Nay Toe (; ; born Nay Lin Aung (; ; on 9 September 1981) is a Rakhine film actor and comedian with the Burmese traditional anyeint troupe Htawara Hninzi. He won Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards for Best Actor four times: in 2009 with Moe Nya Einmet Myu, in 2015 with Nat Khat Mhar Tae Tite Pwal, in 2017 with Tar Tay Gyi and in 2024 with Bound. He also won the Star Award for the film Bridge of Clouds in 2018. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Myanmar.
Nay Toe was born on 9 September 1981 in Tawhtu village in Manaung Township, Cheduba Island, to ethnic Rakhine parents, U Aung Than and Daw Than Myaing. He is the second child of four siblings. His younger brother Min Thway is also an actor. He began his career as a model and eventually transitioned to cinema. He graduated from Yangon University with a B.Sc. in mathematics.
Nay Toe moved to Yangon in 1999, where he joined the YIIK modeling agency and took singing lessons. He gained some titles in modeling contests. He modeled under the name Zin Min.
He released an album in 2000, but without any success.
He starred in music videos and began exploring acting. In 2001, he starred in his first movie, 3 Weeks. Since 2007, Nay Toe has been acting with the Htawara Hninzi (Eternal Rose) Burmese cultural dance show, in which he is one of the supporting comedians, along with Tun Tun, Moe Moe, Ye Lay and Kyaw Kyaw Bo. The director of the show is Maung Myo Min.
In 2011, he won an academy award for Best Leading Actor for his role in Moe Nya Einmet Myu. His role in the movie was said to be intricate, as the character he portrayed was suffering from multiple personality disorder and displayed three different personalities throughout the story.
Nay Toe has appeared in several television commercials, including those for Myanmar Airways International, soft drinks, jewelry stores, fashion, and sports apparel.
Nay Toe released his autobiography and fashion book, Un Tightened Doors (), on 1 January 2011. The 21 chapters of the book review both his career and his personal life, including a large photo gallery. The book focuses on his religious insight into Buddhism as a devoted Buddhist.
Nay Toe traveled to Japan, Singapore and Malaysia in 2011 on entertainment tours. He has also been invited to Australia, Singapore, London, Malaysia, Japan and New Zealand.
Nay Toe's humanitarian work includes raising funds for those affected by the cyclones Nargis and Giri. He has also participated in various charity shows held in Burma and overseas. He donated to several retirement homes and orphanages as a celebration of winning the Academy Award in January 2011 in place of holding a lavish party. For his 30th birthday, he sponsored a place of worship in the center of his hometown.
Nay Toe is introverted, reserved and reticent in nature; people often mistake him for being arrogant. This aura of coldness is how he got his nickname, "Ice Prince".
He married Thae Su Myat Shwe on 5 February 2022, at their house in Yangon. Now, he has a son named Gon Shein Toe.
Nay Toe has revealed his artistic ability and has held an interest in crafts since he was young, especially in paintings and sculptures. His favorite painting techniques are watercolor and acrylic. He has won prizes for his drawings and sculptures since primary school. Other hobbies include reading, photography, music and travelling. His favorite sport is swimming, and he also plays tennis and golf occasionally.
Nay Toe is known for being a pious Theravada Buddhist.
In his 2011 biography Un Tightened Doors, four chapters are devoted to his religious beliefs: Buddhist teachings that inspired him, and his experience and thoughts on VipassanÃÂ meditation.
Nay Toe described Buddha as the most respectable and inspirational person in his life in the chapter "Character in My Religious Sight". In another chapter, "The Most Important Movie of Life from VipassanÃÂ Point of View", he mentioned VipassanÃÂ as a director of life that can guide people to achieve their inner peace and liberation, eventually attaining enlightenment through VipassanÃÂ. In the chapter "Standard of Life", he emphasizes his belief that one's standard of life is determined by having knowledge of and practicing VipassanÃÂ meditation rather than materialistic possession. In the "VipassanÃÂ and Me" chapter, Nay Toe elaborates on why and how he practices VipassanÃÂ meditation.
Nay Toe has starred in over one hundred direct-to-video films since 2001. The following is a list of these works.