Quick Summary: Ana Thu Nguyen is a Sydney-based actor who left a demanding career in management consulting to pursue acting. Now, she’s landed one of the most iconic roles in the Mortal Kombat II franchise – Queen Sindel – and her story is exactly the kind we don’t hear often enough.
Ana’s face lights up as she shares stories of her Vietnamese upbringing, and how it shaped her journey.
As she speaks, that familiar Aussie warmth comes through her voice.
Ana was born in Galang refugee camp in Indonesia to Vietnamese parents who had fled the aftermath of the Vietnam War by boat.
Her parents, not speaking a word of English, were granted asylum to Australia when she was a baby, arriving with hopes of a better, safer life.
Growing Up Vietnamese-Australian in Sydney’s South
Settling in Sydney’s South, Ana recalled how beautiful the area was, but she wasn’t the norm.
“There were only about 5 Asian kids in a year of 150. My family regularly travelled to visit friends and sought connection to our culture outside of the area we lived.”
Ana witnessed her parents working tirelessly to provide her with a Catholic education, despite their limited English and socioeconomic challenges.
With a strong sense of responsibility, now being the eldest of three girls, Ana excelled at classwork and eventually became Dux of her school, grateful for the hard work and sacrifices her parents made.
Between helping her parents at their bakery and studying, she recalls often being dropped off at the local library to pick up tens of books to take home over the holidays to read.
They became an outlet for Ana, a comfort.
“There is a tradition that parents in Vietnam tend to do – you lay out a bunch of items for a baby to see what they’ll crawl towards, signifying their interests and path in life.
My parents told me I would always crawl towards the books and pens,” she reminisces, laughing at the accuracy.
This early affinity for stories and creativity would later become the foundation of her acting career, with a slight nod to her future in picking Drama as one of her electives in highschool – to her parents’ surprise.
The Consulting Years
Ana moved on to study a double degree in Law and Commerce at the prestigious University of Sydney, and upon graduating, transitioned fairly quickly into a high pressure consulting role at one of the top management consulting companies in the world.
“There were weeks I’d work 60-65 hours, then Saturday & Sunday I would help at my parents’ bakery.”
It wasn’t until three years deep into consulting, that Ana looked at her future and asked herself:
“Can I see myself there? Is this what I want to do?”
She recalls many positive memories from her corporate days, but knew the magic she was drawn to in the books of her childhood were missing from her day to day.
What do life changing moments look like? What did it look like for Ana?
Whilst brushing her teeth next to her partner, he asked her “If you weren’t doing consulting and you could do anything in the world, what would you do?”
And it was on that seemingly mundane evening, when Ana mustered the courage to mumble under her breath, “I’d like to try acting”, that her world shifted.
She tells me this was the first time she admitted to herself that acting was something that impassioned her, more than a hobby in highschool drama classes or shows throughout university.
“It felt strange to finally air my hopes and dreams, after spending so long doing what was needed for my family. And now that I’ve said it, I can’t go back.”
Breaking the News at Home
She knew it would be hard for her parents to understand, so after many sleepless nights, she broached the topic gently, presenting it as a much needed burnout relief from corporate, to enjoy a creative pursuit for a year.
To her surprise, they were supportive, though they did consider it as just a short term break from her career progression.
Ana’s father lost his own dad at 6 years old during the Vietnam War, and had limited education opportunities as a result, needing to help his family survive.
“He shared that he wanted to leave Vietnam to build a better future for his family. He said, if I had the opportunity to study, my dream would be to become an engineer.
So I came here to give you the chance I never got – to learn anything you want,” Ana recalled. “My heart was so full hearing that, but I was also wracked with guilt at the same time.”
Embracing Acting
And so, Ana began taking an acting course and seeking out acting coaches.
“I continued to replicate the hours and subjects that drama school would have given me. I read books about acting, immersed myself in TV, film and documentaries and worked endlessly with my coaches,” she explains.
The transition wasn’t easy, especially starting in her mid-late twenties with no prior experience in the industry.
Wetting her appetite in independent films and getting into the habit of auditioning, Ana’s hunger for acting grew. Despite her parents asking after each year she didn’t return to corporate “are you going to look for a job yet?”, she was determined.
Landing Queen Sindel in Mortal Kombat II
Her hard work and perseverance culminated in a significant breakthrough role for the major film franchise “Mortal Kombat II”.
Reflecting on the moment she found out, Ana recalls, “My heart was racing when I got the call – on the same day as my callback! I was elated, on cloud nine. I remember driving straight after and I felt like I was flying.”
Mortal Kombat has a hugely loyal and engaged fandom. Asking about how it felt to star in such a beloved franchise, Ana beamed:
“I was beyond excited! The fact that there is such a loyal fanbase shows how rich and complex the world of Mortal Kombat is.
Fans have been so supportive, it really is an honour to be part of the family and to portray such a strong and iconic female character in the games. The entire journey has been a dream come true!”
Ana was working 60 hour weeks in a completely opposite environment before getting the confirmation of her breakthrough role.
On Diversity, On Screen and Off
“It’s significant that as a first generation Asian Australian with humble beginnings, I could start again – to realise that my career or trajectory was not set.
It seems like a mammoth task, being part of an under-represented group or starting later than others, but I hope I can give people some inspiration that it is possible.”
Ana continues to emphasise the value of diversity in front of and behind the camera in the entertainment industry to make stories as culturally rich and authentic as they can be. Loving that more and more so, young Asian Australian children can watch movies and shows and see themselves.
She celebrates the representation of Asian experiences through projects like: “Beef, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Shogun, and The Sympathizer.”
What Comes Next for Ana Thu Nguyen
Ana, a self confessed dreamer, says she wants her journey to inspire women that it is truly never too late to pursue one’s passion.
She hopes to follow in the footsteps of actors like Reese Witherspoon and Margot Robbie and create her own production company, one that will foster unique and diverse voices and encourage others to do the same.
Her credits include major film franchises, independent Australian films that engulf her passions, and iconic crime dramas that we can’t name (just yet).
Read More About Ana & Socials
FILM INK | First look at Luke Sparke’s Dinosaurs in Vietnam War Actioner Primitive War
FILM INK | Short Psychological Horror Film Supported by Arts & Cultural Exchange and Phoenix Eye
INSTAGRAM | @Anathunguyen
If you would like to contact or interview Ana, please email press@whiterabbitsocial.com for an introduction
For work enquiries, please contact Ana’s Manager at 44 Media Partners, contact@44mp.com
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