In the 90s, Hien Mai was considered one of the famous "calendar queens", alongside Diem Huong, Viet Trinh, Y Phung... With her pure beauty, gentle eyes and characteristic silky hair, Hien Mai "covered" calendars, newspaper covers, magazines...
After making a strong impression with the role of teacher Mai in the movie Age of the Fairies (2015), the 6X beauty continued to reap success through the movies Giao thoi, Rang chieu, Chuyen tau hoang hon...
"Calendar Queen" Hien Mai gets emotional when recalling the terrible accident (Performed by: Nga Trinh).
Almost banned from graduation exam for skipping school to film
Recently, Hien Mai has been absent from the screen and entertainment activities. How is your life ?
- I take care of my family and occasionally go on shows. Lately, it's not that I've limited my appearances, but because I have to travel back and forth between the US and Vietnam to take care of my son who is studying abroad, so my time is limited. I've also received many invitations to act in movies, but I had to turn them down.
I am very sorry and hope to have the opportunity to take on a role that I love in the near future. Artistic activities are not only my job but also my joy.
Going to America without her husband by her side, does Hien Mai feel pressured?
- My biggest pressure is not being able to be with my loved ones. In America, I have friends, but not many. However, taking care of my son makes me feel secure. I also always find joy for myself, so that I can live happily in any situation.
Looking back to the past, Hien Mai graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, what chance led her to pursue art?
- When I was a student, the karaoke movement was very popular. My friend applied to be an actor for the karaoke troupe and invited me to compete with him, but I refused. Unexpectedly, when I came to pick him up, I caught the eye of the director.
I refused the invitation to film, but when I heard the daily salary was 25 USD (about 270,000 VND - PV), my will was shaken. When I was in school, I was a good student, receiving a scholarship of 50,000 VND per month, so when I heard that the filming salary was too different, I was interested (laughs).
From then on, I went everywhere filming karaoke clips, became known to many audiences, became a model and then moved into acting.
No one in her family is in the arts, was Hien Mai prevented from deciding to give up her path to becoming a teacher to become a model?
- At first, my family did not agree to let me pursue art. My mother said that being an artist is very unstable, only those who are really good should do it, otherwise being mediocre will not last long.
At first, I was determined to finish college, but during my studies, I still went to film many times. The school board even invited me to warn me, saying that if I missed too much class, I would not be able to graduate. Thanks to that, I stopped filming, focused on studying and got my diploma.
I taught Russian for 2 months, but the job was unstable, so I quit.
Mom said you have to be good to do art, but how do you see your ability and income in this profession?
- After quitting teaching, I started working at the Department of Culture and Information, with a monthly salary of 320,000 VND plus an allowance of 80,000 VND. Meanwhile, I earned 250,000 VND a day filming karaoke, so I found many reasons to ask for leave to go film, sometimes because I was tired, sometimes because I was sick... (laughs).
Known as the "calendar queen", how much was Hien Mai's photo shoot salary at that time?
- By the time I was called "calendar queen", my salary was much higher. At that time, I filmed commercials, modeled, took calendar photos, acted in movies... and earned a very good income.
Calendar photography fees are very high, but the images taken are not only used for the calendar but also for advertisements, book covers, newspapers, etc. So although the fees are high, the ones who benefit are the photographers, not the actors or models.
But this job is also very tiring. I have to stand in the sun from early morning until sunset. Any job is difficult.
At that time, a girl in her early 20s like Hien Mai had no one to guide her, how could she know the "way to go" to become famous in the entertainment industry?
- In the past, few people had guidance. But thanks to the fate of the profession, combined with passion and effort, people like me just kept going.
Our generation of artists in the past did not have many advantages like today's young people, we did not have a support team. We went to film, take pictures, woke up early, stayed up late or got sick all by ourselves.
Serious accident, broken vertebrae, crushed face
Having beauty and early career achievements, has Hien Mai ever been hated or played dirty by colleagues?
