The story of a wife who dressed up her husband thousands of times to play Uncle Ho

Vuong Dam Thuy is a makeup artist. Since 1987, she has specialized in makeup for actors playing Uncle Ho, especially her husband - Meritorious Artist Tien Hoi.

Not only does this woman do work related to Uncle Ho, her life is also closely connected to President Ho. She was born on May 19, the same day as Uncle Ho. More surprisingly, her hometown is also in Kim Lien, Nam Dan, Nghe An, the same hometown as Uncle Ho.

The female artist shared that thanks to her job as a makeup artist for actors to play Uncle Ho, she met, fell in love with and married Meritorious Artist Tien Hoi, the actor considered to have played the role of Uncle Ho most successfully to date.

- Your husband is the actor who plays the role of Uncle Ho (Meritorious Artist Tien Hoi), and you are the one who does his makeup. Can you share about this?

Actually, this is a fate between me and Mr. Tien Hoi. When I worked at the Truong Son art troupe, I was lucky to be sent to study the make-up of Uncle Ho, my teacher was Meritorious Artist Nhu Dinh Nguyen. From 1987 until now, I have made up Mr. Hoi about thousands of times.

Even though he is my husband, every time I dress up as Uncle Ho, I lose the feeling that he is my husband. I feel something that is hard to describe but I still respect him. Every time I watch him perform, I still have very strong emotions.

A day or two ago, I was still crying while watching him perform. Only after removing his makeup did I return to normal life, did I dare to joke and act normally. Every time, after putting on makeup and putting on a beard, I became a serious "old man", not daring to joke, always grooming him little by little. I don't know when I will be able to lose those feelings.

Artist Vuong Dam Thuy carefully dressed her husband in the role of Uncle Ho.

- Do you think what made your husband successful in this role was that his face resembled Uncle Ho's so it was easy to disguise?

Actually, makeup only creates an image, whether it is successful or not depends on the artist. I don't know if I favor my husband or not, but when I watch him act, I see his charisma and soul.

I think the reason everyone recognizes him is only 40-50% due to his physical appearance and makeup, the other half is completely due to his acting.

- You and Meritorious Artist Tien Hoi met while working together on the role of Uncle Ho. Is your relationship related to this character?

I think this is very true. There is a story that when I say it, people will probably think: “Oh, it is fate” because my birthday is May 19 and I am originally from Kim Lien, Nam Dan, Nghe An.

When the group was looking for someone to do makeup for Mr. Hoi, they sent 3 artists from the group, meaning people with skills, but at that time I was a student with no experience. But when I left, I don't know why the teacher accepted me to teach makeup for the group.

Later on, I kept wondering why he didn't accept the painters but accepted me. When we became close, I asked: "Dad, I'm asking you the truth, why didn't you accept the painters but accepted me back then?", he replied: "To play Uncle Ho, you have to be ambidextrous, so the reason you accepted me is because I'm left-handed."

Not only in work, but also in real life, the artist couple is close and shares with each other.

- When you come home, do you and Meritorious Artist Tien Hoi discuss or give each other advice about the roles?

That happens often. Whenever Mr. Hoi takes on a role, I always do the makeup. The first thing I ask is that he portray Uncle Ho in what period, how old he is, and where he is at that time.

Because if Uncle Ho was in the forest, his image would be different, if Uncle Ho was at the Presidential Palace, it would be different, or if Uncle Ho received international press groups or welcomed children from the South, it would be different. For example, when Uncle Ho welcomed children from the South, his image would always be gentle, but when he went on diplomatic missions, his face would have to be serious.

Until now, I have to silently thank Mr. Hoi because when I do makeup, many people say I have a golden hand, but in fact, every time I do makeup, I have to have his contribution. The lines I draw are always basic lines, to make those lines real and soulful is up to him. For example, when I finish my makeup, he will say: Give me this area like this, smooth this wrinkle like this, this line should be moved down.

Mr. Hoi is the one who studies the image of Uncle Ho in movies or scripts, so he will understand better than me. I can only do the surface, but when it comes to the details, he often has to give me feedback. I often erase this place, draw that place, and sometimes I get angry because I am the one who put on the makeup and they just made me erase it. But actually, when I did it, I realized he was right.

Artist Wang Danshui.

- Having gone through a long journey together in both work and family life, what memories or difficulties do you remember most?

There are many memories but also many difficulties. Because when the man in the family is a relatively famous artist, of course he has to endure a lot of pressure. As a wife, a life partner, I also have a lot of pressure when accompanying. Even in daily life, whatever I do, I have to think about how to create beautiful images.

Mr. Hoi may be a very famous artist, but when he comes home, sometimes I still say: "You're not an artist at all, are you? You look like the chairman of the commune." That means when he comes home, he does everything and devotes himself to taking care of his family. I'm really lucky to have a husband like that.