Vietnamese movie star Truong Ngoc Anh will star in a leading role as a psychologist named Anna in a US film produced by Roger Corman.

Vietnamese movie star Trương Ngọc Ánh performs in Twilight Zodiac, a US production directed by Ernie Barbarash. The film will be released in cinemas later this year. — Photo AnhViet Entertainment

Ánh, who is fluent in English, began filming her first scenes in the film Twilight Zodiac, directed by Ernie Barbarash.

The sci-fi action film is about Anna and her friends, Quinn (played by English actor Scott Adkins) and Conor (played by Hong Kong kungfu star Andy On), who work to  fight evil forces.

Ánh will work with martial art specialists to film her action scenes.

Twilight Zodiac will be filmed in Asia, including Hong Kong and Việt Nam.

The film staff will arrive in Việt Nam early next month.

Ánh began her career as a fashion model in 1995. Three years later, she performed in TV shows produced by HCM City Television.

Her beauty and strong characters in the roles helped Ánh become a new idol among female moviegoers. 

She performed in dozens of films and TV series, including prize-winning productions Áo Lụa Hà Đông (The White Silk Dress) and Sài Gòn Nhật Thực (Saigon Eclipse).

In 2014, she played a leading role in Hương Ga (Rise), a production directed by Vietnamese-Canadian director Cường Ngô.

The film earned around VNĐ30 billion (US$1.41 million) in ticket sales.

It helped Ánh bring home the Golden Kite for Best Actress at the annual 2014 Golden Kite Awards, presented by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association in HCM City.

“In movies, I try my best to depict women of strength and ability, not just beauty,"  the 41-year-old told local media.

Zodiac Twilight will be in cinemas in the US, Hong Kong and Việt Nam in October. — VNS