Taipei: Vietnamese actress Tr?n Thu Li?u, known by her Chinese name Chen Chiu-liu, has fulfilled her acting aspirations in Taiwan, a country she has called home for over two decades. Tr?n portrayed A-Li, a character working at a noodle stand in a Taipei night market, in the Taiwanese film "Left-Handed Girl," which was recently shortlisted for an Oscar for best international feature film.

According to Focus Taiwan, Tr?n expressed her happiness at being part of the film, noting that despite her role as a supporting actress, she was invited onto the red carpet with the director and producers. This invitation took place during the 62nd Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, an event recognizing achievements in the Chinese-speaking film industry. "Left-Handed Girl," directed by Tsou Shih-ching and co-written by Oscar-winning Sean Baker, received eight Golden Horse nominations, winning Best New Performer for Ma Shih-yuan.

Tr?n's journey to her acting dream began when she moved to Taiwan from Ho Chi Minh City in the early 2000s at 21. Initially working in a shoe factory in Vietnam, she took on various jobs in Taiwan, including manicure services. Support from New Taipei's New Immigrant Family and Women Service Center allowed her to learn Chinese and develop new skills, eventually leading her to the performing arts. Her dedication and perseverance have led to appearances in movies, television, and stage productions.

While advancing her acting career, Tr?n also works as an interpreter, providing translation services for Vietnamese nationals in Taiwan. In 2025, she was recognized as one of New Taipei's 10 influential cross-over figures and awarded a contribution service medal by the National Immigration Agency.

Reflecting on "Left-Handed Girl," Tr?n shared that the film artfully explored themes of tradition and sexism while introducing the charm of Taiwan's night markets to a global audience. She emphasized the film's portrayal of Taiwan's diverse society and its immigrant population. Over her 20 years in Taiwan, Tr?n has witnessed a shift from Vietnamese immigrants feeling reluctant to speak their language publicly to a more linguistically diverse society.

Tr?n aspires to use her acting career to bridge Taiwanese and Vietnamese cultures, fostering compassion and reducing prejudice. She believes that her dream might not have been realized if she had remained in Vietnam, highlighting the unique opportunities she found in Taiwan.