Manh Quan started acting at a very young age, he made an impression when participating in a series of famous sitcom projects such as "5S Online", "Nhat ky Vang Anh". After a while, he returned to acting in TV series, appearing in the films "Quynh bup be", "Ve nha di con", "Loi ve mien hoa".
Actor Manh Quan had a conversation with Lao Dong Newspaper reporter about his youth and journey to adulthood.
Since the movie "Nhat ky Vang Anh" until now, both you and Diem Hang have gone through a long journey of maturity. How is maturity shown in this acting and collaboration?
- That maturity is shown right from reading the script. In the previous film, when Diem Hang and I rehearsed the script, we sometimes joked with each other, and when we started acting, we sometimes made jokes. Now, when we are more mature, we both understand that we can joke around outside, but when we work, we have to focus and be serious, from reading the script to practicing the lines. When the scene ends, we relax and joke with each other. I think that is the obvious maturity of Hang and I.
Famous from the movie "Nhat ky Vang Anh", then the movie "5S Online", recently he has continuously had many projects but until now Manh Quan's career is still considered to have not made many impressions. Does that make you feel regretful?
- I have a little regret. But I don't regret my decisions. Because in all the films I participated in, I tried my best. Before each project, I studied the script very carefully, researched and developed the character. For each role, I tried to create a different style, a different personality. I had times of regret after filming, I felt I could have done better in a certain part that I hadn't thought of when filming. Everyone has regrets, so it's okay, I tried my best, tried 100% of my capacity and ability. I hope the audience can see my change in future films.
The movie "Quynh Doll" was a milestone marking Manh Quan's return after many years. He was expected to have a transformation in acting as he has matured since "Nhat Ky Vang Anh". However, many viewers commented that Manh Quan is still safe, monotonous, and has not had a breakthrough in acting. What do you think about this comment?
- I also realize that, and I also know that the audience always loves and supports my products. I always try to learn from each role. After the movie "5S Online", I played "Quynh bup be". After 7 years of acting in sitcoms, the character Quyet dai ca is deeply ingrained in me from personality, dialogue delivery, psychology... When I accepted to participate in "Quynh bup be", I was under a lot of pressure. Almost every day after filming, I sat reading the script until the next morning.
I read and reread the scenes from the following days of filming, reciting them by heart to better grasp the character's emotions. But because I had been doing sitcoms for a long time, with a different rhythm, different delivery, and not putting too much emotion, I was used to it. When I started working on TV again, I was overwhelmed.
I was lucky to act with Thu Quynh and was helped and trained by director Mai Hong Phong to gradually get used to the rhythm of the TV series. Thu Quynh is an actress I highly appreciate for her acting ability as well as her ability to create psychology for her co-stars. Although there were places where I did not do well, any situation or circumstance that happened gave me experience, and I think that is very valuable experience.
Currently, TV series repeat the family theme, lacking new content. In prime time alone, there are 3 films about groups of friends, close friends such as: "Cheer up, brothers", "Near and far roads", "Sao Kim shoots heart, Sao Hoa". What do you think about the current overlapping of themes, scripts that are stuck and do not show new ideas on prime time?
- I think the theme of family is an eternal theme on the screen, each film brings a different message and meaning. "Sao Kim shoots the heart of Sao Hoa" is about three families, and each couple has their own problems. Each tree has its own flower, each house has its own scene, no family is the same. For couples who have been married for many years, their stories are also different, they will have to work together to mend and change so that the family is always warm. I think the directors, screenwriters and crew have worked very hard to bring realistic and interesting footage to the audience. Hopefully in the future, we can see more new topics on prime time.
Manh Quan is praised for looking young and scholarly, almost no different from more than 10 years ago. Is this his advantage or disadvantage?
- I think actors or anyone working in the arts want to be complimented for being young and beautiful. Appearance is also an advantage for me to do the job, but it is also a disadvantage. Because being too young can make actors be stereotyped into a certain type of role. After playing that type of character for a long time, there were times when I realized that I had not completely escaped the role, and the director also often fixed me with that type of role. Therefore, I always want to try new types of roles, except for the role of a handsome guy, so that the audience does not find it boring and monotonous.
The nature of the acting profession requires long travel, a difficult filming schedule, and co-starring with many female co-stars. How do your wife and family sympathize and motivate you?
- Actually, I don't have to be away from home too often, most of the projects are filmed near Hanoi. In 2020, I went to film "Love More Than the Sky" in Phu Yen for 1 month. Almost every day my wife called to ask about my health, and my children wanted to talk to their father for at least 15 minutes. Every time I said it was stormy there and I couldn't go out to buy food, my wife sent me many of my favorite dishes and snacks for the film crew. When I filmed far away, I could clearly feel the care of my family, my wife and children. And I didn't feel tired at all when I went to work, I felt like I had been given more energy, more strength to try to do it quickly and well to return home soon.
How does getting married and experiencing married life help you in your acting?
- I think getting married helps me a lot. First, when I was not married, I was still busy playing around and was rarely at home. When I came home from work, I often invited my friends to go out for coffee, or if someone invited me to go out to eat, I would go right away without thinking much. When I got married, when I went to film or came home from work, I just wanted to go home right away, because I knew my wife and children were waiting for me at home. I felt much more mature in my thinking. When I took on the role of a father in the movie, I was more confident, both in acting and in the psychology of a father because I had already experienced it.
At this age, with so many jobs, how do you think your life is? Someone said Manh Quan is very rich, do you think it's true?
- I am rich, I am rich in experience, I am rich in emotions, I am rich in experiences. As for finances, I do not dare to say that I am rich. With 13 years of working, I feel happy because I have received a lot of love, support and encouragement from the audience. I am very grateful.
When I was young, I was active, lively, and always organized parties. Now, I find myself more calm, preferring to spend time with my family rather than going out. On weekends, I often wake my children up early, have breakfast, and then take my wife and children to a cafe with a playground for children so that parents can have time to chat and play with their children. Those are the moments I look forward to and think about more.
