Phương Thanh (October 14, 1956 – February 13, 2009) was a Vietnamese film and television actress. Her real name is Phương Thị Thanh. She was born in Hà Tây. Phương thanh graduated from the second class of the Vietnam Film School, alongside many peers who later became famous actors of Vietnamese cinema such as Như Quỳnh, Diệu Thuần, and Thanh Quý. At the age of 20, Phương Thanh had her first role in the film "Đứa con nuôi" ("The Adopted") by director Nguyễn Khánh Dư. In 1978, Phương Thanh was chosen by director Trần Phương to play the main role, the robber Hiền "cá sấu," in the film "Tội lỗi cuối cùng" ("The Last Sin"). With this role, Phương Thanh won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Actress at the 5th Vietnam Film Festival, at the age of 23.