Recently, you have appeared quite a lot on television dramas. At the present time, when introduced as actress Cu Thi Tra, are your feelings different from the early days of entering the profession?
- I think it's quite different. I myself am not an actor from Hanoi University of Theater and Cinema, just an amateur in acting. In the early days of being introduced as an actor, I felt a bit shy, feeling that I was still too young and had too few roles to be called an actor.
But now I feel that I have to try harder. Because if I am too proud of that title, I will be neglected.
It is known that in the past you studied economics, a completely different field from acting. After that, you became a photo model and then switched to acting. Did you come to acting by fate or was it passion from before?
- I think this is more due to fate. I was born into a family in the countryside and no one pursued art, my parents also oriented me to study economics. When I came to Hanoi to study, coincidentally and luckily I received very small roles. Those roles actually only require a little appearance to be able to play, but it is from those small roles that make me feel like I love this job.
I started learning little by little and had longer, thicker roles. In the past 4 years, I have had the opportunity to experience many different types of roles, which made me determined to pursue this job seriously.
For a young actor, appearing in VFC's prime-time movie is a great opportunity, because this is an hour with a large audience, quick feedback and strong spread on social networks. But along with that is also pressure, because each role is scrutinized very carefully, from acting, dialogue to image. For you, the first time you clearly feel the weight of the two words "prime-time movie" is in which movie?
- The role of Anh Thu in the movie "We of 8 Years Later" is the first role that made me feel the weight of prime time movies. Before that, I also participated in short roles and segments of some movies, but because there was nothing too outstanding, the comments only stopped at praising the appearance or commenting on how to speak.
When the character Anh Thu aired, there were tens of thousands of comments directed at this character. At that time, I read a lot, almost read everything and for the first time felt confused and didn't know if I was on the right path or not? To be honest, I am a person who is very afraid of pressure, afraid of public opinion.
Gradually, friends comforted me a lot, colleagues and family also confided to relieve me. I will always remember, my mother said to me: "It's okay, it's actually just a character. When the audience discusses a lot about the character, that's also a certain success of the actor". I also tried to comfort myself, reassure myself to be able to overcome that period. Fortunately, besides the negative comments, there are still encouraging comments that give me more motivation. And now, I think I'm also strong enough to know which are the suggestions to take and limit the reception of negative things.
Recently, VFC has tended to bring many young faces into important character lines, alongside actors who are very familiar to the audience. For you, being in a prime-time film crew, working with experienced directors, screenwriters, and actors, what is the point that helps you grow up fastest?
- I think I have matured a lot. VFC is not only a place I come to work but also a place for me to learn every little thing. There, the aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters also teach me from the smallest things such as how to have a smooth face angle, how to have round and clear lines...
And also how to learn how to memorize lines faster, how to absorb characters faster. Those are things I have not learned through school and all are taught by colleagues, directors, producers, everyone points out to me from the smallest things. I am very grateful to everyone for all those things.
Looking back at the journey you have gone through, not too long but not too short, what do you see yourself having changed the most: More confident, more resilient or more resilient?
- I think it's all. Before, when I first started filming at VFC, my acting ability was only at the instinct level, and my skills were zero. Moreover, I met seniors whose movies I had watched from elementary school and middle school, I was under terrible pressure. Once, I was also scolded by the director for not being able to do it, which took a lot of the crew's time.
At that time, on set, I didn't cry and still tried to do my best. When I got home, I cried and thought I wasn't destined to follow the profession because I felt this profession was too stressful.
After that, there was another invitation to make a film, I still went. Then gradually, through each film, I felt that my bravery had become stronger. Actually, now remembering, I have to thank the seniors who were strict with me in the early days to have the opportunity to train my bravery and that is also something that I feel I have changed a lot.
Thank you Tra for sharing!
In recent years, I have been trying to transform into many types of roles. There may be roles that I have done well and there are roles that I have not done well, but I always cherish each role because they are all experiences on the professional path.
What I want most is for the audience to remember me, remember a Cu Thi Tra who is striving, trying and always reinventing herself in the eyes of the audience. Honestly, just the fact that my name is remembered by the audience is also a precious recognition from the audience for my efforts and striving. Hopefully after the movie "White Fire", the audience will continue to accompany Cu Thi Tra on the next journeys.
