Actress Minh Cúc: 14 years after giving birth, she has never once heard her child call her "mother."

Although not extremely famous, Minh Cúc's every role, no matter how small, leaves a strong impression on the audience. Besides that, she is also a mother admired by many.

Minh Cúc is known to the public through her distinctive and colorful roles in popular television dramas:Go Home, My Child; The Taste of Family Love; Life Is Still Beautiful…

Having given birth 14 years ago, she has never once heard her child call her "mother."

The actress was born into a working-class family; her father, even after retirement, still drove a tricycle to make a living, and her mother was a housewife. Given her family circumstances, Minh Cúc's desire to become an actress was difficult for her relatives to understand.

But Minh Cúc was strong-willed and independent; once she made up her mind, she did what she set out to do. Cúc passed the entrance exam to the Hanoi College of Arts and, after graduation, became an actress at the Youth Theatre.

As her career was blossoming and she began to gain attention on both the stage and the small screen, Minh Cúc got married and had her first daughter. However, after playing the lead role in the series...The path to happinessAfter airing in 2008, Minh Cúc completely disappeared from the small screen because she was busy taking care of her child - a special baby.

Minh Cúc had hoped that her daughter would follow in her footsteps and become an actress, but the day her child was born was also the day she received a huge shock. The actress's daughter suffered from amniotic fluid asphyxiation and infection in the womb. Immediately after birth, the baby had liver failure, heart failure, and kidney failure.

Still reeling from the heartbreak of her daughter being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, preventing her from developing normally like other children, Minh Cúc's marriage fell apart. She took her daughter back to her parents' home, beginning her journey as a single mother.

If other single mothers struggle a little, being a single mother of a special child like Tú Minh is ten times harder for Minh Cúc. The actress didn't hesitate to seek treatment everywhere, readily borrowing money just to find the smallest glimmer of hope for her daughter, but to no avail.

She accepted the reality that Tú Minh, whether 10 or 15 years old, would always need to be cared for like a newborn baby. The child could only lie there, unable to speak or be independent in daily activities.

Caring for a sick child like Tu Minh requires not only time and patience but also financial resources. Minh Cuc doesn't allow herself to give up or become negative, because she always keeps in mind, "If I fall, who will help my child?" She admits that she has moments of sadness and weakness, but then:"Why should I show my sadness? What good will weakness do? My child still needs treatment and care. Instead of being sad and distressed, I should just be cheerful, take care of my child, and work."

With that mindset, Minh Cúc decided to balance her work at the theater with doing makeup and selling products online… It’s not hard to find images of the actress rushing to pick up her children after a performance on stage, or of her simultaneously livestreaming to sell products while comforting her young daughter lying in the background.

The crew members were also familiar with the sight of the actress calling her family as soon as a scene was finished to ask if her child was okay, so that Tu Minh could see her mother. Often, when the film crew had to shoot far away, the crew members would try their best to arrange the filming schedule and create the best possible conditions so that she could take the opportunity to visit her child.

To date, Tú Minh is 14 years old, and for that same amount of time, Minh Cúc has been constantly shuttling back and forth between work and her beloved child. For 14 years, she has never had a single day off for herself, nor has she ever heard the word "mother."

"My child isn't perfect, but I'm still proud of him/her."

Despite Minh Cúc's life being filled with worries and sadness, her characters on television are always the quirky, slightly crazy type. The actress admits that, with her tall stature and strong personality, getting leading roles is not easy at all.

"For me, it doesn't matter whether it's a leading role or a supporting role, even if it's just an extra with lines, I'm willing to do it, as long as I get to act, contribute, and challenge myself. The weirder, more eccentric, and 'crazier' the roles are, the more I like them."Minh Cúc shared.

The actress said that she is not only willing to take on small or "quirky" roles, but also doesn't mind actively seeking out acting opportunities:"When I first gave birth, I was so busy taking care of my baby that I turned down many offers from directors. Because of that, people rarely invited me later on, because everyone thought I didn't have the time or the mood to act. Later, when I could arrange my time, it wasn't easy to perform."

Furthermore, the stage and acting are my passion; I once disobeyed my parents for it, so I'm not afraid to give my all to every role, no matter how small.

Therefore, whenever I have the opportunity, I accept the role, and I don't hesitate to ask for roles or more screen time. I cherish every role, every moment I get to work in this profession, every moment I get to dedicate myself to the path I have chosen.

"It's not just about having a job and a salary to make ends meet; it's my passion."

Perhaps it is also because of her willingness to fully commit to every role, no matter how small, that Minh Cúc always leaves a strong impression on viewers whenever she appears on television.

Similarly, Cúc is always ready to cherish every moment spent with her daughter, no matter how difficult or arduous it may be:"I used to take my child everywhere for treatment, with only a faint hope that her condition would improve by 10% or 20%. But the more hope I had, the more disappointment I experienced."

I know that accompanying my child is hard and difficult, but my child is my flesh and blood, and I can't bear to abandon them. Many mothers with sick children get upset and "hide" their children, but I don't.

I know some people may not like interacting with or being close to their children, but my child has the right to go out and play, to explore the world in their own way. My child may not be perfect like other children, but I am still proud of them.

Even though my child can't speak or express their feelings through hugs or kisses, I can understand their happiness or sadness through their eyes and reactions. For me, just hearing their giggles when they see my new character costume or the sparkle in their eyes when they're taken out to play or given new gifts is an indescribable joy. I'm proud of these little things about my child."

"Other parents of normal children also have their own struggles and worries, it's just that my struggles are in a different form compared to other parents out there."

The doctor once told me that babies like Tu Minh might not stay with their families for long. As a mother, who wouldn't be heartbroken to hear that? Who wouldn't be devastated thinking about how the moment of separation from their child is getting closer each day?

But that doesn't mean I'll give up on treatment and taking care of my child. If acting is my passion, then my child is my love, my heart and soul. I will dedicate myself to the very last moment to make this journey with my child as complete as possible.”, the actress shared.