Artist Thanh Hien recently completed the television series "No doi vay tra". In the film, she portrays a poor, hardworking woman who diligently raises her granddaughter. Many viewers have praised her benevolent face and kind eyes, noting how they bring authenticity to the character.

Artist Thanh Hien in a photoshoot in january. *Photo provided by subject.*

Over her 20-year career, Thanh Hien has accumulated hundreds of roles, primarily embodying mothers and grandmothers from rural areas. In 2024, she took on her first lead role in a feature film, director Ly Hai’s "Lat mat 7". According to the artist, this was the most emotional role of her artistic journey. Following the film's release, the audience's response to her character – a mother whose children shirk their caregiving responsibilities – continues to resonate. She is frequently recognized and remembered by fans wherever she goes.

The artist shared that she has received numerous film offers over the past two years, with her shooting schedule almost fully booked. Even for a minor role appearing in just a few scenes, she approaches her work with meticulous dedication. In "No doi vay tra", there was a scene where her character had to kneel to beg a creditor. Despite her age, she did not hesitate to kneel for hours on the cold floor to ensure the scene was perfectly executed. Similarly, her role as a medium in "Quy nhap trang 2" was challenging, with most filming taking place at night in deep forests, causing her to fall ill for a few days after completion.

An excerpt of artist Thanh Hien's performance (first second) in "No doi vay tra". *Video: YouTube THVL phim*

For each role, she carefully reads the script to deeply understand the character's psychology, memorizes lines, and adjusts her performance to suit the circumstances and setting. After every scene, she consistently seeks and listens to feedback on her delivery, gestures, or expressions.

The artist also surprises many with her dynamic presence on social media. Overcoming initial age-related hesitations, she has become enthusiastic as her videos gain traction and are well-received by young audiences. "At this age, being able to do things that bring positive energy makes me happy", Thanh Hien stated.

At 74, she remains agile and does not shy away from distant filming locations. According to the artist, her active involvement in films and a relaxed mindset contribute to her consistently good health. Occasionally, she brings fruit to the film crew or personally prepares traditional dishes like mam ca to treat everyone. "I enjoy the atmosphere on set, chatting with colleagues, especially the young people. For me, that is a very simple joy", the actress shared.

Actress Duong Cam Lynh has collaborated with artist Thanh Hien many times in television dramas, most recently in "No doi vay tra". She noted that despite her age, Thanh Hien always shows enthusiasm, embraces challenging scenes, and skillfully guides and elevates the emotions of her co-stars in psychologically demanding segments.

When her filming work concludes, she returns to her simple daily life. Currently, the artist lives in TP HCM with her husband and eldest son, while her youngest son lives separately with his wife and children. For her, family is the strongest spiritual support. The simple daily inquiries from her children about her travel and meals always warm her heart. When she has no filming schedule, her greatest joy is engaging in familiar household chores such as grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning the house.

Artist Thanh Hien making mam ca. *Video provided by subject.*

After many years in the profession, she states that she is not wealthy but is financially independent, avoiding burdening her children or grandchildren. Upon receiving her fees, the actress manages her family's daily expenses and assists those in need. Artist Thanh Hien mentioned that she previously paid attention to her remuneration "for the sake of daily living", but at her current age, she works purely out of passion.

"I no longer prioritize money; as long as I have a good role and work that makes me happy, that's enough", the actress said.

Artist Thanh Hien was born in 1952 in Hai Duong (now part of Hai Phong). In the 1990s, she was responsible for scriptwriting and directing short plays while working in the neighborhood committee's information and propaganda department in TP HCM. In 2005, the artist debuted in acting with the television series "Mui ngo gai". Since then, she has consistently appeared in many small-screen productions such as: "Song tinh", "Tieng set trong mua", "Dap tat lua long", "Canh bac tinh yeu", "Me bien". She has also been invited to act in feature films: "Mat biec", "Hai Phuong", "Trum So".

Hoang Dung