Hoàng Thùy Linh

Biography

Hoàng Thùy Linh (Vietnamese pronunciation: [hwaːŋ˨˩ tʰwi˨˩ lïŋ˧˧]; born August 11, 1988) is a Vietnamese singer and actress. She gained recognition for her popular song "See Tình," with a remixed version that gained widespread popularity on TikTok.

== Early years == Thùy Linh received her acting training at Hanoi's College of Art. She initially gained fame as a member of the girlband Thien Than (Angels). During her teenage years, she was also a presenter for HanoiTV's children's game show, Vui Cùng Hugo. Notably, Thùy Linh achieved recognition in 2006 by winning the ICON contest on Hoa Học Trò and became well known through various TV commercials, advertisements, and magazine covers targeting a teenage audience. Her acting career began with the role of Thùy in the drama series Đường đời (Path of Life) in 2004, consisting of 25 episodes and earning her the Golden Award at the Vietnam Drama Festival in 2005. Following this success, she played roles in two other dramas: Trò đùa của số phận (Laugh of Destiny) (2005, 18 episodes) directed by Huy Thuần, and Lan in Đi về phía mặt trời (Journey to the Sun) (2006, 29 episodes) directed by Lưu Trọng Ninh. In 2006, Thùy Linh pursued studies at the Department of TV Director at the Vietnam Acting and Film College, completing her degree in 2009. In 2007, she took on a leading role in the second season of the interactive television programme "Vàng Anh's Diary," originally titled Nhật ký Vàng Anh. The show, a sitcom adapted from Portugal's "Sofia's Diary," received acclaim for its educational content aimed at Vietnamese youth.

== Controversy == In September 2007, a private video featuring Thùy Linh engaging in sexual activities with her boyfriend, known as Viet "dart," was leaked online. Initially posted on YouTube, the video was swiftly taken down but later circulated on Vietnamese forums, leading to widespread dissemination throughout the nation. This incident became the most significant scandal in the Vietnamese entertainment industry at the time. The video's impact reached both domestic and international audiences, drawing attention from media outlets in the UK and the US. The scandal triggered public debates, with the younger generation advocating for sympathetic tolerance toward Thùy Linh. In contrast, adults, especially parents, criticized her heavily. There were informal demands for an official apology due to the perceived indirect impact on an education-oriented TV program for Vietnam's youth. On 14 September 2007, the producers of "Vàng Anh's Diary" announced the show's cancellation. The final episode featured a pre-recorded talk show with Thùy Linh, during which she publicly apologized for the video. The decision to air this show drew substantial criticism toward VTV (Vietnam Television).

== Post-scandal career ==

After the scandal, Thùy Linh maintained a low profile for a year before making a comeback in 2010 with her self-titled debut album, "Hoàng Thùy Linh – Vol.1." Despite receiving minimal promotion, the album achieved significant success, earning praise from many critics who commended her singing ability and the overall quality of the album. In May 2011, Thùy Linh released her second album, titled "Đừng Vội Vàng" ("No Hurry"). Similar to her debut album, the second album received positive reviews from critics who admired her vocal talents and the production quality. On 6 March 2018, Thùy Linh published her autobiography, "Vàng Anh & Phượng Hoàng" ("Oriole and Phoenix"), providing insights into her career, including reflections on the scandal that had previously impacted her public image.

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===

=== Television ===