The pressure of being called a beauty or calendar photo queen
One day at the end of the year, People’s Artist Thu Ha came to the appointment with a group of Dan Tri reporters on a small bicycle. She said, now few people ride bicycles, but she still keeps this habit to go to the Hanoi Drama Theater, walk around and exercise.
In real life, she is a young and approachable person, completely different from the formidable image of Mrs. Bach Cuc in Sunflower Against the Sun or the royal lady in Jade Leaves and Golden Branches.
In an intimate conversation, she shared about her life and work. At the age of over 50, she is satisfied with what she has…
Many people say that working at Hanoi Drama Theater is very difficult, what about you?
– At that time, I applied for a job with 3 units: People’s Police Theater Troupe, Vietnam Feature Film Studio and Hanoi Drama Theater. The other two units have agreed to accept me, but the Theater has not yet, because I do not have a Hanoi household registration.
That day, I suddenly received a phone call saying “Ha, Hanoi Theater Troupe invites you to come work”, so I was asked by the management board to complete the procedures to work.
I remember, I told Mr. Hoang Quan Tao – the Theater Director at that time – “The theater is full of famous artists, I’m very scared”.
When I returned to the Theater, Uncle Hoang Quan Tao took me to introduce each department, so I was very moved. That was a favor I never forgot, so later on, there were many job offers at other units, and I was only faithful to the Hanoi Drama Theater.
Many audiences often come to Hanoi Drama Theater because Thu Ha performs. At over 50 years old, you are still a “ticket selling” face, right?
– At each stage, Hanoi Drama Theater All have different faces such as: Tran Hanh, Hoang Cuc, Le Mai, Thanh Tu, Tran Van, Hoang Dung… I am proud to work here. I am lucky to be loved by the audience and have a favorable artistic path.
Now, the Theater also has many young artists, hot faces of television such as: Thanh Huong, Chi Nhan, Tien Loc, Ngoc Quynh, Huyen Thach… Other Theaters only have a few “stars” but they I have many talented young people.
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When talking about Thu Ha, people often call her calendar photo beauty, beauty “jade leaves and golden branches”do you feel happy?
– To be honest, I was very pressured. When I acted in movies like: Jade Leaves, Golden Branches, Long Tri Festival Night… I looked very homely and skinny, I didn’t feel confident in myself. But when playing the role of a princess in a movie, a historical lady feels… not so bad.
Sometimes I’m scared to “be” called that, but the audience comforts me, “Thu Ha is still very beautiful.” When I started to mature in terms of career and age, I also thought more simply: It’s just a name in a movie. But outside of life, I’m very… down to earth.
Audiences still see me walking around the streets with a nice car or sitting and talking to street vendors… I realize that the closer I am to life, the more sympathetic I am than having a “star” disease. Dress modestly, distance yourself from the audience and everyone.
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It is said that you also had a rather… intense childhood?
When I was young, my mother and I lived in Tuyen Quang. My father passed away early, when I was only 2 years old. There are only mother and child in the house.
My mother worked at an ethnic boarding school, and my childhood was spent living here.
At that time, my mother had a small tea garden. Every day she assigned me to pick tea or cook rice… those were light things that children did at that time. That day, I was also a good child so my mother never bothered me.
Bought a house in Hanoi after filming 2 movies
When you decided to go to Hanoi to start a business, did you have to hesitate much?
– I had to think a lot. I don’t have to study very well to become a teacher like my mother dreamed of. I thought, I would go far anyway, so I decided to go to Hanoi to have a job to support myself, so I went to work as a civil servant.
At that time, I had no concept of becoming an artist to be rich or famous, but to be independent so that my mother could worry less about me.
As soon as I grew up, I went to Hanoi to study and work, but in my mind I always thought, I am still a country person, so I should be honest and sincere with everyone.
After that, your mother also went to Hanoi with her daughter, right?
– During those years, I occasionally traveled from Hanoi to Tuyen Quang. The long bus ride felt so tiring, I decided to buy a house in Hanoi. After 2 films filmed in Ho Chi Minh City, I bought a house and took my mother down to live, so she became a Hanoian (laughs).
I am lucky to be an artist who can live with my profession. I’m not rich but I have enough. I realize that I am a person of the previous generation, if I had a good manager like today’s youth, I would be happier and richer.
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Are you busy at the end of the year?
– I also have many projects. If I’m not busy, I often go to the Theater to watch the children practice their books. I’m old now, so I let the young people shine and sit down to give them their opinions.
Occasionally there are festivals and performances, I still attend and participate, because if I don’t go on stage anymore, my reflexes for the job will be lost, and my stage skills won’t be as agile as before.
Sitting and watching my fellow actors, I also learned a lot. Stage and television are now much more unconventional and liberal, so I look to act better.
How does your Tet holiday usually take place?
– Tet in my family is very traditional, the 3 days of Tet are at home preparing food and water to burn incense for the elderly. I also make the dinner tray at home. Now everything is available so organizing and arranging the dinner tray is important.
For the past 20 years, I have often returned to my husband’s hometown to celebrate Tet. I feel that Tet in the countryside is more cozy and has a more Tet atmosphere. During Tet on the street, people only go to relatives’ houses and then go to the temple, but there are not many village or commune activities.
Each region has its own characteristics of Tet. After many years of celebrating Tet in your husband’s hometown, how do you feel?
The first year of returning to my husband’s hometown was very sad, because I had been in Hanoi for a long time, I was used to the lifestyle in the city, influenced by habits in Hanoi, so it took time to get used to my husband’s hometown.
Since returning to my hometown, my husband has discovered a strange banh chung dish than other places. It is banh chung filled with sugar and ginger. Honestly, the first year I wasn’t used to it so it was a bit difficult to eat.
Then it felt strange, and now it’s a special dish and something to be proud of. Every year I don’t have sugar-filled banh chung, I miss it. Eating a lot of it also starts to taste delicious. One year I even gave it to my friends, making them admire it.
Back home, do you participate in cooking with relatives?
– At first when I returned, I didn’t know anything so I just sat… and watched, then I got used to it and started helping everyone. In my husband’s hometown, everyone cooks very well, my grandmother forged my sister-in-law, so my sisters-in-law are very responsible. When I come home, I only “work around” washing dishes and sweeping the house.
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On Tet, the girls go back to their homes. If no one else does it, I still go to the kitchen, but still tell everyone “I can do it all, don’t criticize me, because maybe due to regional tastes, it will be a little different.” “. But in general, Tet in my house is also very warm and happy.
Many artists like to travel during Tet, what about you?
– Young families now tend to travel during Tet. My youngest son shared that when he grows up, he will travel during the Western New Year and during the New Year he will stay at home. I don’t know how he will do it later, but I really like your point of view.
As for me, I still like to stay at home during Tet. Being together, gathering together on New Year’s Eve is the most sacred feeling of my year.
Thank you for sharing!
People’s Artist Thu Ha, full name is Dong Thu Ha, born in 1969. She is famous for her “golden face” beauty, so she is often invited to play roles with a noble background. Starting her career as a theater actress, Thu Ha later became famous thanks to her roles on screen. The role of Princess Quynh Hoa in Long Tri Festival Night (1989) or Miss Nga (daughter of the governor) in Jade Leaves and Golden Branches (1989)… are the roles that brought Thu Ha’s name closer to the public. Thu Ha is a movie star who was passionately loved by fans in the 90s, along with names like Ly Hung, Diem Huong, Viet Trinh, Le Cong Tuan Anh, Y Phung,… She was also called is the “Queen of calendar photos”. In 2019, Thu Ha was one of the artists awarded the title of People’s Artist by the State. |