Karma’s Van Nguyen Dishes on His Shocking Return as Albert in ‘Askip’ Spin-Off!

Karma, Too Young to Keep Quiet, is finally available on France TV’s platform! As a spin-off of the Askip series, this drama follows the beloved characters from the Okoo original as they make their way into high school. Among them is Van Nguyen, reprising his role as Albert for the new series!

In an interview with us, the actor reflected on his return to the franchise created by Benoît Masocco and on the evolution of his character since his last appearance in Askip’s fourth season.

AlloCiné: You’ve acted in two seasons of Askip. What made you want to return to your role in Karma, Too Young to Keep Quiet, the series spin-off?

Van Nguyen (Albert): Indeed, I was in seasons 3 and 4 of Askip. You should know that when we were filming the series with Benoît Masocco back then, we would joke with the other actors about how funny it would be to follow all these characters into high school either through a film or a series.

It was a joke at the time! We talked about addressing important issues for youth in Askip, but there were still certain topics we couldn’t tackle because our audience was too young. We wanted a series that would plant us in high school to have more freedom.

Last year, when Benoît called me to offer me the role in Karma, it was a wonderful surprise and I accepted immediately. I’m very attached to the character of Albert and was eager to explore more of his story.

Was it easy to get back into the role of Albert after all these years?

I wouldn’t say it was easy, as it had been three years since I last played this character. To be honest, I started rewatching episodes of Askip to get back into it. But I’m lucky that Albert evolves in an environment and a trajectory that speak to me.

Albert is much more like who I am today, so it was quite easy to identify with what was written. It was very genuine acting. As it’s a pleasure and we have fun on set, it all comes naturally.

We last saw him in a relationship with Amina (Sara Ehrhart), and he was quite anxious about it ending. In your opinion, what has happened to him over these three years?

Albert wasn’t very sentimental originally. I can see him having stayed single these past three years. Amina was going abroad and they had agreed to enjoy the present moment before it ended.

Knowing Albert, I know that his feelings are sometimes incomprehensible even to himself. I think he remained single and continued to mask his sensitivity with humor, as usual.

How was it reconnecting with the other actors?

We had kept some contact, but not much talk. This return has been very beneficial. Both on Askip and Karma, there’s a very family-like atmosphere. Reuniting in the same place for a project we once joked about was thrilling.

To think that our characters are the foundation of this series, even if not everyone returns, is gratifying. We were extremely grateful to Benoît Masocco. We even said it after the first week of filming: it’s amazing to be here together.

Is it important for you to act in a series that tackles strong, sometimes taboo subjects?

It’s a great pride. Many series avoid these topics to try to appeal to everyone and not cause shock. But today, it’s necessary to talk about bullying and these themes, not just for the youth but also for the parents who sometimes don’t want to acknowledge these issues.

For the youth, it’s important to know they are not alone. If I could have seen a series with a character like me back then, I would have greatly appreciated it. Seeing a character overcome these challenges is hopeful.

The format has evolved from Askip to Karma, moving from 13 minutes to almost 28. Has this changed how you act?

It has changed our way of acting, for the better. What’s important for an actor are the silences. Allowing ourselves time to look at each other, to breathe in a scene. It lets us build up the emotions, and there’s a lot of that in Karma. Having longer episodes was a very good surprise.

There’s no longer addressing the camera as in Askip, but a voiceover instead. Has this made it easier for you to understand your character?

I don’t know if it’s easier. The direct camera address in Askip was fun to shoot, but the voiceover lets viewers know what the character is truly thinking, even if he’s lying to others. It’s a great idea.

Subconsciously, it might be easier to act for certain facial expressions. I’m very expressive, and it’s interesting to show that my character thinks one thing while saying another.

Do you have any other projects you’d like to talk about?

I’ve always been told not to talk about my projects until they’re completed. But personally, I have projects for this year and next that are related to my role as an influencer on social media.

These are projects that have been dear to my heart for a long time, which will reflect my identity and origins. These will be activities based on sharing. I’m very excited, but I can’t say more to keep the surprise.