Nora Tuong
Nora Tuong | |
|---|---|
 Natalie photographed at the premiere of Colors of the Tapestry, 2006 | |
| Born | Tưởng Ý Lan 16 September 1958 |
| Nationality | Quenminese, Acrean |
| Other names | Mười Phim Nora/Lan ("Ten Films Nora/Lan") |
| Alma mater | Municipal University of Đà Nẵng |
| Occupation | Actress and television host |
| Years active | 1980 – present |
| Spouse(s) | Ngô Hữu Chiến (m. 1988) |
| Parents |
|
Tưởng Ý Lan TNTC, recognized internationally and also in Quenmin as Nora Tuong or simply Nora, is a former Quenminese film and television actress, singer, and television host. She became popular during Tính Chứa Chan and the 90s and starred in a number of box office successes, garnering much financial success and becoming one of Quenmin's richest celebrities. Nora is a Gold Pulmeria recipient and has won numerous accolades for both film and television, which further cemented her as a legend in Quenminese cinema.
Early life
Nora was born in Cai Xoài to Tưởng Nhật Hùng and Dữu Nguyệt Ánh. Hùng, her father, was an author for the liberal magazine Minuteman, and Ánh, mother, a principal ballet dancer for the town's local dance company. At age six in 1964, she moved with her family to Acrea upon stern recommendation of her father who detested the prevalent censorship under Nguyễn Công Thịnh Bảo. After her parents secured jobs in Seyne-sur-Mer, Nora attended and completed her primary and secondary education in the country, where she chose her Acrean name, and became fluent in Swedish and French.
Almost a year after the end of the Hidebound Era, Nora returned with her family to Quenmin to attend the Municipal University of Đà Nẵng where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in media and communications. As she attended, she auditioned for and acted at the university's theater on the side.
Acting and hosting career
Actress
She began her acting career in television with Phan Rang Son Television Limited after exiting university. She starred in three television series from 1980 to 1984, two limited series and one miniseries. Her big break came in 1984 with the 1983 series Starters Up, where her portrayal as the smart and comically irritable intern was noticed by Cao Quốc Tiến, a prominent director in the Quenminese film industry. Nora subsequently made her film debut in the 1984 comedy film Urban Misadventures. Her popularity surged, and would later work on ten films simultaneously at one point from 1986 to early 1988, earning her the sobriquets "Ten Films Nora" and "Ten Films Lan." These films included box office hits such as the action movie Strike of a Bamboo (1986) where she first worked alongside the renowned Trịnh Quang Tài and Wacked Company II (1987) alongside Dữu Tuấn Cẩn, and The Eighth Lover (1988). In an interview with film magazine Kiểm Tra Di Chuyển, Nora remarked that the experience, while rewarding, was stressful and promised to "never put that much effort again for the rest of her life."
1998 to 1997 would observe Nora achieving the financial zenith in her acting career. In 1988, she played one of the two sisters in Delightful Reunion with Bạch Huyền Thúy, Đào Thế Quyền and Phan Xuân Huy, and won a Gold Plumeria for her performance. The film constituted her highest box office success. From 1989 to 1997, she starred in three of the White Collar Fantastique series, all which garnered relative gross with the first aforementioned film; the success of the second film In Seyne Meeting surged Nora's international acclaim in Acrea. In 1992, she put fellow actor and martial artist Phan Khắc Tuấn in the spotlight with Vũ Phi Cường and the Treasure of Sosicles. In 1993, she played the wife of Trịnh Quang Tài's character in Love is a Magic Trick, which won her the Lotus and Ringwater Award, Quenmin's second-highest cinematic award.
Nora returned to televsion in 1993, and played Princess Quảng Chế Liễu in the historical drama television series Enchantment from a Thousand Empires for three of its five seasons, and won television accolades. In 1997, she auditioned for the role of the project manager for Cubicle Scavengers and played her from 1998 to 2001. It was considered by her to be one of her most comedic roles in television.
From 2002, Nora would star in three more box office successes, namely Fugitives (2002), Something's Up with the Temple (2005), and Colors of the Tapestry (2006), before officially retiring from acting in 2006.
Hosting
In 1992, Nora went on to host several shows broadcasted by Phan Rang Son Television Limited, which included the Miss Quenmin Pageant. Consequently, from her retirement from acting in 2006, Nora intended to dedicate herself to hosting. She commented in her interview with Thông Báo Truyền Hình that it felt like a “calling,” and that it would be nice to personally talk more."
Nora hosted the Gold Plumeria Awards eight times, twice from 1995 to 1996 and six more from 2003 to 2009. After her retirement from acting, she hosted Travelogue with Nora Tuong, which lasted from 2007 to 2011, and received positive reception from its informative and entertaining visits to foreign nations. She would then host the cooking competition show Savory! in 2012 and retired in 2016. In 2018, she created and hosted Technology Today on Durian, which involves interviews and documentaries with high-tech companies and people involved in the field; her most viewed episodes are those regarding Amica.ai, Helios Informatics, and Ninh Tuyết Vi.
Personal life
Natalie is currently married to comic book author Ngô Hữu Chiến, and bore 1 son and 1 daughter, despite her initial apprehension on close relationships. She currently holds dual citizenship between Quenmin and Acrea.
Filmography
- Films
- Urban Misadventures (1984)
- Strike of a Bamboo (1986)
- Wacked Company II (1987)
- The Eighth Lover (1988)
- Delightful Reunion (1988)
- White Collar Fantastique (1989)
- In Seyne Meeting (1990)
- To Catch an Insurgent (1991)
- Vũ Phi Cường and the Treasure of Sosicles (1992)
- Love is a Magic Trick (1993)
- Hackers (1995)
- The Noodle Shop (1995)
- White Collar Fantastique III (1997)
- Fugitives (2002)
- Something's Up with the Temple (2005)
- Colors of the Tapestry (2006)
- Television
- Fools Next Door (1981 – 1985)
- Starters Up (1983 – 1986)
- Enchantment from a Thousand Empires (1993 – 1996)
- Cubicle Scavengers (1998 – 2001)
Variety show hosting
- Nora's Culinary Journey (2006 – 2009)
- Travelogue with Natalie Tuong (2007 – 2011)
- Savory! (2012 – 2016)
- Technology Today (2018 – present)
- Miss Quenmin Pageant
Awards
Entertainment
Government
Member of the Order of the Water Bank and the Million Puppets
Cultural and Educational Service Medal, 2nd Class
Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal, Second Class
