I feel sorry for myself too.

Mi Lan - Huyen Chi (reporter) - Sunday, July 21, 2024 06:00 (GMT+7)

Maya (real name Mai Thu Huong) is an actress who is gaining attention from audiences thanks to her nickname "the perfect sister-in-law" in the film "Let's Love Each Other Peacefully". Before that, she played the lead role in the film "Fragile Flower".

For a long period, Maya almost "disappeared" from showbiz, taking with her many mysteries. Since 2015, at the peak of her career after the success of the film "Scandal: Red Carpet Secrets," the beauty unexpectedly became pregnant and went to the US to give birth. After several failed relationships, Maya returned to Hanoi to live with her mother and daughter.

Lao Dong Newspaper had a conversation with Maya about her tumultuous career journey and her decision to return to the screen.

After gaining attention from the sequel to "Go Home, My Son," she recently starred in the film "Let's Love Each Other Peacefully." What role does film play in your life currently? It seems like projects are quite infrequent, not many?

- I'm very passionate about acting. I've loved it since elementary school, attending acting classes at the children's center and participating in school performances and plays. Whenever there's a film that suits me, I'll accept the role. But it's true that I get few roles. I think maybe it's because filmmakers think Maya is a singer and not dedicated to acting, so I don't get many offers.

Many people think I'm an actress, so they don't know I'm also a singer. I love both fields and want to contribute to them. If I'm given a role, I'll do my best.

Acting is a great joy for me; I dedicate 200% of my energy and seriousness to my work. With the role of Lan in the series "Let's Love Each Other Peacefully," I realized just how widespread television can be. When I meet viewers, they always call me Lan. That makes me very happy.

The sibling-like romance between my character and Trong Lan was surprisingly enthusiastically "shipped" by the audience. Working with young actors like Thanh Son, Trong Lan, Viet Hoa, etc., I also learned a lot.

Although Trong Lan has the appearance of a "bad boy," he's actually an introvert, very well-behaved and gentle. Despite being quiet, like me, he's very professional. When we're filming, we shed our introverted, quiet nature to fully immerse ourselves in our characters.

Maya works as a singer and actress. Photo: Provided by the subject.

During her peak, she was highly praised for her acting, especially for her villainous role in "Scandal: The Red Carpet Secret". Do you regret not being able to leverage your talents to achieve even greater career advancements?

- Actually, many people tell me that I should have done this or that, that I should be better than I am now. I feel regretful too! I feel I could have contributed even more, dedicated myself even more. But sometimes, "it's better to master one profession than to dabble in nine." In my heart, I've always had a passion for singing and acting; I can't abandon either field.

There are times when audiences see me "disappear," but in reality, I'm just switching back and forth between the two areas. For example, as soon as I finish this film project, I return to my music career. Sometimes, I release a song and then receive an offer to act in a film, so I accept and focus on filming. Therefore, some viewers who love film may not pay attention to my music activities, and vice versa.

However, there were times when I "went into hiding" for quite a long period. I regret not being able to work at full capacity and dedicate myself to the audience.

I also have my own reasons for taking a break. It's a long story and part of my personal life. I hope the audience can understand, because everyone has their own story to fix, and needs time to heal.

You seem very different now; you used to be considered very ambitious and eager to make a name for yourself in showbiz. Some even commented that Maya's villainous role in "Scandal: The Red Carpet Secret" resembled Maya in real life. What do you think about that?

- For those who haven't met Maya in real life, only seen her through movies and media, they often think I resemble Tra My because I've cultivated a sexy, alluring image. Some viewers have told me that they liked me because I sing well, but when they see me play a villain, they hate me.

I think anyone, whether in showbiz or any other field, needs ambition and dreams, and wants to succeed. I see myself as similar to Tra My in that respect; we both have ambition, wanting to shine and become famous. Otherwise, I'm completely different from Tra My in the movies.

With her return to the screen, she is considered to still be energetic and enthusiastic. What has changed and what hasn't changed in Maya after all the ups and downs?

- With film, I've done my best and tried my hardest. Everyone goes through different phases, and for me, even though I'm older now, I feel the youngest. It's like I've completely transformed into a new version of myself. I feel younger, more energetic, confident, and open to life. What I've retained after all this long journey, I would say, is my passion.

When I first came to Ho Chi Minh City, I was bold and had a sexy appearance. But then I changed, first because I had a child. I became more reserved and private. After that, I underwent a transformation, but this time not because of childbirth, but because I found myself. I turned to spiritual practice, felt light, peaceful, and slowed down my pace of life.

Maya in the movie "Let's Love Each Other Peacefully". Screenshot from the movie.

Many people remember Maya as a beauty with a rebellious youth. She once moved to the South of Vietnam to seek opportunities, facing many controversies along the way. What turning point transformed Maya into the person she is today?

- I used to be an ambitious person, so I moved south to have more opportunities and direction. Now, I believe that as long as you have passion and are serious about your work, you can do it anywhere. I don't necessarily have to be like before, boldly taking risks to be considered a contributor. My thinking has changed a lot, and I feel fine. I have a peaceful and happy life with my family. I still work and still "keep up with trends."

In the past, I was cheerful, humorous, and made people laugh. Now, I'm more reserved, but in return, I've gained inner peace. I feel like I'm myself again. I think time has made me more thoughtful. This quietness doesn't bring sadness; instead, I feel peaceful and love myself more.

What are your expectations and hopes for this return to acting?

- It's true that I've had success playing villainous roles. That was something I didn't expect. When director Victor Vũ invited me to star in "Scandal: The Red Carpet Secret," I initially refused. I said I was too gentle, that I couldn't act like that. But Victor Vũ said I could do it. After that role, I understood that people have hidden potential that needs to be explored. Thanks to that, I became more confident and thought I could take on more edgy characters with more complexities.

I find myself well-suited to playing villainous roles. Sometimes I even wonder, "How can my inner self play such a villain, or am I actually like that?"

But after all, I like a variety of roles. I don't act in many films because I'm selective. I get many offers, but I don't accept them because I don't want to repeat myself. I'll take on roles that are different from the characters I've played before. So far, I've only acted in about 14 films, almost one film a year, not many. I show my love for acting by "sacrificing" acting in fewer films, but each role will be a different kind of performance.

I was also afraid that the audience wouldn't remember me because I took on few films. But my choices weren't without effect. If the audience followed me, they would remember me through each film. That's my personality in how I choose my characters.

After experiencing broken relationships and health setbacks, she returned to Hanoi. Could this return to Hanoi be defined as a failure, a turning point, or simply a return to find peace?

- It could be called an event on my journey, and also a return to find peace.

Currently, I've chosen Hanoi as my place of residence and work, where my mother and daughter are. If I lived in the South, I wouldn't be close to my family, so I decided to make a small sacrifice so my mother and daughter could be near their loved ones; it would be much more enjoyable.

I chose to return to Hanoi because I love Hanoi – my birthplace. I know every nook and cranny, every street here, so I always feel peaceful. Although my workload might decrease slightly compared to Ho Chi Minh City, I get to spend time with my family.

Source: https://laodong.vn/lao-dong-cuoi-tuan/dien-vien-maya-toi-cung-thay-tiec-cho-minh-1368429.ldo