"I was born in the year of the Ox so I cannot be rich"
Remember, on his 60th birthday, Meritorious Artist Chi Trung shared on his personal page some lines containing many thoughts, although there was no sound of complaint or sadness. Now, at the age of 63, looking back on the journey he has traveled, what do you think you have gained and lost?
- In my life, up until now, I still feel like I have gained more than I have lost.
At the age of 18, I was accepted into the Youth Theater and since then, life has been filled with good fortune. It was here that I met Ngoc Huyen - my first true love. We dated from 1978 to 1986 before getting married and having two children.
After 3 years of training, by 1980 I had performed, and played hundreds of roles - famous dramatic characters of the world in tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth, participated in Vietnamese plays such as Tran Thu Do , or Vietnamese films such as Long Tri Festival Night, Road back to Thang Long Citadel.
In 1983, I entered television with the series Young Soldiers , and I was one of the first actors to play a soldier. In general, I was a bright face on stage and film at that time.
Then, in the show "Meeting at the end of the year" , I acted for 18 consecutive years. The audience loved me and remembered me for the role of Traffic God, even though I played many different Gods.
In the comedy field, I feel lucky because I am not a charming actor like Xuan Bac, Quang Thang, Quoc Khanh, Cong Ly or Van Dung... I consider myself far behind.
But I have something that before Mr. Khai Hung, later Do Thanh Hai, assessed as "suitable for deep comedic roles".
For me, 44 years is more than enough for a lucky journey in the art world. I came to art by chance, not with a desire as people often say: I love art or am passionate...
Really, I consider this a job and came into it randomly.
Being lucky in my career does not mean that I am lucky in life. In 1986, I started working hard to make a living, doing many different jobs because I was hungry for money. For many years, I struggled in the flea market selling fabrics, motorbikes, bicycles, light bulbs, thermoses, etc., and later started my own business, but all of them failed halfway.
I have also gone through a broken marriage. But after all, I still see that I have many lucky things.
The audience is still familiar with the image of Meritorious Artist Chi Trung as humorous, witty but also extremely profound on stage and in his roles. So in real life, when he is sad and upset, where does he hide it and who does he share it with?
- There are sorrows that no one knows and only want to keep to themselves. In life, everyone has times of sadness and happiness. I have experienced the lowest times and I have also enjoyed the highest times, so there is nothing to regret or feel sorry about.
Now, I realize that I am the most important: Take care of my health, eat the foods I like, go where I want and spend my clean money... That's enough fun.
Chi Trung has power, talent, fame, eloquence and many relationships in society. He himself also has the desire to get rich and has done many things, many things... But until now, at the age of 63, Chi Trung is still not rich. Have you ever wondered why that is?
- I also tried to explain and found that, with this profession, many artists leave with nothing but empty hands...
Moreover, I think, everyone is born with their own destiny. I was born in the year of the Ox - that's what a buffalo is, I can't get rich. A buffalo looks like that but it's nothing. It's time to graze, and at night it goes to bed. Maybe age makes it like that?
Many people born in the year of the Ox are also involved in tragedy. I have been through a lot so it is okay to temporarily play the tragedy. Actually, I have many opportunities to get rich, and have many acquaintances with people in power or tycoons, but I am too shy to ask for help.
But I think, this age has one good thing: it's quite peaceful and in control of one's life.
Be careful and cautious when talking about happiness
I remember, in a previous online interview, a reader asked him: "When will Chi Trung think about quitting being an actor?". He replied: "When will everyone go to Mars". However, when he retired, instead of working hard and dedicating himself to acting, Chi Trung chose to relax and forget about art. Did he live more for himself, peacefully, freely and enjoy life?
- I didn't choose my career, but perhaps it chose me. I am still an artist by nature, but that doesn't mean I'm looking for a job that fits the word artist at this time.
I have never left the theater to make movies. I act when invited, and if the role is right for me, I do it, but I don't ask for roles. If anyone thinks that making movies is to make money, to live a more comfortable and wealthy life, they are wrong. Making movies doesn't make much money, and the hardship is 5-10 times more than the money you earn.
I also dare not talk about passion because I don't have much passion anymore. Before, my passion was the stage, but now, I am very shy to perform on stage and meet the audience. My only joy left is to act in Tao Quan at the end of the year.
Nowadays, I am more of a person who enjoys life and lives for myself.
I think that, throughout my artistic career, I have been lucky to be loved by everyone. My years of dedication and successes at the Youth Theatre have created Chi Trung. Meanwhile, Tao Quan has brought me the role of Tao Giao Thong - giving me the love of millions of audiences nationwide.
But all that does not mean I have to struggle to maintain my artist image.
Or is it because life has given me too much favor that I have become subjective and arrogant? All of those things… converge within me.
My hobbies now are reading, taking care of plants, raising birds, chickens, fish, rabbits and most importantly sports. At 5am, I get up to run on the treadmill, then go swimming until 8:30am, read books at 9am, work out at 11am until 12pm for lunch, in the afternoon: read books at 2pm, jog at 5pm, watch movies at night... Occasionally, if my health allows and my girlfriend is happy, I go drinking with my brothers and friends.
Now, I see that my life is stable, I have children and grandchildren and I also have my own happiness.
Even more, to be more assured, every 6 months, I will check to see if I have cancer, not whether I have cancer or not. If I have cancer, I feel worried and panic, but if I do not have cancer, I wonder why I have not had it yet (laughs).
