Ethan Nguyen(IX)
- Actor
- Writer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ethan Nguyen (they/them, he/him) is a Dutch trans/non-binary actor and filmmaker, based in Rotterdam. By chance, they discovered their knack for acting in May 2022 after playing the lead in a student short film. With their newfound passion, they quickly landed leading and supporting roles in short films and commercials, including appearances in the international series THE KOLLECTIVE by Hulu (directed by Randa Chahoud, 2025), and Dutch (TV) series 'ROTOWN' (dir. Fadua El Akchaoui, 2024) and 'MULTIPLAYER' (dir. David Cocheret, 2024), both by NPO.
In February '23, Nguyen ventured into filmmaking to address the lack of queer Asian stories on Dutch screens. They debuted with their self-written short film 'STILETTO', the first romantic Asian-Dutch LGBTQIA+ story, in which they starred as Kiên. 'STILETTO' premiered at CinemAsia Film Festival '23 and was selected for Netherlands Film Festival (NFF) '23, leading Nguyen to join a panel talk on Queer Asian Representation at the festival's Queer Day, alongside other queer Asian filmmakers. Shortly after, Nguyen wrote and produced their second short film, 'COFFEE HOUSE' (2023), a Dutch/English crime/drama/romance, in which they portray the lead character, Jamie. The film premiered at Queer Film Festival Utrecht '23 (QFFU), earning a spot in the top 3 Best Shorts among the ten featured films.
Next to their screen acting and filmmaking endeavors, Nguyen is also making strides in the commercial industry, appearing in campaigns nationwide and internationally for renowned brands, such as Wimbledon (US & UK), NS (Dutch Railways), Museum Pass, and others.
Their advocacy for honest (queer) Asian representation in media remains a central focus of their work.
In February '23, Nguyen ventured into filmmaking to address the lack of queer Asian stories on Dutch screens. They debuted with their self-written short film 'STILETTO', the first romantic Asian-Dutch LGBTQIA+ story, in which they starred as Kiên. 'STILETTO' premiered at CinemAsia Film Festival '23 and was selected for Netherlands Film Festival (NFF) '23, leading Nguyen to join a panel talk on Queer Asian Representation at the festival's Queer Day, alongside other queer Asian filmmakers. Shortly after, Nguyen wrote and produced their second short film, 'COFFEE HOUSE' (2023), a Dutch/English crime/drama/romance, in which they portray the lead character, Jamie. The film premiered at Queer Film Festival Utrecht '23 (QFFU), earning a spot in the top 3 Best Shorts among the ten featured films.
Next to their screen acting and filmmaking endeavors, Nguyen is also making strides in the commercial industry, appearing in campaigns nationwide and internationally for renowned brands, such as Wimbledon (US & UK), NS (Dutch Railways), Museum Pass, and others.
Their advocacy for honest (queer) Asian representation in media remains a central focus of their work.