WESTMINSTER, Calif.– Andy T. Tran is an up-and-coming actor for the past 7 years and was most recently seen making his mark in Hollywood, acting in shows such as TNT’s “The Last Ship” and also as a ‘Detective Bob Oliver’ on the CBS crime-drama, “Criminal Minds”. Tran spoke with Nguoi Viet reporters Thuy Phan and Nhat Anh about being a Vietnamese-American actor in Hollywood.
Actor Andy T. Tran moved to Los Angeles four years ago to pursue acting. (Photo: Courtesy Andy T. Tran)
How did you get your start in acting?
I moved to Los Angeles four years ago in pursuit of acting but before that I was living in Austin, Texas. After I graduated from college, I wanted to pursue a career in comedy so I did a lot of sketch comedy for troupes in Austin. Then I decided I was going to take acting classes and see if I can spread my wings a little and develop a new skill and I fell in love with it.
It just so happened that while I was in Texas pursuing acting, there was a TV show called “Chase” that was filming by NBC in Dallas and I happened to book a little role in there got me my start in acting. I moved to Los Angeles four years ago to pursue it full time.
What is your dream role?
My original dream role was to be a cowboy, riding a cowboy and shooting guns. I grew up in Texas.. it wasn’t necessarily my surrounding since I grew up in the city so there weren’t many cowboys rolling around on horses but just watching TV, I thought John Wayne was super cool. Also Robert Duvall– I wanted to be like them.
I also wanted to be a Marvel character. But saying you want to achieve a certain character in certain roles is like saying, I want to be a politician. Or I want to be a president. For what? What substance? What are you going to do with that? My dream role now is playing any role with as much truth as possible. That’s it.
Tran starred in TNT’s “The Last Ship.” (Photo: Courtesy Andy T. Tran)
Is it tough having to memorize your lines?
When you’re studying a script, memorization is the first and easiest part. It just happens. And it’s not because you can remember lines easily but you’re drawing connections on what the lines mean to you. So the memorization is the first thing you get out of the way.
You memorize not only your lines, but the other actors’ line in and out, so you can recite it back and forth on any given cue. The hard part is being able to take those lines, say them, and communicate them in an imaginary circumstance. Basically trying to live a truth in an imaginary circumstance. That’s hard. Because not only does the other actor have to be there with you, and also believe this truth, you have to believe them, and you basically have to listen to each other.
Acting’s really about listening. And the emotions, if any come up, aren’t prepared or rehearsed. They come up because you’re living the truth with the other actor. Things come up– could be tears, laughter, it could be anything. And that’s another part of not knowing.
That’s the other beauty of acting, you’re letting things come to fruition. The preparation is the baseline. Everything else just sprouts from those seeds.
Tran is a native of Houston, TX and is the youngest of three. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam. (Photo: Courtesy Andy T. Tran)
What would you say to Asian-American youth who might be considering pursuing acting?
This is the first thing I ask people who want to pursue acting and to do it as a career: Do you want to have a normal life? Do you want to someday own a nice house or nice car? Do you want to get married at a good young age in your life? And if they say yes to any of those questions, I say, “don’t do acting.”
Because its’ tough.
It’s one of those careers that sets you back a good decade in your life. In terms of pursuing those things, and being able to have the stability to settle down, to live a quote on quote “American life”, it’s hard.
Do it if you have to do it. If it’s in your blood, if its the thing you so desperately want to do or you’re made for it, you’re born for it. Take it seriously but have balance. Be realistic about it. Especially in Asian American culture here, we need to promote that. We need to show our next generation that they can do it if they want to. If you really want it, pursue it, take it seriously and go all the way with it.
Andy T. Tran’s family came to America after the Vietnam War. Tran said he plans to visit his homeland in the future. (Photo: Courtesy Andy T. Tran)
Who is your favorite actor and actress?
I would say my all time favorite actor is Tom Hanks. I loved Forrest Gump, Philadelphia and I loved Big. Right now, I think Jennifer Lawrence is doing amazing work. She might be my celebrity crush but she’s doing great work and is speaking up for equality. Whether its gender or race, its all the same. I think gender equality and race diversity go hand in hand. Its really one thing. We can tackle each thing separately, but any type of equality is one thing. We are all equal; we just have to recognize it.
What is your idea of success?
I’ve redefined what success is and.. success is simply: If you are still having fun. If it still excites you. With anything, not just with acting. Success in life is simply, “Are you still enjoying this?” That’s it.
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