was a romantic moment between Dung and Ngan, where some of the characters' silly lines made him laugh and he had to pause to regain his composure.
Serious investment in the role of a police officer.
For his role in "The Dividing Line," Phùng Đức Hiếu had to delve deeper into investigative work. Although he had previously played police officers in "Street in the Village" and "Village in the City," the role of investigator Trần Văn Thành demanded a different performance, from gestures and eye contact to the way he spoke, all of which had to exude discipline and sharpness.
He spent time observing firsthand how police officers work, from their movements and gazes to how they handle files. The actor also said that his introverted personality was honed to portray the "undercurrent of fire" in tense confrontation scenes, under the careful guidance of director and Meritorious Artist Nguyen Mai Hien.
The 'slow but steady' path and the philosophy of the profession.
Filming two movies simultaneously was an experience that helped Phung Duc Hieu realize his growth in emotional transition and maintaining stable energy. In the morning, he was the gentle and refined "tea master" Dung; in the afternoon, he transformed into the serious and tense investigator Tran Van Thanh.
When asked about choosing a "slow but steady" approach instead of focusing on image building for quick fame, he affirmed that this choice stemmed from his personality. He respects all paths but chooses to focus on honing his skills and developing a serious work ethic. For him, a solid foundation is the key to long-term success.
What the actor desires most is for the audience to feel the authenticity of the character's emotions, to empathize and find a part of themselves in it. He believes that genuine emotions are what keep audiences engaged for the long term, and hopes that each role will bring positive energy and valuable reflections to viewers.
