Breaking away from his usual “handsome guy” image, Manh Truong returns to the small screen as a Ho Chi Minh soldier saving people during a storm and flood in Space and Time. The film airs on prime time on VTV, directed by Meritorious Artist Nguyen Danh Dung.
On this occasion, the actor shared more about his role, responding to recent audience comments that he was not suited to be a “handsome guy” or “romantic male lead” on screen. He also confided about his wife and their happy family of 20 years.
Sunbathing, face black as soot when playing the role of a soldier
What made you decide to return to the image of a soldier after more than 10 years, with the role of Lieutenant Colonel Le Nguyen Dai in the movie "Space of Time"? A role that can be seen as very difficult?
– When Meritorious Artist Danh Dung called and told me about the role, he didn’t think I would agree right away. At the time of filming Road to Dien Bien 10 years ago, I had no children and no commitments, so all the producer needed to do was pack my bags and go.
Now, I'm a father of 3 (laughs), people are afraid that if I go far away, I won't be able to take care of my family.
For me, participating in this project is a professional experience that also helps me affirm my acting skills.
Perhaps the most difficult thing for me when taking on this role was the appearance, I had to lose weight and look more mature. My character is 41-42 years old while I am 39 years old.
Soldiers at this age need to be more mature and different from normal people like me. In the first days of filming, the makeup team used the blackest foundation, making my skin darker. Later, after a month of filming, my skin naturally darkened. There was a time when the crew filmed all day on top of a mountain, without a single tree.
After filming, the makeup artist asked me: "Why does your face look like it has soot on it?", because it's so black (laughs).
Life while filming in the village must have been difficult and hard?
– Filming conditions in the village certainly cannot be compared to those in the city, but I don't think it's worth the trouble the crew had to go through while making this film.
We actors are always favored and are often teased as “the happiest in the group”. Because there are days when we finish filming and still get to rest and go home, but the crew cannot. They have to leave at 6am, and there are days when filming lasts until night or at least until 7-8pm. Every day, everyone has to work 10-20 hours.
How do you arrange your personal life and family when you are often away from home filming?
– My family loves me very much, no wonder filming this movie is so hard. My wife is used to it. I feel lucky to have her to manage and take care of the family.
Initially, when I accepted the role in the movie Spacetime, I told my wife that we would only film for 3 months because I knew director Danh Dung worked very quickly.
However, the film crew encountered uncontrollable incidents such as natural disasters, floods, landslides, etc., so the progress was doubled.
Last time I came back, my wife asked me if it had been almost 3 months, was it almost done yet? I had to admit, “3 more months,” but she didn’t blame me.
Our youngest child is now 2 years old, she is very well-behaved and rarely cries. We only hired a maid for a year, now my husband and I take care of our child ourselves. Chip - the eldest daughter - is 15 years old, helping her parents take care of her younger sibling.
What do you say about the comments of many audiences recently that Manh Truong is too old and not suitable to play the role of a handsome guy, the male lead in a romantic film?
– I also find it funny that when I was young, I always played mature, married roles. However, after Taste of Love , I often take on the role of a romantic male lead, a handsome guy…
For me, acting is more passive than many other artistic fields. The desire to play this role today and another role tomorrow does not depend on the individual.
I really like deep characters like Kieu Phong in Love and Ambition or the cheeky Hai in Crocodile File.
However, since The Taste of Love , it has been 4-5 years now and I still haven't been invited to play a similar role. If I keep waiting, I won't be able to act for 5 years. I think, with acting, if I take too long a break, it will gradually fade away.
I understand the nature of my work and my choices so I am not stubborn or too concerned.
"My wife knows she is beautiful so she is very confident"
Is your wife your most demanding audience?
– My wife has always been my most attentive and demanding audience. When I first started working, my acting was still naive, so my wife criticized me in many ways. Now that my skills are better, my wife is even more demanding.