- Jealousy definitely exists. One time, I performed on stage with another model, and she didn't perform as we had rehearsed. But when she got off stage, she blamed me. Luckily, many other people witnessed it, so they gave me back my "innocence" (laughs).
I used to have many friends. Whenever I was bullied, they would stand up for me. However, I don’t like to be petty, so many people are afraid to touch me. It can be said that my colleagues also respect and admire me.
There was also a period when Hien Mai often played mean roles. How did the audience react at that time?
- In the movie Giao thoi , I play a role with multiple personalities, innocent and naive at first but later on, fierce and will stop at nothing.
I remember one time at Ben Thanh market, a vendor met me and said: "Teacher Mai, I like you very much, but I hate the movie Giao Thoi and don't want to see your face." After hearing that, I felt a bit disappointed and sad, but then I thought again, if I acted well, people would hate me.
Many people think that Hien Mai's career path is very smooth, is that true?
- It is wrong to say that my life has been eventless. I have experienced many events. For example, the car accident in Can Gio.
In 1997, I was one of the three main actresses in the film Giao thoi (with Truong Ngoc Anh and Ngo My Uyen - PV). After filming 5 episodes, the film crew took a 2-month break for post-production, at that time I accepted to act in the film Rang chieu . While changing the scene, the film crew's car overturned.
When I was taken to the emergency room, everyone thought I would never be able to work again, because my face was smashed by the car window. I was sure I would never be able to work again, I just prayed that I wouldn't be paralyzed, because I also had a broken vertebra.
At the height of her youth and career, Hien Mai encountered a tragic incident. How did she deal with it?
- I broke my vertebrae, I was in so much pain that after just one night, my hair turned white. Thinking back now, I still feel terrified. However, I was only worried for the first 3 days, then I felt more cheerful. I thought about my family, my parents, the people who loved me. I am the pillar of the family, if I collapsed, my family would suffer first.
At that time, many colleagues, audiences and even strangers came to visit me. Cai Luong artists, whom I had never met or worked with, also came to encourage me.
A whole school for the disabled came. A blind boy carried a disabled boy up to the third floor of the hospital to cheer me up. They knew me because I often went to their school to do charity work. Seeing disabled kids still coming to me like that, how could I not be excited?
At that time, I asked my friends to buy me books, magazines, and comedy CDs to watch, and unexpectedly my spirit really lifted. My recovery and ability to continue working was a miracle. After only 2 months, my spine and face were healed and I returned to the film crew of Giao Thoi .
Having an accident and being absent from the entertainment industry for a while, will Hien Mai's position be affected?
- When I had the accident, many people advised Mr. Phan Hoang - the director of the film Giao thoi - to find someone else to replace me, because my spine was damaged and my appearance was also affected, making it difficult for me to continue working. However, Mr. Hoang still believed that I would recover.
I am very grateful to him, because I can say that his belief in me has given me the motivation to be strong enough to overcome the storm. The day I returned to the set, the crew and I were all moved, everyone was sobbing and crying.
Many times wanted to… leave her husband to be free
After a serious accident and having to stay in hospital for months, Hien Mai has found true love?
- My husband came back to Vietnam from the US to work. He and I met at an exhibition event where I was a model. We just talked and got to know each other, there was no big relationship yet. I myself did not pay much attention to him, because I had too many people pursuing me. However, when I had an accident and many people "turned their backs", he was there for me, taking care of me with all his heart.
I also heard the doctor say that my husband at that time said that if Vietnam could not treat me, he would sponsor me to go to the US for treatment. At that time, I felt touched and began to think about his sincerity. After that, we dated for 6 years and then got married.
In marriage, are Hien Mai and her husband compatible, or is there one person who always has to "give in" and give in?
- My husband and I are completely incompatible. We even argue, we quarrel after just 2-3 sentences, but he always gives in to me. Furthermore, our son is the greatest bond between us.
I think the biggest thing that keeps us together is fate. Besides, in marriage, everyone knows how to put aside their ego to preserve family happiness.
Has the disharmony that Hien Mai mentioned ever put your marriage on the "brink"?
