Long "Handsome": Argued with family to pursue art, once wanted to quit his career because he was... ugly

Long "Handsome" (real name Vu Van Long, born in 1976) is no longer a strange name to the audience. He left many impressions when taking on villainous roles. Some people even said that the actor's face was "born to play the bad guy".

Actor Long "Handsome" (Photo: Character's Facebook).

Talking about this, Long "Handsome" laughed and said that when he was studying at the School of Arts - Theater 2 (now the University of Theater and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City), he specialized in playing tragic roles, and when he was working, he did comedy, but it was only when he played villain roles that his name really got noticed by the audience.

The actor's career path also encountered many difficulties even though he was born into a well-off family...

Rich "son" argues with family to pursue passion

What chance brought Long "Handsome" to art?

- I have been passionate about art since I was little, so I wanted to take the entrance exam to the School of Art - Theater 2. However, at that time, my family forbade it, because my grandparents used to think that "singing is a lowly profession".

My parents said they could sell their house and let me study anything except art. But I still decided to live with my passion.

Honestly, I was like a "rich kid" at that time. My family was well-off, and I had a Dream motorbike when I was in high school. When I decided to pursue art, I accepted being cut off from "aid", my family did not provide anything.

The rich "young master" had to fend for himself, what difficulties did "Handsome" Long encounter?

- While studying, I also worked part-time to earn income. After finishing school, I couldn't perform, so I went back to Tan Binh District Cultural Center to teach acting, to pass it on to younger people.

I think if you can't act, then teach, as long as you can make a living from your profession, that's fine. My "students" include Tan "Tre", Le Nam, Tien Luat... There's only a few years difference between the two of us, so I tell them to call me "anh", not "teacher" (laughs).

After teaching for about 3 years, Mr. Huu Loc's drama group was short of people, from then on I was able to satisfy my passion for drama and became known to many people.

After going through many hardships to be recognized, during that journey, was there ever a time when Long "Handsome" wanted to give up?

- I once thought about quitting the profession because of my appearance. At that time, show organizers often came to the school to look for outstanding faces. When they saw me perform, they "marked" me and said they would meet me after the performance.

When I got off stage and removed all my makeup, they told me to give them my phone number so they could call me later. I was so happy, I waited for a long time, then I found out that they were just saying that and they would never call me because I was not handsome.

At that time, I was 1.7m tall, weighed 53kg, thin and very ugly. I felt very disappointed, so I decided to quit my job and become a teacher. But thanks to that, I was able to work in Mr. Huu Loc's drama group and have been in the profession until now.

Long "Handsome" when he was studying at the School of Arts - Theater 2 (Photo: character's Facebook).

Self-proclaimed to have a "special" appearance, not handsome, so where does the name Long "Handsome" come from?

- Because I felt I was too ugly, I took the name Long "Handsome" to make it special (laughs). Artist Viet Huong - a schoolmate at that time - also said "are you crazy to take such a name?"

In 2006, I was invited by director Trung "Lun" (director Nhat Trung - PV) to act in the musical film Forever with you 7 by singer Ly Hai. The villain role in this product made more people know me.

At that time, I asked Trung to use my real name instead of Long "Dep Trai", but Trung still used it, so the name "died". Now I am suffering because of the name Long "Dep Trai". Almost 50 years old, everywhere I go people call me "Dep Trai" (laughs).

After Long "Handsome" became famous, how did his family react?

- At that time, the Trong Dong stage organized a Comedy Convention , gathering many famous artists such as Bao Quoc, Duy Phuong, Tan Beo... and Huu Loc's drama group, including me. I bought a pair of tickets, invited my parents to go see it, saying that there were many famous artists. This was also the first time my parents saw me perform comedy on stage.

When I was still in school, it was so difficult that I had to sell my Dream motorbike and buy a cheaper one. After watching my performance, my parents asked me to go home. My father said that I was an artist anyway, so riding that motorbike was not good. My father took me to the back of the house and there was a new Dream motorbike ready for me. I then understood that my parents had accepted me to pursue an artistic career.

For me, the Dream motorbike my parents gave me was a valuable souvenir and encouragement, so I decided to keep it with me no matter how old it was. Unfortunately, that motorbike was later stolen.

Long "Handsome" at the age of U50 (Photo: Character's Facebook).

Owes hundreds of millions of dong when closing the theater, determined not to participate in game shows

The name Long "Handsome" is associated with the New Smile Stage, this is also the "cradle" that helped him shine. What memory do you remember the most?

- Before, I and some other artists performed comedy at venues, but many people thought that "clown acting" was cheap and unorthodox. Hearing that, I felt very sad.

