Kieu Chinh
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1937-07-03
    • Born Place: Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Also Known As:

    Nguyễn Thị Chinh, Kiều Chinh

Kieu Chinh

Kieu Chinh (born September 3, 1937) is a highly acclaimed Vietnamese-American actress, producer, humanitarian, lecturer, and philanthropist with a remarkable career spanning over six decades, from 1957 to the present. Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, her early career saw her become a prominent actress in Vietnamese cinema and across Southeast Asia. However, her life and career were significantly impacted by the Vietnam War, leading her to eventually become a refugee.Despite facing immense personal hardship, including fleeing Vietnam before the fall of Saigon in 1975, Kieu Chinh persevered and established herself in Hollywood, breaking barriers for Asian representation. Her extensive filmography includes notable roles in The Joy Luck Club (1993), Hamburger Hill (1987), 21 (2008), and more recently, the HBO miniseries The Sympathizer (2024) and the upcoming Hulu film Control Freak (2025), where she plays Aunt Thuy. She also had a recurring role in the TV series China Beach from 1989 to 1991.Beyond her acting achievements, Kieu Chinh is deeply committed to humanitarian work. She co-founded the Vietnam Children's Fund with journalist Terry Anderson, an organization that has built numerous schools in Vietnam, providing education to thousands of children annually. Her dedication to both her craft and her philanthropic endeavors has earned her numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award in 1996, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Vietnamese International Film Festival in 2003, a Special Acting Award at the Women's Film Festival in Turin in 2003, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian World Film Festival in 2021. In 2009, she was honored as the Woman of the Year for her work in film and community service by the California State Senate. Her life story is a testament to her resilience, talent, and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world, as detailed in her memoir, Kieu Chinh: An Artist in Exile.

Person History