Kathy Uyen is a Vietnamese-American Film Director, Actress,
Producer, Writer and Co-Founder & C.E.O of A.C.T Academy.
Born and raised in San Jose, California, graduating with a double
major with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and a Bachelor of Arts
in Economics from the University of California, Irvine.
In Los Angeles, Kathy has worked in all aspects of entertainment
from Casting, Film & TV Development & Research, Talent Agencies
and Film Production at prestigious companies such as DreamWorks
SKG, Warner Brothers and Happy Madison, Adam Sandler’s
production company. Kathy has studied with numerous Los Angeles
Acting Coaches & Schools such as Lisa Robertson Studio, Lesly
Kahn Studio, Groundlings, UCB, Howard Fine and Warner Loughlin
Studios. Kathy was featured in numerous films and television shows
such as “How I Met Your Mother”(2007), “Asian Stories (Book
3)”(2005), “Supercapitalist”(2010) in Hong Kong and “Finishing The
Game” (2007)directed by Justin Lin.
Kathy’s role in Victor Vu’s film “Passport to Love” (Chuyen Tinh Xa
Xu)(2008) was Kathy’s first film in Vietnam. This film won her Golden
Kite’s Best Supporting Actress in 2009. Her leading role in Charlie
Nguyen’s film “Fool for Love” (De Mai Tinh) became a big box office hit in 2010 and became Kathy’s most
memorable role to audiences. Soon after, Kathy became a triple threat as Co-Writer, Producer, and Actress
in “How to Fight in Six Inch Heels” (Am Muu Giay Got Nhon ) which garnered her second Golden Kite Award
for Best Leading Actress in 2013. Her additional film credits in Vietnam include “Bo Ba Rac Roi”(2015),“Em
chua 18” (2017) and “Hon Papa Da Con Gai” (2018).
In 2019, Kathy premiere her debut as co- writer and Director of “Chi Chi Em Em” a psychological thriller
starring Thanh Hang, Chipu, and Lanh Thanh produced by Muse Films & Timothy Linh Bui. It was the
highest anticipated thriller film of the year and was voted 2 nd Best Film of the Year by We Choice Awards
2019.
Between film projects, Kathy is the most sought out Acting coach for rising & celebrity film actors and
actresses in Vietnam including Chipu, Diem My 9x, Kaity Nguyen,Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, Lanh Thanh, Le
Xuan Tien, Hoang Oanh and many more.
Currently Kathy Uyen is the Co-Founder & CEO of A.C.T Academy, an Acting and Filmmaking Academy
offering curriculum in Acting, Directing, TV/Hosting, Screenwriting, Producing and Public Speaking. Co-
Founded together in 2020 with Thanh Bui, Musician, Business Entrepreneur & Founder of Soul Music &
Performing Arts Academy. Kathy is passionate about sharing the technique of Acting as a way to empower
confidence in not just actors, performers but everyday people of all ages, on camera, on stage and in life.
She also serves as a Public Speaker, invited to be a Vietnam TEDx speaker, and Guest Judge of many film
industry related events and festivals.