Actress Kha Ngan: Acting in movies doesn't make you rich, you have to use the word "loss"

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 1.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 2.

As a female face that continues to attract attention in the currently airing series My Family Is Suddenly Happy , does Kha Ngan face any pressure or difficulties when she goes to the North to act in this TV series for the second time?

My Family Is Suddenly Happy is the second TV series I've worked on in the North, so there was pressure and difficulty, but not as much as the first time. Because after the time I spent in the North filming 11 Thang 5 Ngay , I had time to integrate into the working style here, the lifestyle in the North as well as get acquainted with many people in Hanoi , so everything became easier. The pressure and difficulty probably came from the role. In My Family Is Suddenly Happy , my character plays Thanh Son's husband and wife, so I was pressured to escape the shadow of the role of Tue Nhi in the movie 11 Thang 5 Ngay . Because I know that many viewers commented on social networks that it felt like the movie was being broadcast like part 2 of 11 Thang 5 Ngay when Kha Ngan - Thanh Son became a couple like that. At the beginning of filming, I had to focus a lot on renewing my acting style, how to make Tram Anh completely different from the Tue Nhi that the audience knew. I even asked my assistant to film each scene while acting so I could review it, correcting the shortcomings in expression and voice to be the best I could.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 3.

So being "scrutinized" more like that, does your acting put a lot of pressure on you?

I had anticipated this, so I was mentally prepared from the moment I received the script and tried to reduce the pressure to become as motivated as possible. Because I think that anything natural and gentle is more likely to have good results than forcing myself to do something at all costs. Luckily, after about the first 2 weeks of filming, I played the role of Tram Anh very well.

Remember when Kha Ngan received the award for Best Actress - Golden Kite 2021, she was also "scrutinized" a lot, even creating controversy because many people thought that her acting was good but not really excellent, so that award was a bit "too much" for her?

Let's talk about the controversy over the Best Actress award at the 2021 Golden Kite that I received. I shared that the award was the motivation for me to continue to strive and make more efforts in my professional acting career. As for any controversy saying that I did not deserve it, the answer from the experts and the award organizers is the most objective answer.

At that time, when facing such conflicting opinions, as a young actress, did Kha Ngan feel "nervous" or afraid of being criticized for being favored or supported...?

Does saying this make people think I'm too confident, but I'm "immune" to negative comments about myself. Maybe because for more than 10 years since entering showbiz until now, I've received a lot of gossip and negative comments about myself. Those who follow me probably know that there were times when I even received harsh comments about myself, was scorned and criticized, causing great psychological impact. Through those things, I've forged a shield for myself against all the wrong and bad things about myself. That doesn't mean I ignore all the audience's comments, I still read and listen to them all, but I'm selective. Whatever is right, to make myself better, I will accept; as for the bad things, I quickly put them out of my mind, to avoid making myself think too much.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 4.

Prime time TV series are flourishing, most of which are produced by small screen crews in the North. And Northern actors have many popular names from young to veteran... As for you, a Southern actor "advancing to the North", do you feel a lot of pressure or challenges?

Among many Northern actors, I come from the South, speak with a Southern accent and a very different style, that is already a difference. I don't think it's a pressure or a challenge. I prefer to use the word exercise. It's an exercise for myself to show that difference in a strange place. And the result is the reception from the audience.

As an amateur actor, a newcomer to the North to act in films, up to now only 2 prime time TV series, has become a "hot" face, receiving an excellent award at the Golden Kite. That is a huge success, but do you have to face jealousy, slander, and dissatisfaction from people in the profession?

Certainly, in any profession or field, there is jealousy. I don't think I'm good enough to be envied or slandered. Besides, I'm a pretty straightforward person. If I see someone who is not happy with me, I will ask them directly: "Why is that happening to me? Is there anything I'm unhappy about?". So I have many relationships around me that I've been attached to for a long time, because there's nothing to be resentful about the other person. If there are things that are just behind my back, I choose not to care about them so that my spirit is not affected.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 5.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 6.

Especially for the audience, when social networks are the platform for interaction and convenient access, how will Kha Ngan respond to negative comments about her acting and beauty, like "over-scrutinizing"?

