Nammi Le was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and at just three months old, she embarked on a perilous journey with her parents and older brother, fleeing their homeland by boat. Her father, a resourceful individual, had secretly converted a fishing boat into a seaworthy vessel to facilitate their escape, along with other family members and local villagers.
As they navigated the treacherous waters, the tiny and leaky fishing boat was boarded by pirates who plundered the passengers' valuables. In a tense and emotional moment, one of the pirates attempted to take away Nammi's older brother, but her mother's heartfelt pleas to the pirates' captain ultimately resulted in the boy's safe return to his family.
After several months in a detention camp, the family flew to Sydney, where they have resided ever since. Nammi's academic pursuits took precedence over her artistic inclinations, and she went on to study Commerce at the University of New South Wales. Following her graduation, she worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers for several years.
In 2007, Nammi was offered a lead role in the independent Australian film 'Ra Choi', which revolved around a group of troubled street kids from Sydney's Western suburbs and their struggles amidst gang turf wars, drug use, and prostitution. The film premiered at various festivals, including the Sydney Film Festival and the London Australian Film Festival.
Subsequently, Nammi traveled to Europe, where she rekindled her passion for painting. During this period, she was cast by John Duigan in the film 'Careless Love', and one of her self-portraits served as a pivotal prop in the movie.
