Le Quang, a man of many talents, says audience appreciation helps him deal with the pressures of acting for films

Sometimes it is not the artist, but the art that decides a person’s calling.

The saying that appearances can often be deceptive obviously applies to actor Le Quang.

He wears his long hair loose on his shoulders and sports bushy side whiskers, making him look more like an aspiring bandit than an actor.

But behind his intimidating appearance lie a pleasant disposition and a great passion for acting.

He has acted in TV series Manh dat tinh doi (The land of human bonds) and Dat phuong Nam (Southern land).

His skillful portrayal of Vo Tong, a valiant, resourceful, good-natured man who lives in the U Minh forest in the Mekong Delta, in the critically acclaimed TV series Dat Phuong Nam struck a strong chord with the audience.

Quang beat other contestants of bigger build than him at the audition for the role.

“The other contestants looked too ‘western’ while Quang has distinctive southern traits. Besides, he looks like a bandit but reminds you of a monk when he smiles” said series director Vinh Son.

Quang has been a painter, photographer and even a carpet weaver to support his family before entering the acting world at 40.

It is not surprising that he is often assigned to play characters who are intimidating on the outside but have a golden heart inside.

With his martial arts skills, he is also an ideal choice for action roles, often doing dangerous stunts without using a double.

He showed no fear when playing an escaped convict in the film Nuoc mat giang ho (The underworld’s tears). Quang had to swing on a high tension wire which emitted sparks as he tried to escape from prison. Beneath him was a rusty barbed wire fence.

Playing Vo Tong was not easy either. His feet hurt terribly after days of scurrying in the dense mangrove forest and he felt itchy all over with mosquito bites. During deadly fights with a ferocious crocodile, Quang swallowed lots of muddy water.

Quang didn’t expect himself to become an actor.

“The switch to acting has remarkably changed my life. I feel happier and sadder at the same time. I’m happy to bring enjoyment to the audiences and derive happiness from their affection and support.

Whatever I do, I’m glad to know that audiences are always there to watch and praise my work, and that strongly urges me on,” Quang said.

“The silver screen, however, is not always a bed of roses. Without the ceaseless passion for acting and the audiences’ affection, I couldn’t overcome the difficulties,” he added.

At 54, Quang has acted in almost 40 films. His pre-acting versatility keeps him busy even now.

He also sings in variety shows and directs young singers’ music albums.

Natural tears

My Dung graduated from the HCMC College of Stage and Cinema in 1991 before finding work with the HCMC DramaTroupe, the Youth Drama Troupe which merged to form the HCMC Drama Theater.

She has been a freelance actress since 2001.

The 41-year-old artist has acted in 70 films including Ngo vang (Deserted alley), Tham vong (Ambition) and Vo ngua troi Nam (The southern land’s hooves).

Dung rarely plays well-dressed or happy characters. She is often the woman who is poor, has to go through emotional upheavals, and sacrifice her life for the happiness of her children and husband.

For this, she has to make herself look older and unattractive and do a lot of crying, so much that after the shooting, her eyelids are swollen and she has a headache.

She cries naturally and passionately. “I myself endure considerable hardship in real life, so I’m easily moved.

“I sometimes feel sad at having few chances to play leading roles. But then I think supporting roles are also precious career improving opportunities and I should make the most of them,” Dung said.

“When audiences call me by my characters’ names when they see me on the street, I am very happy and know that I’m on the right track. We’ll be properly rewarded as long as we’re committed to acting.

She also lends her voice to several films, dubbing for villains.

“I miss the theater, but the theater has fewer opportunities than films. Many stage actors also switch to films. I’m no exception. But I’m happy as long as I’m still in the acting career.”

Simply content

Tuan worked for the Cuu Long Giang Troupe, happy playing small roles, until he played notary Voltaire in the 1983 play Ten trum bip bom thanh Vo-ni-so (The rogue in Venice).

Tuan’s skills at comedy were so loved by the audience that the accomplished actor in serious drama virtually made a career switch to humor with plays such as Nguoi da lac doi hinh (The person who strays from the formation) and Tham tu nghiep du (The amateur detective).

At 40, Tuan also formed a comedy group with comedienne Kieu Oanh and performed short skits at amusement centers for some years.

He learned a lot in this period.

“We can’t say who is better than who in comedies. It’s really difficult to make the audience laugh with a comedy that lasts only a few minutes. Besides techniques, the actors also have their own charm, and artistic quality to make their performances stand out.”

But after five to six years when he was at his peak, he quit and returned to the Cuu Long Giang Troupe, which later merged with Bong Hong Troupe into the HCMC Drama Troupe and is now the HCMC Drama Theater.

The 50-year-old says he can’t act in films as he finds the pressure of film shooting overwhelming.

“Films open many opportunities in fame and incomes, but I can’t cope with the pressure. I’m content with a simple life.”

“Art is strange. Sometimes it chooses us, we do not choose it. Why should I hesitate to play supporting and comic roles? To me, happiness is as simple as doing what the career needs and having the audiences’ support,” Tuan says.

“I’m content with my life and job, I’m neither a social climber nor obsessed with getting rich.

The theater stages a few plays each year and I’m assigned some roles, that’s enough. It’s such a precious gift that one finds contentment in their life and job.”

Reported by Hoang Kim