I often choose the "eyes don't see, ears don't hear" approach. As an artist, having chosen to do art, a public figure, I am forced to accept both praise and criticism. If no one criticizes me, aren't I too bland? (laughs)

Many audiences, especially those in the North, are probably used to watching movies starring Northern actors, so they often think that Southern actors are not as good and "bland" as Northern actors. What do you think about this comparison?

I sympathize with this thinking because I have to try to put myself in their shoes. When we are too familiar with something, it is difficult for anyone to adapt to new things. But if I were in my position, I would not compare because I would fall into regional discrimination. I think we have to be comfortable with the view that each region has a different culture and voice, which creates diversity for the whole culture. In the North, there is a different voice and acting style, while in the South, there is a unique charm. And in the West, there is a very special sincerity.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 7.

Talking about the weaknesses of a Southern actor going to the North to act in a movie, what other limitations does Kha Ngan see herself having besides her voice?

I am an amateur actor, not formally trained in school like many other actors. My acting skills come from learning, instinct and guidance from my seniors in the profession. So when it comes to acting, I think I still have many shortcomings. In addition to the Southern accent when appearing in a TV series with a large Northern audience, which is something I have to overcome, my acting expressions are also something I have to learn and overcome myself.

Choosing to "go North" to develop her acting career, while in the South there are also many TV series produced and shown on the stations. So for Kha Ngan, is the small screen in the North a land with more attractive filmmaking opportunities?

I think that both the South and the North have their own fertile lands. In the South, the film industry is very developed, and the television industry on stations like HTV and THVL also attracts a lot of audiences in the South. In the North, television is stronger and attracts a lot of audiences in the North when watching VFC films. "Going North" is a good opportunity for me to try my hand and develop my acting career more, after many years of participating in both film and television in the South.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 8.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 9.

As an actress who acts in popular TV series like you, is your income abundant in the current difficult economic conditions? Does Kha Ngan have a habit of "running" movies to earn money?

You can't get rich by making movies. That's all I want to say. A movie, especially a TV series, takes up a lot of the actors' time, 4-5 months at the fastest, 6 months or more at the worst, so the income from a movie is divided into that amount of time. If we use business terminology, we have to use the word "loss". But that's my job, I do it until I can't do it anymore, it's the career that the profession gave me, so as long as I'm breathing, I'll keep doing it. I always keep that in mind, so I never think of "running" movies to make money.

Rumor has it that Kha Ngan's family background is also "noble and aristocratic"?

I'm just the daughter of a normal working family in Ho Chi Minh City (laughs).

After 11 months and 5 days , you reunited with actor Thanh Son and there are still rumors of "fake love, real love". Can you tell us more about the relationship between the two of you?

I don't know how to explain it clearly now, because no matter what I say, people won't believe it, insisting that it's "fake love, real love", isn't that annoying (laughs). Son and I are just friends and colleagues. But fate has it that we've become a couple in every movie, and now we're even husband and wife. Being an on-screen couple without chemistry and affection is unnatural. But if there is chemistry, people say it's real love. So now, let's just listen to what people say (laughs loudly).

Kha Ngan and Thanh Son behind the scenes of the movie May 11

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 11.

Honestly, Thanh Son had a broken marriage and had a child. So with a man who had been "episode 1", if she had feelings, would Kha Ngan dare to move forward?

I just care that the person I choose is kind, understanding and knows how to share.

If there is another project with Thanh Son, do you think Kha Ngan will become emotionally numb and boring?

I think there will be emotional numbness, so after Gia dinh minh vui bat thuc , if there is an invitation to participate in a film project that requires me to act with Mr. Son, I will think carefully. Because what I fear most when doing art is boredom, from myself and from the audience. Anything that takes too long or too much is not good.

Diễn viên Khả Ngân: Đóng phim không thể giàu mà phải dùng từ “lỗ” - Ảnh 12.

The film My Family Is Suddenly Happy will be finished in May. Currently, you are still flying back and forth between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which seems quite difficult. So, is Kha Ngan planning to move to the North for convenience or become a daughter-in-law in the North because Kha Ngan once hinted about becoming a daughter-in-law in the North...?

I will answer this question frankly, no such thing. I am from the South, my family and team are also in Ho Chi Minh City. I have developed my career in Ho Chi Minh City for many years, so I will not leave this land. The North is just a stopover in a stage of my career. I am very grateful and appreciate the opportunities here.

Thanks Kha Ngan for sharing!