Artist Ngoc Lan
Artist Ngoc Lan – the younger sister of the late Meritorious Artist Ngoc Huong and artist Kim Giac – passed away on the morning of May 31st, at the age of 81.
Her passing marks the end of a journey for a cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) artist who was once deeply connected to the stage, then quietly spent her final years battling illness and eking out a living selling lottery tickets on the streets.
A face that embodies the character of cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera).
According to information from artist Nhu Nguyet – daughter-in-law of the late Meritorious Artist Ngoc Huong, artist Ngoc Lan passed away at 6:00 AM on May 31st at Vi Hoang Nursing Home (formerly District 12, Ho Chi Minh City), at the age of 81.
Born into a family with a tradition in the arts, and being the younger sister of the late Meritorious Artist Ngoc Huong and artist Kim Giac, artist Ngoc Lan was associated with the Huong Mua Thu Cai Luong Troupe – a troupe that once brought together many famous artists of the Southern Cai Luong stage.
In the memories of many older colleagues, she was a familiar face in character roles – a type of role that demands acting prowess, the ability to create a personal impression, and psychological depth. She performed in plays such as: "The Gunshot at Midnight," "The White Crane," "The Areca Flower of My Motherland," "The Grass Carrier of the Han River," etc.
She entered the profession during the heyday of cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera). But like many artists of her generation, after years on stage, old age became a difficult and arduous journey.
The late Meritorious Artist Ngoc Huong - the older sister of artist Ngoc Lan
Lottery tickets and a quiet life of an artist.
What saddened many colleagues most was not her passing at the age of 81, but the way she lived her final years.
Despite suffering from multiple underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, artist Ngoc Lan still has to sell lottery tickets to make ends meet. At one point, she was robbed of all her lottery tickets twice, losing her capital at a time when she was old and had few opportunities to start over.
Journalist Kho Gia Truong, a former reporter for the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Newspaper, shared that about two years ago, he included artist Ngoc Lan in the program to support struggling artists with a total amount of over 20 million VND.
In addition, he repeatedly provided personal support to help her continue earning a living. "Seeing that she was running out of capital, I personally contributed money twice, 1.5 million dong each time, so she could pay the lottery agent to buy more tickets to sell," he shared. Then, in a heartfelt farewell message, his former colleague wrote:
"Now that she's gone, and I'm not feeling well, I couldn't come to pay my respects. So I'll just light a candle in my heart to remember a sister in the profession."
A hasty breakup
According to her family, after being laid to rest at the Vi Hoang Nursing Home, artist Ngoc Lan was cremated at 3 PM on the same day at Binh Hung Hoa crematorium.
The passing of artist Ngoc Lan once again evokes a familiar yet timeless story of the stage: behind the lights, behind the applause and the audience's memories, lie the lives of artists who quietly endure old age amidst many hardships.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/nghe-si-ngoc-lan-qua-doi-tho-81-tuoi-196260601100009012.htm
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