Comedian Hoai Linh, 55, lives with his elderly mother, who has cancer and must take medicine for the rest of her life.

There is no fight between Hoai Linh and Quyen Linh

- After nearly 3 years of not seeing each other, you're so skinny, your arms are covered with freckles.

I weigh 58kg now. I inherited the age spots on my arms from my mother. They started appearing after I turned 50 and are getting darker. There's nothing to be sad about.

No matter what, I'm old. If I wanted to, I would have taken care of my skin since I was young. Now I can take care of my skin, so why take care of my skin? Thanks to always playing old roles, people compliment me on how young I look when I go out.

- Why did you accept the movie?

There is no special reason, mainly because I used to work with this production company and this is also Trung Lun's first film. The two brothers have been together for more than 20 years.

Besides, it's been a long time since I acted in a movie. In the previous movies, my roles were all the same. I actedLove Western girlsBecause Vo Dang Khoa is my adopted sister's son, it would be strange if I didn't accept his invitation.

When filming this movie, I was most nervous because of Mr. Trung. He wanted me to be more calm and introspective, not the gushing type like I usually act.

Other than that, I don’t feel any pressure. My face is also harsh, which suits the role. In the past, when I was filming a movie, there was a 4-5 meter jump scene. If I could, I would do it myself and not ask a stuntman. Trung wanted me to do this and that, but in the end, he wanted to show the audience the most realistic things, so I tried to do it.

Like the scene of carrying Tuan Tran running 200m, it's not too difficult to say it's difficult, when I was little I also carried 20-30kg of rambutan on my head to sell. But he(Tuan Tran - PV)too tall, carrying very heavy. I told him to try to put his 2 legs on my hips, otherwise he wouldn't be able to run. When he wasn't recording, he often whispered: "Are you okay, dad?"

While running, the rain made the ground slippery, Tuan and I really fell, rolling around. Carrying someone on my back 1-2 times was fine but after that I was really tired and exhausted.

Because it was my first film, Trung forced me to leave early and come back late. Normally, I could follow him no matter how late, but I couldn't wake up early.

- People are talking about the fight between "Getting Rich with Ghosts" and "Hai Muoi", Hoai Linh and Quyen Linh, what do you think?

For me there is no competition. Why don't we talk about Vietnamese films competing with foreign films, but instead put Vietnamese films against each other?

Audiences will watch whichever movie they like, sometimes both. I always hope Vietnamese movies will be supported, have high revenue, and even better, go abroad.

There is no such word as "competition" among colleagues in the profession. Quyen Linh and I are the same age. He often plays game shows and works as a matchmaker, so he stays young for a long time. (laughs) We used to act together a lot at Phuoc Sang's stage, and we still have fun when we meet now.

Still like to eat dried food, eat fish sauce, lie down and surf TikTok

- You had thyroid cancer surgery, how is your health now?

Now I only have a little voice problem, but other than that I am much better. The old incision is now not much more than a wrinkle on my neck.

That time, I had nothing to do so I went for a general check-up. The doctor suddenly asked: "Linh, can I do an ultrasound of your neck?". After he finished, I saw him call the doctors in, I knew there was a problem.

I stared at the computer screen like a duck listening to thunder. When I discovered thyroid cancer, the tumor had metastasized to the right side of my neck. Three days later, I went to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital for surgery, then to Cho Ray Hospital for chemotherapy. After the surgery was over, I told my family.

Now, I go for check-ups every 3-6 months, and I also have to maintain taking levothyroxine.(specific medicine for hypothyroidism - PV)for life

Except for the thyroid, everything is normal. The funniest thing is that I have so little fat in my blood. All the fat doesn't go on my face or hands, it all goes in my blood. Even the doctor doesn't believe it.(laugh)

In general, I have all my health problems under control, except for the insomnia that I have had for over 20 years. In the past, I performed in many countries, and the consequences have continued until now. Before, I could only sleep at 4am, now it is around 2am.

Every morning I take thyroid medication, and at night I take sleeping pills. I'm afraid of forgetting, so I always leave a pack of cigarettes on top of my thyroid medication. When I wake up in the morning and look for a cigarette, I'll remember to take it. Every day I remember to take one pill on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and one and a half pills on the rest of the day.

How was your day?

I only go out when I have a schedule to practice, perform plays, or perform cải lương. Otherwise, I stay home and find some fun like catching fish and shrimp, wading in the fields, pruning trees, and cutting grass.

At mealtimes, I still eat braised fish, dried fish, fish sauce... Doctors in Vietnam told me to abstain from soy and cauliflower, doctors in the US told me not to abstain from anything.

I like to eat like that, now if you force me to eat other food I don't like it either. Mom scolded: "Eating those three foods is not nutritious at all", I argued: "Eat whatever tastes good and is nutritious".

- You are almost 60, your mother still scolds you?

My mother scolded me all the time. Whenever I had no job, I would lie in my room for about 3 days and then my mother would open the door and yell: "Get up and go outside, lying down all the time will make your bones rot." At this age, my mother still cares for me.

My mother's room is near mine. At home, I never lock the door so my mother can come visit me anytime.

- What are you doing in the room for 3 days?

At home, sometimes I don’t bother going downstairs, just stay in my room surfing Facebook, TikTok, YouTube watching birds and animals. My family raises chickens and birds.

Be gentle with the gains and losses in life

How is your work?

Outside of moviesGet rich with ghosts, I don't take on many jobs these days. I'm old, if I do, I only take on programs to introduce, preserve culture or things that are age-appropriate. I can't shout and jump on game shows like I used to.

Same with drama, since I stopped working at New Smile Stage, I only occasionally perform for Truong Hung Minh Stage or Young World on a seasonal basis. I also occasionally perform comedy in the province.

I never quit my job so I don't have to "come back". I'm still working, just taking a break to find roles that suit me.

I also rarely go to the cinema, afraid that I will distract the audience. Because I don't follow the market, I only focus on researching the role, the rest is up to the director and producer because they are very careful.

- You took the directing class because you had new ambitions?

I am not ambitious. Before, I wanted to learn many things but did not have time. In this profession, you can never learn enough. Besides, I respect Mr. Tran Ngoc Giau and want to learn from him.

- People say you're past your prime, are you sad?

Everyone has a time, no one sits in one place forever. You sit for a long time and still have to stand up, it's normal that someone comes in at that time. The old bamboo grows new bamboo.

Now they need a handsome main role, they invited Tuan Tran, I only play suitable supporting roles. If there is an old main role, I will play it.

- What do you think about gains and losses in life?

Now, I feel happy and comfortable. Life is easy, in my free time I take care of the garden, birds and fish.

Regarding gains and losses, I believe that God placed this seat here, it is difficult for me to move to another place, at most I can build up the seat to prevent further erosion. I only conclude with one sentence: as long as the audience loves me, the artist will still live.