Normally, the audience doesn't have any contact with me outside, so when they watch the movie, they easily accept my role. My wife is different, she is the one who understands me the most, from my personality, my habits in life to my acting style and creativity with the character.
Sometimes her comments and suggestions help me overcome many limitations when filming.
Married to a famous and handsome actor, his wife has often been compared to his co-stars. Many viewers even went to her personal page to be jealous on behalf of the characters in the film. How did his wife react at those times?
– My wife was noticed for her beauty when my daughter and I filmed the show Dad! Where are we going? At that time, she had just given birth to her second child and was not yet in shape.
Once, the crew came to my house to film early in the morning. We didn't have time to prepare anything so the images on camera were very natural and difficult to be polished.
In recent years, I often play handsome roles, with beautiful makeup and styling, along with the development of social networks, making the public pay more attention.
When a movie is hot, it is inevitable that the audience will fall in love with the characters and then compare, match, and leave negative comments. At times like that, we comfort each other that it is the audience's feelings, and it will end when the movie ends.
Many people will think that my wife is psychologically affected, but until now, she has not. She is a very sympathetic and understanding person, so that feeling passes very quickly. If she is psychologically affected or has any impact, I certainly will not dare to do the next projects.
His wife once said that he always complimented her and helped her feel confident about her appearance, so she never felt jealous of her husband's co-stars?
– Of course when in love, I have to praise, how can I criticize (laughs).
In fact, since her school days, Phuong had an attractive appearance, a generous, carefree and dynamic personality. I was very lucky to have “wooed” her, overcoming many rivals and “satellites” surrounding her to win her over. Friends who have been friends with my wife and I for many years all know that.
Later, I became an actor, often playing handsome roles. When on camera, the crew also did my makeup and chose camera angles to make me look better.
In real life, I see myself as very ordinary, even far inferior to my wife in appearance. My wife is much more beautiful and outstanding than me. She also knows she is beautiful so she is very confident (laughs).
“We never stay mad at each other for more than a day.”
Having been in love since high school and now married, there are definitely times when things don’t go well. What do you do to keep the love burning for over 20 years?
– Like any other couple, we have times when we argue and disagree.
However, we both still kept the principle of never being angry with each other for more than a day. Even if we had a big argument, it was not allowed. Because after 24 hours, many problems would arise, which were difficult to solve. Gradually, it became a habit that made us unable to stay angry with each other for long.
I am also often the one who takes the initiative to make peace, joke, and tease to break the tension. In general, we understand each other very well.
What about the economy?
– Of course my wife is the “keeper of the family’s treasures”. When I go to work, I give all my salary to my wife. I don’t have any secret funds and I don’t spend anything.
For example, for the past 3 months, I went to the highlands with the crew to film the movie Space of Time, and we were provided with 3 meals. In the morning, each person only spent 20,000 VND for a cup of coffee. We even teased each other: “Spend your money or you will get moldy” (laughs).
How do you divide up the education of your children? Your eldest daughter is praised for being very tall, pretty, and artistically talented. Do you intend for her to pursue an artistic career?
– We often say “be friends with your children”, it sounds simple but in reality it is very difficult. In addition to being close to your children so that they feel comfortable sharing, parents also need to have limits and be strict with their children. If you only be friends with your children, it will be harder to teach them when they do something wrong.
At home, my husband and I have to divide the work of “one person hitting and one person soothing”. When one person is angry, the other will encourage and comfort. Normally, my wife is stricter, so when the children need something, they often come to me.
Regarding career, we do not give specific guidance or pressure our children too much. For example, Chip (Manh Truong’s eldest daughter – PV) studied and loved playing the piano since she was little, but now she is no longer passionate about it. Now she likes to learn to draw and wants to be an actress, I don’t know if her dream will change in the next few years.
The second son is 10 years old and quite innocent. Sometimes he comes home and says: “Dad, please sign autographs for my friends.”
Thanks for sharing!
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/manh-truong-ngoai-doi-toi-kem-xa-vo-ve-ngoai-hinh-20241125180414721.htm
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