Nguyen Tran Huyen Dieu (Stage name: Jillian Nguyen) is starting to make a big name for herself in the film industry. The young Vietnamese-Australian actress from Melbourne recently finished filming a small part in a movie directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth) called ‘The True History of the Kelly Gang’. The movie, which is due for a worldwide release this year, is based on the 2001 Booker Prize-winning novel by Australian writer Peter Carey.

The movie follows the story of Australian bush-ranger Ned Kelly and his gang as they flee from authorities during the 1870s. It also features famous actors like Russell Crowe (Gladiator), Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) and Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies). Meanwhile, Jillian will act the character of a young girl named Molly Kane.

Jillian was born at Sungai Besi refugee camp in Malaysia. Both her parents are Vietnamese, with Chinese heritage on her mother’s side. She immigrated to Australia when she was 14 months old.

She attended St. John’s Primary School in West Footscray, St. Aloysius College in North Melbourne and then completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne in Parkville.

Though Jillian has appeared in lead roles of many short films, her next acting gig will see her play a female lead in director Ivan Sen’s upcoming romantic sci-fi film called ‘Loveland’. (Scheduled for release in November 2019)

Jillian Nguyen will play alongside famous actors Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings) and Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Home and Away).

The movie is set in a futuristic Chinese influenced mega-city. It will tell the story of a romance between a nightclub singer (played by Jillian Nguyen) and an assassin (played by Ryan Kwanten) and their struggle for love in a loveless future.

Shooting started in Hong Kong and Brisbane on February 25.

Back in Melbourne, Jillian spoke to TiVi Tuan-san in an interview about her exciting new role as well as why she wants to be an actress.

TVTS: Congratulations on landing your latest role in the upcoming US-Australian romantic sci-fi movie called Loveland. Could you tell TiVi Tuan-san a little about the lead character you’ll be playing?

JN: The character I am playing in the movie is a young woman who works as a night club singer. She is a migrant worker from Vietnam. She is alone, living in a hard and loveless world, until she meets Jack, an assassin. On the surface, she is tough and distant, but she just wants to be loved by someone she can trust.

TVTS: How did you react when you found out about the news?

JN: I was ecstatic. I felt, this is a dream come true.

TVTS: Let’s go back a bit. Let’s talk about your life growing up in Australia. Did you grow up with both Vietnamese and Australian cultures and values?

JN: I was brought up with both Vietnamese and Australian cultural values. I consider myself Vietnamese and Australian. My parents forced me to study Vietnamese on Saturday mornings for 12 years and I am so grateful. I always spoke Vietnamese to my family. The older I have become, the more I have celebrated my beautiful Vietnamese culture. When you’re a kid in Australia, all you want to do is fit in.

Jillian Nguyen. Photo: Supplied

TVTS: When did you realise that you wanted to be an actress?

JN: From when I was a little girl, I always wanted to be an actress. However, I never saw other asian actresses in Australian or American film and television, so it felt like this dream was impossible. I always loved drama at school and I was obsessed with movies. I was 7 and I watched Titanic about 20 times. I wanted to play a part in creating these fantasy worlds. I really wanted to be an actor so I could pretend to be someone else.

TVTS: What have been some of the challenges or obstacles that you have faced in pursuing a career in acting?

JN: The entertainment industry is probably the most competitive industry in the world. There are countless challenges and obstacles, but I’ve just been optimistic, resilient and have been working as hard as I possibly can. I have just put my energy into what I have to do to succeed, as opposed to obsessing about the obstacles. The biggest challenge is probably changing people’s narrow perspectives of Asian women. Some people think Asian women can only be gentle, weak and quiet. Asian women are much more complex than that, and that is what I want to show in my acting.

TVTS: Have you received support from your family and friends?

JN: My parents are refugees who fled Vietnam on boats. They experienced alot of hardship and loss. It was always hard for them to understand that acting could be a career, but they never stopped me. I always told myself, once I am in a lead role in a film, my parents will understand my dream. All my close friends are incredibly supportive.

TVTS: You recently filmed The True History of the Kelly Gang, alongside famous actors like Russell Crowe and Charlie Hunnam. What was that experience like?

JN: I have a small role in this film but it was my first role ever and I am so grateful. The director Justin Kurzel, is brilliant. He was very open minded. I acted alongside some lovely actors too, like Nicholas Hoult. I learnt so much. It was a very enlightening experience. I will never forget it.

TVTS: Where do you see yourself in 20-30 years time?

JN: Working non stop in film and television with amazing directors and surrounded by people I love and respect.

TVTS: What are your thoughts on Vietnamese-Australians and their presence in the film industry? Should there be more actors and actresses?

JN: I became an actor because I didn’t see female actors who looked like me. The Australian industry is very slowly embracing change and diversity, but there is progress. There definitely needs to be more opportunities and acting roles created for all types of people, and in particular, Asian people. There are so many Asian Australians, but we are absent and voiceless in film and television. I want the next generation of Asian women to see Asian actors and be inspired and empowered by simply, seeing themselves in the media.

TVTS: Is there any advice you could give to aspiring Vietnamese-Australian actresses or actors?

JN: Follow your dream, work harder than anyone you know, believe in yourself and don’t forget to be a kind and compassionate person. Life is too short!

TVTS: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions today. Is there anything else you’d like to add before we conclude this interview?

JN: The movie “Loveland” is coming to cinemas in November 2019, and I really encourage you to support a fellow Vietnamese Australian and watch it! It’s a science fiction love story. My parents are Nguyen Thanh Hung and Tran Thi Trinh, I love them very much and this movie is for them, and for every other Vietnamese person who has dreamt of seeing themselves on the big screen.

(Click here to read this article in Vietnamese)