From the roles of mothers "storming" the small screen to the proud leap forward on the international film red carpet, actress Tu Oanh had emotional moments of sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper about the pressure behind the aura, the peaceful hidden corner with her life partner - director Bui Thac Chuyen, and a fair view towards the next generation.
Many people after retirement often have a quiet, idle life, but it seems that for you, it is completely the opposite. More busy, more roles. Can you share about your vibrant retirement life?
- When I started to intend to retire, I used to think that my working time was over, my working capacity was starting to decline, and I would spend all my time with my family and friends. But then a very lucky opportunity came that TV series contacted me again. Until now, I have to admit that this time of mine is even more vibrant than so many years of theater.
More than 30 years in the profession, I am used to "hiding in the dark", quietly working and not everyone on stage meets me in real life. But when acting in long-running TV series, the broadcast time is long, and the audience sees me more often.
Not only stopping at TV series, my most fortunate turning point recently is the main role in the movie "Rain on the Butterfly's Wings".
To be honest, initially when young director Duong Dieu Linh invited me, I refused because I was worried: "I have never played a main role, you have to rethink, I only play supporting roles". But she still trusted me.
The film then participated in 28 film festivals around the world, taking me on the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival, Busan. I myself also received the "Best Leading Actor" award at a film festival in the US and many other international nominations.
At this age of "dark hair", this is truly a bright spot, a priceless and wonderful reward in my career.
I am completely surprised that the retirement age has major turning points in the profession.
You participate in theater, television and cinema, what is the biggest difference between these types and how do you define a "real opportunity" for an actor of your current age?
- For me, whether it's cinema or television, the root needs truthfulness. Continuous television, actors have space to freely change, find ways to express themselves, blur words and sentences to highlight the character's personality without making the audience stressed. But cinema is much stricter. Feature films require filtering and adjustment. Actors sometimes only have a few short seconds to fully portray their inner self, so they must choose the best and most accurate way of expressing themselves according to the director's intention.
At this age, I no longer have a forward orientation or expect anything too big to create pressure for myself. In the past 4 years, I have made efforts to perform 8 roles with 8 different colors. Currently, I want to stop for a while to "refresh myself", so that the audience can temporarily forget about me a little, and when I return, I will feel less bored. I see each role that comes to me at this stage as a gift, a good predestined relationship.
Besides acting, my biggest wish now is to be able to share the accumulated experiences with young actors. I want to help them shorten the experience time, achieve a little more perfection. I am happy because after each film, I have more children, true friends - kind, warm relationships that support each other even when the film is finished.
People are often curious about the life behind the screen of artist Tu Oanh and her husband - director Bui Thac Chuyen. In your eyes, what kind of husband is he? Did you open a coffee shop and homestay because you shoulder the economic burden?
- Between us, there is a principle that when we get home, everyone keeps their own business, just share family matters with each other. In my eyes, Mr. Chuyen is an extremely thoughtful, responsible husband who is very indulgent to his wife. Many people have always thought that I was wandering around doing business to let my husband do art, but in reality it is completely the opposite. All the solid economic burden in the family is shouldered by Mr. Chuyen alone, he has to do both jobs and is very hard. And I only participate in some vegetables and groceries.
For me, doing homestay or coffee shop is not business! I myself really like decoration, display and plants. I opened a small coffee shop or homestay first of all to satisfy my personal preferences, wanting to have a pretty space to meet friends who share my taste.
Further, it is preparation for the future, a small house in Hoi An with sunshine, wind, and sea to nurture old age when there is no longer labor, helping the children feel secure at work without having to worry about their parents. Mr. Chuyen, because he understands that I am a person who cannot stop working, he pampers and supports me like that.
It is known that your son (Bui Thac Phong) is also taking his first steps to experiment with cinema. Do you have any orientations or interventions in your son's path and does Bui Thac Phong feel pressure when both his father and mother are successful people in the profession?
- My son was born and raised in an artistic family, things related to the profession unconsciously ingrained in him. He feels love and then ignites passion, but parents cannot force or guide him in this profession.
However, I always maintain a strict view. I frankly told my child that there are two professions where "acquaintance" or "grandchildren" are completely useless, which are actors and football players. It is impossible to suddenly get a good role because of acquaintance if you don't have talent and effort.
The pressure on her is very high. No matter how I explain it, outsiders still say: "Oh dear, if parents don't work, how can they have opportunities?" But in reality, from a small role in the movie "Rain on the Butterfly's Wings" or the project "The Tunnels: Sun in the Dark", she has to go through many rigorous casting rounds like other young people.
I always tell my child that no matter how independent he wants to be, he will still have to face outside criticism later, the only thing he can do is to firmly step on his path, strive for himself and let the final result speak.
