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. She was featured in numerous films and television shows such as “How I Met Your Mother” (2007), “Asian Stories (Book 3)” (2005), “Supercapitalism” (2010) in Hong Kong, and “Finishing The Game” (2007) by Justin Lin.
Kathy’s role in Victor Vu’s film “Passport to Love” (Chuyen Tinh Xa Xu) (2002) was her first film in Vietnam, which help her to win the Golden Kite’s Best Supporting Actress in 2009. Her leading role in Charlie Nguyen’s film “Fool for Love” (De Mai Tinhs) became a big box office hit in 2010 and made her the most memorable role to the audience. Soon after, Kathy won 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.
After joining quite a lot of films in hometown, in 2019, Kathy premiered 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 2nd Best Film of the Year by We Choice Awards 2019.
Between films projects, Kathy is the most sought Acting coach for rising & celebrity film actors and actresses in Vietnam including Chipu, Diem My, Kaity Nguyen, Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, Lanh Thanh, Le Xuan Tien, Hoang Oanh and many more.
Acknowledge about her mission, Kathy Uyen now is the Co – Founder & CEO of A.C.T Academy, on Acting and Filmmaking Academy offering curriculum in Acting, Directing, TV/Hosting, Screenwriting, Producing and Public Speaking with Mr. Thanh Bui in 2020. She also serves as a Public Speaker, invited tp be a Vietnam TEDx speaker, and Guest Judge of many film industry related events and festivals.