Starting her acting career in high school, Phuong’s passion for performance arts became a serious pursuit post-graduation. Phuong overcame her initial fear of public speaking and evolved into a confident and captivating performer. Kubacki’s relentless effort in refining her acting skills through classes and rigorous audition practices paid off, as she eventually landed her first debut role in a Lifetime movie. Her background in modeling, print work, and event trade shows further refined her presentation skills, showcasing her versatility and commitment to the craft.
Phuong’s rich cultural heritage as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and her roots in the Midwest have profoundly influenced her work and personal life. Growing up in a small town and attending Hononegah High School—alma mater of celebrated race car driver Danica Patrick—Phuong was active in dance and cheerleading, laying the foundation for her performance abilities. Her move out west marked the beginning of a new chapter in her pursuit of acting excellence.
With notable appearances in acclaimed TV shows such as “Better Call Saul,” “Chicago PD,” “Blue Bloods,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” and “General Hospital,” Phuong has consistently demonstrated her versatility. Her recent role in “We Have a Ghost,” where she worked alongside industry legends like Harrison Ford, Kate Hudson, and Queen Latifah, further underscores her talent and adaptability on big and small screens.
In “The Bike Riders,” Phuong’s audition process was a testament to her dedication and talent. Despite missing a callback due to attending the Emmys, her impressive self-taped audition secured her the role via Zoom, personally offered by the director and producers. This unique audition process and her commitment to mastering her character’s accent and persona make her performance in ‘The Bike Riders’ stand out and will surely compel audiences.
Phuong’s experience on the set of “The Bike Riders” was transformative. She was particularly inspired by Tom Hardy’s intense preparation and genuine interest in her character’s transformation. The film, based on real people and inspired by Danny Lyons’ book, offered Phuong an invaluable masterclass in acting. Looking ahead, Phuong aspires to portray strong, dynamic female characters and dreams of playing a superhero. She admires icons like Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon, and Meryl Streep and hopes to work with them in the future. Beyond acting, Phuong is passionate about food and travel and constantly seeks new experiences and culinary adventures.
Phuong Kubacki’s journey from a small Midwestern town to Hollywood is a testament to her resilience, hard work, and undeniable talent. Her role in “The Bike Riders” marks just the beginning of what is guaranteed to be an illustrious career.
Phuong, welcome to OLC! How did you first get involved in acting, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
I’ve always wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember. Being from the Midwest and Asian American, it just didn’t seem like a realistic path for me, however. My parents really pushed for me to go to school for something more reliable, but I always had it in the back of my mind.
In school, I was a dancer and cheerleader and absolutely loved performing. Then, I started doing small modeling jobs which then led to commercials. From then, I took acting classes and pursued TV/Film and it’s been an amazing ride ever since.
Can you tell us more about your character, Gail, in ‘The Bikeriders’ and how you prepared for this role?
Gail was such a pleasure to play! She is the girlfriend of Brucie(Damon Herriman) who was the right-hand man of Johnny(Tom Hardy) in the motorcycle gang. She was actually inspired by a real person. I was shown photos of her and her amazing beehive and was so excited to bring this character to life. I also worked with a dialect coach and received some sound recordings of the real Kathy to get an understanding of the accent and vibe they were trying to create.
What was it like working alongside actors like Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy in ‘The Bikeriders’? And what did you learn from them?
It was such an honor and a pleasure to work with all three of these actors. They are all so talented and I respect their work. I learned so much just from watching them work. They were all different and special in their own way. I really loved the way they really owned their space to make sure they did what they needed to do.
Could you share your experience with the unique audition process for ‘The Bikeriders,’ especially your Zoom audition?
My audition was such an emotional roller coaster! I sent in my self-tape for the role and heard a little while later that I got a callback! I was super excited until I realized they wanted it in person and that I would be unavailable that day because I was attending The Emmys. I had to decline and was heartbroken because I had just assumed they’d move on to the next person. Not long after, my agent let me know that they would reschedule the callback and that it could be on Zoom. I was elated!! When I got online for the callback, it was Jeff and he offered me the role directly!! It was such a great experience that I will never forget.
How has your background as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and growing up in the Midwest influenced your acting and approach to your roles?
Watching my parents acclimate to the American culture and learn a new language was so inspiring. They came to the US with nothing but did everything they could to achieve their version of the American dream. I’m sure it seemed impossible, but day after day they continued. The Midwest has a culture of promoting hard work to achieve success. To me, the entertainment industry seemed impossible, but I just applied the same principle of hard work consistently and I think it’s really helped me in my journey.
What challenges did you face while preparing for the accent and persona of your character in ‘The Bikeriders,’ and how did you overcome them?
Since I was playing a real person, I got some great hints like photos of her vibe. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any audio clips of her, but I did of other characters and thankfully I was able to work with Jeff to finally get the accent he wanted.
You have worked in various acclaimed TV shows and films. How do you adapt to different genres and roles?
There are a couple of things that really helped me to adapt. The first thing is classes. I love to learn so I’m happy to take classes that really focus on the nuances of comedy or work with coaches that specialize in drama.
The second thing that really helps me is that I love watching TV and film. This may be a surprise, but there are some actors who don’t watch TV. I personally really love going to the movies still and try to watch as many shows as I possibly can. When I watch, I internally take notes on specifics of the show and characters that I find compelling.
Can you talk about a particularly memorable moment or scenes from the set of ‘The Bikeriders’?
There were so many wonderful moments, but one I will never forget was this one long night we were shooting. It was freezing outside and everyone was sleepy, but Michael Shannon had a performance that left everyone in awe. He had a long monologue and just took us all on a journey. It was incredible!
What advice would you give to aspiring actors who are just starting out, especially those from small towns?
I would tell actors from small towns not to give up on their dreams just because they’re in a small town. They can still do theatre in small towns and there is so much free information online. YouTube is filled with people offering great information so they can take their next steps.
You mentioned wanting to portray strong, dynamic female characters and even a superhero. Are there any specific roles or projects you’re aiming for next?
Well, I would love to be in the Marvel Universe. I love that the superhero films can be enjoyed by everyone and there’s a mix of comedy and drama in them.
Beyond acting, you’re passionate about food and travel. How do these interests influence your life and career?
Because I travel a lot for filming, I love exploring different restaurants on my days off and seeing what’s special to that area. It’s so much fun and a great way to get to know what’s going on locally. I’m definitely one of those people who research restaurants and even the menu online before I get to the restaurant!
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