People's Artist Lan Huong is happy to retire after 38 years of working

After many years of dedication, the artist nicknamed Huong Bong retired in the love of colleagues, audiences and warm care of her family.

- Recently,Vietnam Drama Theater organizes a special program to bid farewell to People's Artist Lan Huong at Hanoi Opera HouseWhat does this event mean to you?

- That was actually a farewell night for an artist before retirement, not a farewell to the theater. It was a different turn, when I reached the age, I retired, but I continued with the theater. I continued to perform many unfinished plays, but not as an actor on the staff of the Drama Theater. In the future, if there is a program, I will still participate, it's just that I will be further away from the stage lights, doing less, not being the main character like before.

A person who goes to work every day and suddenly stops will feel confused, even a little stressed. Especially artists who have to leave the stage lights. I had prepared myself mentally, but on that day I was still very emotional because I did not expect that there would be so many audiences who loved me, so many people came with such sincere feelings.

People's Artist Lan Huong retires after 38 years of working at the Drama Theater. Photo: Hoang Son.

- During that performance, there were moments when you cried. What were those emotions for?

- That's because of 38 years of being attached to the stage. Since I was a girl who had just graduated from high school, I started my career at the Hanoi Opera House. When I graduated from the Drama Theater's acting class, I also performed there. When I retired, the Drama Theater showed my gratitude by organizing a performance for me at the Opera House. That was very touching.

Second, it is because of 38 years of living and working at the Vietnam Drama Theater. I am a class of actors from the first class. From the Theater, there is an artist Lan Huong like today. From the Theater, I have a profession, learned the art of acting. That is the cradle of my career. Not to mention living and working with colleagues through many years, many periods, there are many emotions.

That night I performed in the play Disaster. It was an old play and not the main role, but I got to share the stage with many actors - people who had fought with me for many years.

- How did your relatives and friends receive your retirement?

- My whole family supported me a lot. During the performance, my 84-year-old mother also came to watch. My husband's brothers and sisters, both in their 70s, also came and were very interested. Both my parents' and my grandparents' families were present, happy and showed that although they are not professionals, they understand the psychology of those who are about to leave the stage. I have to thank my family very much.

My acting class teacher, who is over 80 years old, also came, very emotional. After the show, my friends stayed until after 1am singing and laughing.

After the night, I shared on my personal page that I felt like I had just lived a fairy dream, with so many flowers around and everyone was beautiful, everyone smiled and loved me. A dream in a land of only love. I wish all artists after retirement could also live a dream like that. It is both a worthy reward for their career and an opportunity for them to say thank you to everyone.

People's Artist Lan Huong is happy with her family and friends. Photo: Hoang Son,

- What are your plans for your family?

- Of course, I will have more time for my family. I really have a warm and united family. My daughter-in-law is very obedient, always trying to create the best conditions for me to work, and I take advantage of my free time to take care of my grandchildren so that they can rest. Therefore, I do not see anything complicated or burdensome in my life. If I have the opportunity, I will still participate when directors invite me to act in movies or on stage.

I only have one grandchild now, but I will have another in two months. Any family will be busier when there is a new member, but if we can share and unite, there is no problem. I often say that collective strength is very important and I have known how to take advantage of it in my family (laughs).

- What is the mark of your husband - Meritorious Artist Do Ky - on your career and life?

- We met in the first acting class of the Drama Theater. We have known each other since we entered the Theater until now.

He is a great source of motivation and has helped me a lot in my life. Without him, there would be no Lan Huong "Bong" like today. Even until that farewell performance, I still had to rely on my husband's help. He took care of everything from the smallest to the biggest, from logistics to reception. And not only that night, almost in my whole life, when I have my husband, I feel completely secure. When I go on a business trip far away, I have never had to worry about anything for my grandparents and children at home.

Having a husband is a lot of peace of mind, so sometimes we rely on him. Sometimes at work, people wonder why this couple always goes everywhere together. Usually, each of us goes to work in a different office, each of us goes our separate ways, but if he leaves early, he will take me. Actually, it's not that I don't know how to drive, but we just like to take each other along. It's been a habit for 38 years now and I feel completely secure when I'm with him.

Lan Huong shared that without Do Ky, she would not be here today.

- In 38 years of working on the stage, what are you proud of and regret?

- I am always proud to be an artist and actor of the Vietnam Drama Theater - a place with a long history, the cradle of drama. The theater gave me basic acting techniques so that when I moved to cinema and television, I could develop and be loved and known by more audiences. However, at my core, I am still a stage artist.

I also regret a lot, because actors are sometimes ambitious, everyone wants to play difficult, classic roles. There are many great psychological plays by great playwrights like Shakespeare, Moliere..., I like but have not had the chance to act. However, time does not allow. If I do not do it, I can enjoy watching young people do it later.

- Many people choose to pass on their profession to the younger generation after retirement. What about you?

- Passing on the profession is a very good thing. Being able to go to an art school to tutor young students is also my wish. While I don't have the opportunity to do that yet, I still perform, film, and dub. While working with young people, I take the opportunity to tutor them voluntarily, closely following them and reminding them of things they don't understand. I've always done that.

- From your experience, what do you share with young people pursuing art?

- Learning never stops. Until now I still have to learn. Beauty will last forever, truth will enter people's hearts.

According to VNE