‘Queen of lingerie’ Ngoc Trinh returns to acting after suspended sentence

Model Ngoc Trinh at the premiere of her new film "Chi Dau" (The Real Sister) Nov. 26, 1014. Photo by VnExpress/Mai Nhat

On Tuesday afternoon, the model attended the premiere of her new film "Chi Dau" (The Real Sister). She became teary-eyed when her co-star Viet Huong expressed her support and excitement about having her in the cast.

"I am happy to be welcomed back," Ngoc Trinh said. "The director and my fellow actors have supported me a lot."

The model humbly admitted to feeling "weak in acting" and hoped the audience would understand her in this new role.

Ngoc Trinh, 35, was arrested in October last year on charges of "disturbing public order." Investigators found five videos on her TikTok and Facebook accounts, which have millions of followers, showing her riding large-displacement motorcycles. The videos, which gained widespread attention and criticism online, depicted the model performing risky stunts, such as lying and kneeling on the motorcycles’ saddles while riding through the streets of Thu Duc City.

Authorities determined that her actions "adversely affected public order and safety" and had a harmful influence on the youth’s mindset and lifestyle. This violated the social media conduct guidelines set by the Ministry of Information and Communications in 2021.

Further investigation revealed that Ngoc Trinh did not have the proper license to operate large-displacement motorcycles.

As a result, she received a one-year suspended sentence from the HCMC People’s Court on Feb. 2 for "disrupting public order," followed by a two-year probation period.

Portraying Ut Nhu, a character from a family with a complex relationship dynamic, in "Chi Dau", Ngoc Trinh shared that she was deeply moved by the script, which delves into the nuances of the relationship between a woman and her husband’s younger sister. Before filming, she met with the film’s director Khuong Ngoc and shared her personal stories, which he used as material to enrich the plot.

(From L) Actress Le Khanh, model Ngoc Trinh, actress Viet Huong, actress Hong Dao, actress Dinh Y Nhung at the premiere of the film "Chi Dau" (The Real Sister) Nov. 26, 1014. Photo by Ngoc Tham

Viet Huong encouraged Ngoc Trinh to join the project, as the model had concerns about acting alongside seasoned actresses Hong Dao, Le Khanh, and Dinh Y Nhung. Viet Huong shared that she was surprised by how well Ngoc Trinh performed on set: "She acted naturally, without relying on technical skills, just being true to her character."

Born Tran Thi Ngoc Trinh, the 35-year-old began her modeling career in 2005 and gained fame through her lingerie and swimsuit photo shoots. Her victory in the 2011 Miss Vietnam International pageant further boosted her popularity.

Ngoc Trinh ventured into acting in 2016 with "Vong Eo 56" (Queen of the Bikini), a film inspired by her own life story, and has since participated in various cinematic projects.