Renowned Artist Thu Hà (born 1962, Hanoi) joined the Vietnam Cải lương Theatre in 1979. She left a mark with many iconic roles such as Mợ Lý in Nát một đời hoa (A Shattered Flower’s Life), Thị Nở in Chuyện tình làng Vũ Đại (Love Story of Vu Dai Village), Ngán in Những khoảnh khắc đời người (Life’s Moments), and Mụ Hợi in Trạng Lợn (The Pig Scholar).
In 2000, Renowned Artist Thu Hà transitioned to television dramas and made a strong impression portraying sharp-tongued, rural women. Some of her most notable works include Hương đất (Scent of the Earth), Gặp nhau cuối tuần (Meeting at the End of the Week), Làng ven đô (Suburban Village), Chung cư vui vẻ (Happy Apartment), and Làng ế vợ (The Bachelor Village).
In an interview with Dân trí, Renowned Artist Thu Hà shared numerous memorable stories from her career—both joyful and challenging.
Renowned Artist Thu Hà and comedian Chiến Thắng in the Lunar New Year comedy “The Bachelor Village” (Photo: Screen capture).
Thu Hà Once Worked Through Tết Without a Break
Unlike her fierce on-screen persona, off-screen Renowned Artist Thu Hà is warm and approachable. In a conversation with Dân trí, she opened up about her current life, early days in the industry, and memories of performing during Tết. Now in her later years, she feels content with what she has, cherishing family gatherings during the Lunar New Year.
Reflecting on her role during the recent Tết season, Thu Hà revealed that she once again played the familiar character of a quarrelsome, sharp-tongued neighbor—a role beloved by audiences.
These days, the actress still accepts gigs for Lunar New Year comedies but limits herself to short projects filmed near Hanoi and completed within a day due to her age. She avoids long shoots or those requiring multiple locations.
“Nowadays, I only take roles that suit my energy levels. If not, I stay home and sell fermented tofu noodles. It’s still serving people, just through food instead of art,” she joked.
Renowned Artist Thu Hà shares heartfelt stories about her career with Dân trí (Photo: Nguyễn Hà Nam).
Thu Hà also mentioned that in earlier years, before Tết Nguyên đán, she often traveled to Europe for month-long performances, returning home around the time of the Kitchen Gods Festival. “The Vietnamese community in Europe is large and deeply appreciative of artists!” she said emotionally.
However, after recovering from a near-death illness in 2016, Thu Hà decided against traveling far from home for work.
Running Away from Family to Pursue Cải Lương, Then Transitioning to TV Dramas
Thu Hà confessed that since childhood, she had dreamed of performing on stage. Growing up on Phố Huế street, her family lived across from renowned cải lương artist Ái Xuân. Not only were they neighbors, but Thu Hà was also classmates with Ái Thanh, Ái Xuân’s younger sister. “I loved listening to Ái Xuân sing. So, I asked her to teach me cải lương,” Thu Hà recalled.
Eventually, she dropped out of high school, secretly auditioned for the Vietnam Cải lương Theatre, and was accepted. A month later, when her parents checked her notebooks and found them empty, she admitted to leaving school to pursue acting. Her father gave her a beating she would never forget.
“My parents warned me that this was a disreputable profession, full of complexities. My father cared deeply for me, but I remained determined to follow my passion. Eventually, they had no choice but to accept it,” Thu Hà shared.
Renowned Artist Thu Hà helps her son and daughter-in-law manage their fermented tofu noodle shop (Photo: Nguyễn Hà Nam).
At the theatre, Thu Hà met NSND Hoàng Đạt, who became her lifelong partner. “Back then, Đạt was very poor, coming from the countryside to work in Hanoi, while I was a city girl ‘worth her salt’ (laughs). But I admired his kindness and talent. Over time, we grew closer,” Thu Hà reminisced.
During her cải lương years, Thu Hà built a solid reputation among audiences with roles like Mợ Lý in Nát một đời hoa (A Shattered Flower’s Life) and Thị Nở in Chuyện tình làng Vũ Đại (Love Story of Vu Dai Village). When traditional stages faced difficulties, she successfully transitioned to television dramas.
“One day, while performing, I ran into renowned artist Hương Dung. She suggested, ‘You seem suited for strong-willed characters. Would you like to try filming? If so, come join me.’ I happily agreed and participated in the first episode of Gặp nhau cuối tuần (Meeting at the End of the Week), receiving positive feedback from viewers,” Thu Hà recounted.
From there, sharp-tongued, fiery roles became synonymous with Thu Hà’s name. Shows like Hương đất (Scent of the Earth), Làng ven đô (Suburban Village), Chung cư vui vẻ (Happy Apartment), and Làng ế vợ (The Bachelor Village) cemented her fame.
A Memorable Incident: Nearly Slashed for Being Mistaken as a Debtor
Recalling her early days in television, Thu Hà admitted facing challenges transitioning from stage to screen. Directors criticized her walking style, which retained elements of cải lương flair. “Hà, walk naturally! You’re too theatrical!” one director told her.
To adapt, Thu Hà constantly reminded herself to shed her theatrical habits before filming. Gradually, her performances became more natural, earning audience approval.
Renowned Artist Thu Hà and her husband, NSND Hoàng Đạt (Photo: Courtesy of the artist).
Sharing a harrowing memory, Thu Hà revealed she almost got slashed for being mistaken as a debtor on the run. While filming at Triệu Việt Vương, several debt collectors approached her during a break. Mistaking her mole for someone else’s, they confronted her: “Are you named Phương?” Despite denying it, they persisted, insisting she matched the description.
Thankfully, a nearby neighbor intervened, shouting, “You’ve got the wrong person! This isn’t Phương; this is actress Thu Hà!”
After confirming her identity, the collectors apologized profusely, even offering drinks for the entire crew. They later admitted carrying a razor blade, ready to attack if they’d found the right person.
“Luckily, I only resembled her by the mole. Had our names been the same, I might be stuck selling fermented tofu noodles without recognition today,” Thu Hà quipped.
Today, alongside her acting career, Thu Hà assists her son and daughter-in-law in running a fermented tofu noodle shop. Thanks to social media, many fans visit not just for the food but also to chat and take photos with the beloved actress.
Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/nsut-thu-ha-tung-suyt-bi-rach-mat-vi-bi-nham-la-con-no-20250120161633187.htm
