Truong Giang: 'I sacrificed a lot to become famous'

The comedian opens up about the controversies surrounding his love life and how he overcame difficulties to build his reputation after more than 10 years in the profession.

- Recently, besides the romantic scandal with model Que Van, many other private relationships of yours have also been revealed. What do you have to say about this?

- I never waste time or effort explaining or justifying those things. People say I'm a ladies' man, and if being a ladies' man means being surrounded by many women, then that's true. In my fan club, from the South to the North, there are only 10 male members; the rest are all female.

I believe that no celebrity can avoid controversy or unexpected misfortunes. Many people aspire to fame, but not everyone is given the opportunity. Therefore, I accept the price, embracing pain that shouldn't be mine in order to achieve fame. I can let people gossip and talk about me however they want, as long as they leave my family and loved ones in peace.

Actress Nha Phuong (left) sent many loving messages on Truong Giang's birthday, April 20th, along with a picture of the two of them looking close on the beach.

- What sacrifices did you have to make to get where you are today?

- To this day, I don't have any acting qualifications. Both times I studied acting and directing, I was expelled halfway through because I couldn't afford the tuition. At the time, my teachers advised me to choose a different profession. I used to hand out flyers, repair bicycles, and do all sorts of jobs to make a living. Then, an opportunity came when I met Mr. Huu Loc and got to perform at the Nu Cuoi Moi (New Smile) theater. Eight years ago, just getting 50,000 dong for a play that was over two hours long made me so happy I almost cried.When I was a struggling actor, I was treated with such contempt that instead of handing me my payment, they would throw a stack of cash in front of me for me to pick up myself. I endured it all because I believed that without status, I had no voice. They had money and power; they could do whatever they wanted.

Once I became famous, I lost many friends. Before, I could hang out with my friends anytime, but in the last three years, as I've become more well-known, my old friends have gradually distanced themselves from me. They invite me out to hang out or drink, but I'm too busy performing all day and can't join them. Gradually, they think that because I'm famous, they're keeping their distance. Actually, there are times when I'm free, like late at night, and I want to call my friends, but they're already asleep, or they have families, wives, and children to take care of. I can't force people to adapt to my schedule... However, I accept this trade-off because only fame allows me to provide for my family and loved ones.

ButHow do you overcome unfavorable situations at work?

- I'm just a human being, not a saint or made of stone, so there's no such thing as "being emotionally numb from living in showbiz for so long" as people think. I also have my own hidden sides. On stage, in any role, the audience rarely sees me emotional, but when I'm alone, I cry a lot. Like the time someone threw a wad of money in my face, I locked myself in my room and cried all day. When I'm lonely or hurt, I prefer to be alone to dwell on the pain. Later, when I had a girlfriend, I liked being with her to share and listen. As time went on, my work became busier, and I had less time to be sad.

Truong Giang is famous on the comedy stage for his portrayal of the old man Muoi Kho.

- What do you think if someone says that Truong Giang's busy schedule means he lacks innovation and creativity in his performances?

- Audience members who make such comments must be comedians themselves to understand the pressure of this profession. A singer can sing a hit song for 10 years, but Tran Thanh and Truong Giang rack their brains to come up with a comedy skit, and by the second or third show, the video is already all over the internet. And we create our own comedy skits; we can't rely on others to write them. Creating a skit that makes the audience laugh continuously for 10 minutes is harder than writing a movie script. Currently, I don't expect any breakthroughs in my career. For now, I'm still pursuing the image of "Muoi Kho" (Ten Difficulties), just refreshing and adding more comedic elements.

- It's not easy to be creative in stand-up comedy, so Truong Giang switched to being an MC despite often being criticized for his poor hosting skills. How would you respond to that?

- I've heard this a lot. Some people say that Truong Giang can talk nonsense, but how can he be a good MC when he always speaks too fast and stumbles over his words? They're right, so I only dare to accept small game shows where I can speak honestly, and the audience will sympathize and support me. I wouldn't dare accept big, grand programs. Initially, when I accepted the invitation to be an MC, I was very hesitant, but I learned a little from everyone, including Tran Thanh, to gain experience. Usually, I rarely respond to such comments because they are just their opinions. It took a lot of hard work to get to where I am today, so I don't usually miss any opportunity to do my job.

Truong Giang on the coaching panel of the game show "Comedy Arena".

- What kind of feedback did you receive from the audience when you sat in the coach's chair on a comedy game show?

- The audience loves me very much, and I'm confident in this role. I was invited by the producers a year before filming even started. As soon as they invited me, I accepted immediately because I knew this was my forte. I've experienced everything the contestants perform on stage, so I can easily recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each contestant and help them improve. Moreover, working with Duc Thinh, Tran Thanh, and the couple Thu Trang and Tien Luat gives me a lot of inspiration.

According to VNE