- Many times I thought about ending this marriage because I was too tired. I wondered why I didn't stay single for good, let my friends invite me to go anywhere freely, without anyone controlling me. But I think almost every family is like that, there will be some awkwardness, so both of us can work together, build and maintain happiness.
Hien Mai's talent has been recognized by many people, but there are also rumors that she relies on her rich husband. How do you respond?
- I have faced many such rumors and was very upset. When I was young, I tried very hard. Before I met my husband, I bought my first house. I was famous and a bit "snobbish" so I only accepted big shows. However, after taking out a bank loan to buy a house, I accepted any show, as long as I had income.
At that time, I had to be at the studio at 6am and only got off work at 10pm. After that, I had to run commercials until morning. I worked day and night without any time to sleep, and many times I fainted on the set due to exhaustion. I was so haunted by that feeling that I vowed never to pay the bank installments again.
I don't dare to say that my husband is a tycoon, he is just a little well-off. That's why my husband and I always have to try our best, I don't depend on him at all.
Has Hien Mai ever spoken out to "respond" to this issue?
- Once, I was so angry that I wrote something on Facebook, but everyone noticed and made a big fuss so I deleted it. I was also afraid of gossip, and money is a sensitive issue. However, I think it is a blessing for women to be able to depend on their husbands.
Having a son, what kind of mother-in-law does Hien Mai think she will be?
- I'm sure I will be a wonderful mother-in-law, loving my daughter-in-law with all my heart and always nurturing happiness for my son.
I got married at 36, but I still feel uncomfortable, sometimes I want to leave my husband to be free. So I tell my children to get married after 30. If anyone is still single, I congratulate them (laughs).
Doing art does not care about salary
After the accident, is Hien Mai's health still affected?
- I had an accident when I was 30 years old. Since then, whenever the weather changes, I get pain. It's better now, or maybe I'm used to it so I don't feel the pain like before.
Before, the doctor advised me not to carry anything heavier than 5kg, not to fall, not to give birth. At that time, I also had to refuse many favorite roles, because there were action scenes, horse riding, falling... I was very heartbroken, but still had to endure to ensure my health.
Many "calendar queens" like Viet Trinh, Diem Huong, Y Phung... have now retired from the entertainment industry. What about you?
- Everyone has their own circumstances. However, I think that anyone who has entered this profession has passion. They may withdraw from the entertainment industry, but when the passion for the profession flares up, what happens when they return?
As for me, I am still passionate about my job, so I have not thought about quitting. If there are roles I like, I am willing to spend all my time and effort to do them. Currently, I do not care about salary. My economy is stable because I worked very hard when I was young.
What does Hien Mai think when people mention an artist who is "out of date"?
- The two words artist are very sacred, so I never think that artists are out of date or not out of date. In the world, there are also many movies with scripts for older artists. So it also depends on each person's fate, passion and luck with the work they are doing.
Often doing charity work, but it seems Hien Mai is quite secretive about this?
- My mother is a kind-hearted person, so since I was little, she taught me to love and share. Before the accident, I often did charity work. After the incident, I did even more. When I bring joy to others, I feel happy.
I also often ask for donations from relatives and friends because I myself cannot do much. When doing charity, I do it directly, with complete paperwork so my friends trust me. That is why when it comes to charity, I am not afraid at all.
The recent rumors about artists’ charity have hurt and discouraged me. However, I still continue to contribute to organizations that I believe in, and no longer call for donations.
Many people are under pressure of time and age, what about Hien Mai?
- Everyone has time pressure. I'm a bit lazy, always using the excuse that my health is not good so I don't exercise. I also love to eat, I don't abstain from anything. I always think that if I eat a lot, my health will be good. Every now and then, I just walk a little but don't exercise much (laughs).
I am lucky, even if I eat a lot, I don't gain weight. But I think the most important thing is the spirit. A young person who lives in pain and thinks a lot will age quickly. An older person who is always happy and optimistic will stay young. Looking around at my friends, no one is old.
Thanks for sharing actress Hien Mai!
Source link
Comment (0)