Series of photos of People's Artist Le Khanh's youthful, goddess-like beauty
Le Khanh is the youngest stage actress to be awarded the title of People's Artist, at the age of 38. Having devoted her whole life to art, Le Khanh has had a proud career, in both the stage and film fields.
At nearly 60, she is still working hard in the arts, continuing to have roles that make people in the profession respect her and attract audiences to the box office. In addition to her talent, People's Artist Le Khanh also possesses a unique beauty, impressing those who meet her for the first time.
Director and photographer Doan Minh Tuan was lucky enough to take many photos of Le Khanh, at different points in time. To him, she is a rare beauty.
You and Le Khanh are very close. What relationship helped you two become so close?
Photographer Doan Minh Tuan:Around 90, 91 when I was studying at the Film School, Branch 2, Ho Chi Minh City, I already knew Mr. Pham Viet Thanh, Ms. Le Khanh's husband. At that time, Mr. Thanh was a famous cameraman in Vietnam. Mr. Thanh also knew that I often took pictures of beauties. One time in Saigon, Mr. Thanh invited me to take pictures for his film crew. We had just met but it felt like we had known each other for a long time. I myself could not explain it. At that time, Ms. Le Khanh was also in Saigon. The brothers and sisters met naturally, sweetly and have been close to each other ever since.
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People's Artist Le Khanh in her prime. |
Do you remember the first photo you took of People's Artist Le Khanh?
Photographer Doan Minh Tuan:In 91, 92, I took the first pictures of Le Khanh. Because Thanh said: Tuan took pictures for Khanh. Before that, Thanh had taken too many pictures of Khanh.
You have taken photos of many beauties, most of whom are Southern beauties like Diem My, Diem Huong, Viet Trinh... What do you think about the beauty of Northern beauties like Le Khanh?
Photographer Doan Minh Tuan:I was born in Hanoi, went to high school in Hanoi. Although I moved to the South to study and start a career, the old days are not easily forgotten. Meeting Mr. and Mrs. Pham Viet Thanh - Le Khanh, they loved me and it was like coming home. Ms. Khanh was so beautiful at that time, like a goddess, with the style of ancient Hanoi. She was strangely beautiful.
The two sisters went to take pictures, when they returned, Thanh jokingly scolded: Why are you wearing a crown of white daisies on your head? You've been wearing flowers all day, can't you move the flowers? I told Thanh: Why can't you take pictures with flowers? The problem is which flowers you choose and whether they fit the picture? Thanh is used to taking pictures of Khanh from afar, with a classical feel. But the press needs a clear portrait with facial expressions. Thanh took a picture of Khanh, creating a picture like an ancient painting, in which the character only takes up 50%, the other 50% is the scene. We both took pictures of Khanh, but with 2 different goals and 2 different styles. Until now, after so many years, Thanh still admits that the picture of Le Khanh wearing white daisies on her head is the portrait he likes the most. The white daisies on her head resemble the crown of a Greek goddess, the Juliet that Le Khanh played in the play "Romeo - Juliet".
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The portrait of photographer Doan Minh Tuan was highly appreciated by cinematographer Pham Viet Thanh, husband of People's Artist Le Khanh. |
On Le Khanh's face, which feature do you like the most? Or do you like the overall beauty that radiates?
Photographer Doan Minh Tuan:Ms. Khanh has a very feminine, very feminine sexiness, reminiscent of the classic features of ancient Hanoi, with the elegance of old Hanoi women.
In life, is People's Artist Le Khanh easy to approach or difficult to approach, sir?
Photographer Doan Minh Tuan:I have never seen a woman in showbiz as innocent, pure, warm, profound, and delicate as Le Khanh. She is naive, only knows how to do her job, dedicating her whole life to art. She always turns everything into a positive direction. Even when she encounters sad stories, things that are not satisfactory in her career, in her life, she always looks at the positive side of it. I myself have to learn from her.
Below are photos by photographer Doan Minh Tuan:
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Le Khanh is still beautiful at any age |
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Pearl necklaces are familiar jewelry of People's Artist Le Khanh |
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Photo taken at West Lake, 1993. |
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Ao dai enhances the ancient Hanoi beauty of People's Artist Le Khanh. |
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People's Artist Le Khanh and photographer Doan Minh Tuan. |