Now, Chi Trung also spends a lot of time taking care of himself. Is it because his girlfriend is a very young and beautiful businesswoman that he feels pressured to take better care of himself and be more beautiful to be worthy of her?
- When I meet a girl 18 years younger than me, very young and beautiful, I go out 2-3 times, she is shy to go out with me, maybe she thinks her father is taking her out... so I have to have the motivation and awareness to take care of myself to become more beautiful. I often exercise to stay healthy, take care of everything from my skin, hair, teeth, breath to neat and stylish clothes.
Before, I just thought that clothes were for wearing, shoes were for walking on the ground, to keep sand from hitting my feet, or food was just for survival. But now, it's not like that, when my girlfriend analyzed for me that, with my appearance, as a public figure like me, if I'm beautiful, then others will see that I'm living well.
She made me cover up when I went out in the sun, and occasionally got facelifts - everyone complimented me on how young I looked. I also thought, if you respect yourself in the mirror, life will respect you.
There is a concept that in my opinion people are wrong when they think that men do not need to beautify themselves, men must be rugged, masculine, weathered and the darker the better.
I hope many men will think again, when you beautify yourself, the first people to benefit are your wife and your children. People around you will see that you are beautiful, they will also respect and love you, see that you give them energy and inspiration.
At my girlfriend's beauty salon, there are many male customers coming in every day. I see that as an open and encouraging sign.
Anyone who looks at Chi Trung's personal life can see that it is very good, one could say it is perfect. Yet, two years ago, he said: "Just a little happy". What about now? Are you no longer hesitant to talk about happiness?
- Until now, I am still cautious and moderate when talking about happiness. Even though I have a quite comfortable life. I have a beautiful, young girlfriend, who is independent in life...
Honestly, I don't believe in lasting, sustainable happiness anymore because Ngoc Huyen and I have lived together for more than 30 years but one day we will part ways, let alone after only being together for 2-3 years.
I just know that we should cherish and live well in the present. As for the future, none of us can predict.
With Ngoc Huyen, no more torment and regret
For Chi Trung, whether in times of success or hardship, in his life, he has had not just one but two most talented and beautiful women by his side. Looking back, do you feel like you hit the jackpot or do you have any regrets?
- It's not a jackpot, but it's not a regret either. I feel lucky to have two precious "Gems" supporting me in my life.
I had a marriage breakdown, it took 2 years of pain, I never thought there would be a day like this.
The breakup at that time… no one understood, everyone thought that Chi Trung left his wife for a young girl. In reality, that was not the case, I was the one left behind in life.
But if you don't live well enough and get left behind, it's something to regret and think about a lot. It's a lesson and experience for you to live well with the next person in the future.
Now, I don't feel tormented or regretful about the breakup, and I don't feel indebted to a virtuous and good wife like Ngoc Huyen. I'm not sad or hurt that my children are no longer with me, because now they have quite stable lives of their own.
I myself have also changed a lot after the incident: I am more gentle and a better listener, instead of just giving orders before. I was stoic and autocratic.
He said, with Ngoc Huyen, there is no more torment or regret, no sadness or pain, but the two of them avoid and are afraid to mention each other... People still say, when the heart is still heavy with love, it is difficult to be friends?
- I want to thank Y Lan. I share everything with her, my bad habits and even my feelings for Ngoc Huyen and the children.
As you said, maybe I still remember Ngoc Huyen, still love her, still have feelings... But the story has gone far, we both have our own lives.
I still love him so I feel guilty and shy when having to interact even though we perform together a lot.
I think Ngoc Huyen also respects me.
I know we still care about each other because we have lived together for 32 years. If anything happens, I will be the first to notice.
You shared that when you are in your 70s or 80s, if you are still alive, you will go to a nursing home. What was your girlfriend's reaction and did she share anything about herself with you?
- We discuss everything with each other: First, don't get married, second, don't register, just live together until we get bored and then pack our bags and leave (laughs).
Don't think that when I fell off my horse, she was there to help me, because at that time, she was also in a disappointing relationship. To have the life I have today, I also supported her greatly, both materially and spiritually.
A nursing home is our future and our wish, not just mine. We could also share a room and split the cost (laughs).
We are both sober, financially independent, straightforward with each other and comfortable and fair when it comes to love.
"I'm still jealous and madly in love"
Is your love in middle age different from when you were young?
- I'm still jealous and still madly in love (laughs). We go out together, do beauty treatments together and go to the movies together.
Y Lan and I came together with understanding, as pieces to perfect ourselves and learn from mistakes in life.
At this age, Lan and I don't have many options. We both look to each other and share the same view that living well, treating each other with kindness, and bringing each other joy is enough.
Have you ever argued and had conflicts so much that you wanted to stop while you were in love?
- I don't know about Lan, but I never have.
For you now, the most important thing is…?
- I used to be very happy and there were times when I thought I couldn't overcome my unhappiness, but then I realized one thing: in this world, everyone born and living has a destiny, a blessing, a fate.
I realized that I had forgotten a very important person, myself. Now, I take care of myself by reducing drinking and exercising daily to stay healthy.
With the current feelings, the important thing is to be together and still feel happy, joyful, sympathetic and share with each other every sad and happy moment in life.
Thanks for sharing!
Photo: Toan Vu
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