Actress wears heart on her sleeve Kim Cuong has been hailed as the actress most likely to bring audiences to tears. She spoke backstage with Thanh Xuan.
As an artist, Kim Cuong has succeeded in many genres. However, her favourite is drama, where she can feed off the emotional responses of her audience. Her artistic talents have blended with her love of playing on the stage. She has won many hearts through her stage acting and play writing.
With a sweet voice and an ability to vividly portray a wide range of characters, Kim Cuong (whose name means diamond) has infused profound humanity into many leading roles throughout her 50 years.
However, her passion is not limited to the stage. Off-stage, the well-known actress puts equal effort into charity work for needy people.
Inner sanctum: Following in the footsteps of your parents, who were renowned performers of cai luong (reformed opera), how different are you now from Kim Cuong of 50 years ago?
One of my colleagues once judged about me: "Kim Cuong was born for the stage." That was obviously right.
I followed my family's travelling troupe since childhood and began working on the stage when I was eight years old.
At the time, my mother forced me to go to school instead of performing cai luong or playing drama. However, as soon as I left school at the age of 19, I rushed back to the stage.
Through devotion and patience, I have achieved some fame through three different types of arts – cai luong, play and cinema.
But for me, I don't work on the stage for fame. Playing the different characters gives me life experience, which is much more valuable.
Inner sanctum: What is your most favourite role among the hundreds that you have played?
My favourite character is Olga from the Russian play I performed in 18 years ago, Returning to a Former Home. I like her because she is similar to me.
The pursuit of art forces Olga, and myself, to leave home often.
However, I'm happier than Olga, because when I return home I have never been shocked to witness my husband with another woman.
Inner sanctum: You have also composed plays. What do you focus on in your writing?
I have written about 80-90 plays, some of them famous. They include La Sau Rieng (Leaves of Durian), Hai Mau Ao (Two Colours of a Shirt) and Nguoi Mua Hanh Phuc (Person Who Buys Happiness).
Most of my plays are concerned with motherhood and spousal loyalty.
Humankind is different from plants and animals because humans have thoughts and sentiments.
Although I was not yet a mother when I wrote the plays, I think affection between mothers and children is the most sacred among human sentiments.
In one striking example of this affection, I once witnessed a mother bring up four adopted children with cerebral palsy. A mother like that is an angel.
I focus on such human interest angles in my plays, because they are close to audiences, who might be doctors, engineers, workers or even cyclo drivers. Watching plays with topics about daily life enables them to understand and sympathise with characters.
Inner sanctum: HTV (HCM City Television) has launched a programme Female Roles in Kim Cuong's Plays directed by Doan Khoa and Hoang Vu. Why don't you come back to the stage in an atmosphere where you are so revered?
It would be sinful to my predecessors to say I am quitting my career. And for a long time, I have hoped a new programme would reignite my love for the job.
But I find it hard to work in the current stage performance environment.
Some performers rush from show to show, taking little pride in their work.
Previously, the Kim Cuong Drama Group was well regarded as a serious company, because I taught them to respect their colleagues.
I taught them that each performance must be treated as a fight. Because of this, those backstage should not tease, play cards or talk nonsense while their friends are in battle.
At the same time, it is unacceptable for a performer to blame others for their failures as an artist.
Recently, directors Doan Khoa and Hoang Vu invited me to play at the city's theatre, but I am not interested because the script is not suitable for me.
Inner sanctum: What is your biggest achievement as a scriptwriter?
It's my ability to cast reliable actors.
Actors and actresses from many generations, including My Chi, Kieu Phuong Loan, Huynh Thanh Tra, Minh Hanh and Long Hai worked by my side and successfully identified with their roles.
Inner sanctum: What gets you up in the morning now?
I am an ambitious actress. I've never been satisfied with myself. I always think that my best role is ahead.
However, at this point, while I am off-stage, doing charity is what I enjoy. I feel I become younger when I bring happiness to others through charity.
Once, a mother phoned me at midnight to inform that her son's sight was saved. I was overcome with happiness.
I have done charity for 40 years. Now I am deputy head of the city's Association to Support the Disabled People and Orphaned Children and a standing member of the city's Association to Support Poor Patients.
Most of my time is spent doing social work. If I play, I do it to raise funds for the two associations, not for myself.
Inner sanctum: What gives you pleasure apart from acting and charity work?
Family is always an important place for women.
I am not as lucky as some others because I have been separated from my husband for 20 years.
But I am proud to have raised my son, especially in 1973 when he was kidnapped. That was the biggest challenge of my life.
It's said that you can easily spoil your son if he is your only. But not in my case. After he graduated from university in Canada, he refused to stay there. Instead, he chose to live with me at home, which made me happy.
I always enjoy to talking with him. My entire career is for him.
Now, my two-year-old grandson is my love. At the time his father was kidnapped, I couldn't imagine the day when I would be able to carry his son on my arm. — VNS
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