The group had 10 members, including Mr. Huu Loc. He was a "family member" so the whole group pooled together to form the Nu Cuoi Moi drama group. At first, there were many difficulties, the group disbanded, there were only 3 members left: me, Mr. Huu Loc, Mr. Le Hoang and then met Mr. Hoai Linh.

We gradually rose up, overcame all difficulties and built the New Smile stage. After a long period of bustling activities, the stage disbanded because it had a solid "foundation" but no successor.

Before closing, what difficulties did the New Smile stage face?

- I promised the late artist Huu Loc (founder of the Nu Cuoi Moi Drama Theater, who passed away in 2010 - PV) before he passed away that I would try my best to maintain this theater. But later, I could not bear it when the shows gradually lost audiences, and my promise to him was left unfulfilled.

My stage used to have top names like Hoai Linh, Chi Tai, Truong Giang, and later Nam Thu, Quach Ngoc Tuyen, Hua Minh Dat... but the artists all had their own reasons for leaving the stage.

I used to receive phone calls from audiences asking if artists Hoai Linh and Chi Tai would perform today, and if they didn't, they wouldn't come. It was really heartbreaking.

Nu Cuoi Moi struggled for 3 years before officially closing. At that time, I invested all my savings over many years into the theater to "play until the end". After the theater closed, I still owed 200 million VND in cash for the theater.

Has Long "Handsome" ever thought he would build and develop a new stage?

- Nowadays, the theater business is facing many difficulties. Drama is gradually declining, many audiences are no longer interested in going to the theater to watch plays. Theaters without good plays, without "stars" to attract customers, are difficult to maintain.

According to Long "Handsome", what is the reason why the position of the theater is no longer as stable as before?

- I see many artists answering the press that they love the stage, are passionate about the stage, and want to save the stage. But then they also do not want to spend any time on the weekend for the stage. Everyone gradually leaves the stage. In the past, when I called some artists to invite them to perform, they also found ways to decline, did not want to come.

For a long time, I did not want to participate in game shows because this was like a pain that had not yet subsided in my heart. I clearly remember the feeling of picking up the phone to call the actors to schedule a time to go on stage, everyone was busy because… they were filming game shows.

I really appreciate artist Minh Nhi and artist Viet Huong, because they did not hesitate to work hard to build Truong Hung Minh Art Stage at this time.

Actor during his time working at Nu Cuoi Moi Drama Theater (Photo: Character's Facebook).

In recent years, Long "Dep Trai" has been less active than before. Many viewers have left comments saying that he is "out of date", "no longer has a role to play"... How did you respond?

- An artist who is loved by 50% of the audience and disliked by 50% of the audience is considered successful. Every artist will encounter malicious comments. I just try to respond gently and focus on doing my job well.

Satisfied with current life, just welcomed "little princess"

Share a little about Long "Handsome"'s current life?

- Honestly, from the past until now, I only know how to act and live my life on stage. In the past, I mostly worked at the New Smile stage, now that the stage is no longer there, I make movies for the internet. This job helps me earn an income and live on my profession. Luckily, my products are also loved by many people.

Occasionally, I still perform at events. Besides, I also run a small coffee shop and a restaurant. These jobs also help me earn more income and be more comfortable to take care of my wife and children.

Because there is no stable salary in the arts, many artists have to do side businesses as a "retirement pension". Now I am quite satisfied with my life.

The actor is focusing on making web film projects (Photo: character's Facebook).

Recently, the audience was surprised by the news that he broke up with actress Phi Nga more than 2 years ago and has now "taken another step" but kept it a secret?

- We broke up 2 years ago so it's normal for me to remarry. Phi Nga and I broke up in a civilized manner, we don't like noise. Now both Phi Nga and I have our own lives.

I also received many malicious comments after this incident, but I had to accept it because only those involved know the story best. For example, when I ran a restaurant, every Saturday I had 1,000 VND meals for people in difficult circumstances, but many people were malicious and said I was fake. However, I didn't care. I just kept doing my own thing.

After the divorce, how often did you see your children?

- Phi Nga and I often discuss issues about children or some issues related to art. We are very normal with each other, Phi Nga even asks me for advice about work.

Phi Nga and I have two sons. The children are living with their mother, I still visit them in my free time. Phi Nga is also very tactful, every time I come to visit the children, she temporarily hides so that father and son have private space to talk.

Long "Handsome" celebrates his birthday with his son (Photo: character's Facebook).

Long "Handsome" works in the arts and understands public opinion, but what about his current wife?

- I often remind my wife not to think too much. I am also afraid that articles related to my love life will appear everywhere, affecting my wife's spirit, her family as well as Phi Nga's family.

My wife just gave birth to a little princess, so now I have to focus on work to take good care of my wife and children. My life now can be said to be very peaceful and happy.

Thanks for sharing actor Long "Handsome"!

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