- Following her personal page, Y Phụng seems to be living a fulfilling life abroad, filled with joyful photos with her colleagues and children. How does she feel about her life and career right now?
Things aren't always what they seem. I was happy with my child for a few hours, but afterwards I felt incredibly sad and missed my profession. My life has been intertwined with the profession since I was in my mother's womb. I won't give up my career; I will sing as a token of gratitude to the audience who nurtured my voice and provided for my family's livelihood.
As long as the audience still shows me affection, there's no reason for me to leave acting. I have projects in progress, including launching my own YouTube channel. When everything is ready, I will officially introduce it to the audience.
Actress Y Phụng.
- When Y Phụng moved to the US, she switched to singing romantic bolero music, but for many viewers, she remains the most memorable figure in Vietnam as a glamorous actress and a singer of vibrant dance music. What are your memories of 20 years ago?
Back when I was in my hometown, I was so obsessed with Madonna's style that I copied everything from her stage presence to her clothes. Back then, Madonna wore her hair in a high ponytail, a conical corset designed specifically for her performance of "Like a Virgin" by fashion wizard Jean Paul Gaultier, and sang with a dance troupe on a bed in the middle of the stage.
I thought it was beautiful and interesting, so I suggested it to stage director Huu Tri, who was also a choreographer at the time. As a close friend, he agreed, and I immediately got a bed on the stage in Hanoi , two dancers, and a musical piece that would blow the roof off the house.
Three days after performing at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Cultural Palace, the audience was abuzz with Y Phụng's provocative performance of lying on a bed with two male actors, leading to a massive rush of ticket sales. At the time, the performance was considered offensive. I was banned from performing for a week and was only allowed to perform again in Hanoi on the condition that I would not use beds or crawl and roll on stage.
But many people don't know that after an upbeat song, I would sing a bolero. I still remember the name of the next song was "Tình bơ vơ" (Lonely Love). A part of me is cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera), and bolero is folk music, very close to cải lương. After the performance, on the way home, in the car, I would constantly play cassette tapes of old cải lương plays by my father and his colleagues, which I used to listen to and know by heart.
- When she was young and just starting out as a singer, and also during those early days on stage overseas with a new life, what was Y Phụng like at these two points in time?
Six months after settling in, I met musician Truc Ho again. He introduced me to the owner of a music center so I could continue pursuing my career, which meant I didn't encounter any difficulties settling in a foreign country.
Life as an artist abroad is not easy. Overseas, the stage doesn't light up every night like in Vietnam; if you want to perform, you have to wait until the weekend, and there are only two music centers that are well-received by audiences.
The biggest challenge for artists living overseas is that there aren't as many promoters as in Vietnam. For artists who want to perform frequently and pursue their careers long-term, their homeland remains the place that offers the most opportunities to thrive.
Y Phụng now.
- Among overseas artists, who do you admire the most?
I used to have some close friends in the industry, but I've been betrayed so much that now I'm hesitant to make friends. Currently, I'm not close to anyone in the industry, either in Vietnam or overseas.
We simply clicked, so we'd go for coffee together, then each pay for our own drinks, go home, and mind our own business, without listening to each other's troubles. We'd chat happily when we bought a nice wallet or shirt. I think that way our friendship would last longer than just being best friends.
Having been pursued by many men and experiencing heartbreak, what are your views and perspectives on men?
I like wealthy men, not necessarily millionaires or billionaires, but at least men who are good at making money. I like living in a nice house, dressing well, and driving a nice car. I've always admired men who are successful, know how to make money, and ensure their women don't lack material things when they're with them. That's the difference between men and women.
- Why does Y Phụng rarely share anything about her husband? In married life, conflicts are inevitable; what is your biggest regret?
Because my husband isn't in the showbiz industry, there's no reason for him to share. And I also want to have my own private world .
- Living in the US, and with your daughter now 5 years old, how are you raising her?
Paris loves singing and photography. My daughter is gentle, easily moved to tears, and very emotional. When I'm sick or have a headache, she hugs me and cries. During her two years in kindergarten, she received a certificate for helping her classmates. Outside, when she saw elderly women in wheelchairs, she ran to help hold their wheelchairs. I recorded a video to keep as a memento, so she can watch it when she grows up.
Y Phụng and her daughter Paris.
- Dubbed the "Calendar Girl Queen" and "Sexy Icon," she admitted to experiencing a crisis after giving birth due to the significant decline in her appearance. How did she overcome that period?
I can't get over it; too much stress is one of the reasons I've gained weight. But now, I'm trying to let go of it all because overthinking is self-destructive. The doctor warned that if I don't let go of negative thoughts, it could lead to serious illness. I'm trying to find myself again.
- Recently, many overseas artists have returned to Vietnam to work quite extensively. Y Phụng is associated with the words "rebellious" and "adventurous." If she were invited to return to Vietnam to participate in artistic activities, would she consider balancing her return with her stable family life?
I received many invitations from organizers and filmmakers in Vietnam and abroad, but I'm too fat and unattractive right now. I can't allow myself to look bad when I return to acting, so I asked them to let me return at a later time. Once I regain my former figure, I will return to acting. As I said from the beginning, I will pursue this profession for the rest of my life.
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