The "unplayable" face becomes a brand

Middle-parted hair, characteristic mole, catfish beard and contemptuous smile - just by describing that, the audience immediately imagines Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan. During more than 20 years of artistic activities, he has become the "boss of bad roles" on the screen, known as "the most hated face" in the film industry. But behind the image of that "bad guy" is a man with an extremely warm heart.

Right from the first days of entering the Academy of Theatre and Cinema, Minh Tuan's appearance seemed to "predetermine" his artistic path. People's Artist Xuan Huyen - director of the play The 9th Oath - once told him directly: "I can mold your face in any way, but playing a villain is easier."

Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan shared with VietNamNet: "People's Artist Xuan Huyen is a talented person so he sees actors very accurately. As a stage director, he sees with the eyes of a stage actor. I had a good role that won me a Gold Medal for the national professional stage, but it's different in cinema - the image of the actor and the character must be close in personality."

Possessing a face that is "mean from voice to smile", throughout his career, Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan has been assigned almost only villainous roles. He jokingly said: "Up to now, the audience doesn't believe my gentle role on screen, and if they don't believe it, no director will choose me."

From violent husbands, sycophantic and cunning subordinates to "perverts", Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan vividly portrays sinister and sycophantic characters on screen.

Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan on set with colleagues.

In cinema, the first films when he started his career such as Women's Tears and White Illusion helped the audience know Minh Tuan's name. After that, he continued to appear in many other films and television works such as: Secrets of Lives, After the Bamboo Luy Lang, Stormy Lives and episodes of Criminal Police: Silent Ash Villa, Wild Wind ...

The negative image even affected his son. Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan shared with VietNamNet : "When my son was in 4th grade, he told me not to come pick him up next time because his friends said I was a jerk."

There were also many humorous situations. Once, the couple finished performing a play at the Pedagogical University with the troupe. During the interaction, a student asked directly: "He clearly doesn't look like a good person. Will you suffer if you marry him?". Another time, the couple was riding on the street, and someone jumped up and clicked his tongue: "You look so pretty, why did you marry such a jerk?".

Minh Tuan's 37-year military career had a special period when he worked at the Propaganda Department of the General Department of Politics . At this time, he had to shave off his characteristic catfish beard. However, after returning to his old unit, the beard was kept and became an indispensable "brand".

Love story from wool socks

What few people know is that behind the "bad guy" is a beautiful and long-lasting love affair with People's Artist Ngoc Thu.

The love story began in 1981, when they both took the entrance exam for the General Political Department Drama Troupe. Minh Tuan was one of 10 men, Ngoc Thu was one of 10 women selected to enter the school that year from thousands of candidates.

Although the troupe had many beautiful actresses, Minh Tuan "fell in love" with Ngoc Thu at first sight. He was attracted by the girl with beautiful eyes and good acting. However, Ngoc Thu did not have a good impression of him at first. In fact, during the recruitment, Minh Tuan brought a guitar to perform but could not handle it, which left Ngoc Thu with a bad impression of his ability.

Love blossomed from a small but warm story. On a cold day, student Minh Tuan gave his schoolmate a new pair of wool socks with a simple message: "It's cold, put on socks to warm your feet!". Recalling the gift he gave to the person he liked, he shared: "40 years ago, young people at that time did it out of emotion, without any deeper purpose."

Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan is happy with People's Artist Ngoc Thu.

After 8 years of dating, they got married in 1989 in a simple rationing-era wedding with gifts of thermoses, towels, and basins.

36 years of living together, both of them grew up from soldiers, actors to officials. The interesting thing about work is that Ngoc Thu used to be her husband's "boss".

Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan shared with VietNamNet : "She was only the boss for a short time, then I became the Head of the Culture and Arts Department of the General Department of Politics' Propaganda Department and then managed her again. As for family matters, both of us had to arrange them properly."

Living together, he realized that marrying a wife in the same profession was the greatest happiness. Simply because, eating soldier's food together, living in the same military environment and going on missions together, understanding each other to the point that if one was angry, the other would stay silent, and the other would understand what the 'other' needed.

Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan.

Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan admitted that in life, it is important not to let your ego get too big and both parties agree on how to handle it.

Happy family after many storms

Both children of Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan and People's Artist Ngoc Thu have been involved in the arts since childhood. The daughter acted in films from the age of 3 until the end of primary school, then quit and now works in the army. The son also acted in films from the age of 2 but then chose to study banking and then decided to take the entrance exam to military school to continue the family tradition.

After retirement, both of them still keep their passion for art, teach children, and pass on their passion to the younger generation. He confided: "I have 2 grandchildren, 2 grandchildren, so I see the children at the club as my family."

Few people know that Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan is a talented "chef". He explains: "I grew up during the time when the whole country was fighting against the Americans, Pol Pot... so I had to watch my younger siblings cook. Over time, I became good at it, but only with simple dishes."

Looking back on his life from 'the most bad guy on screen' to an exemplary husband and father, ask Meritorious Artist Minh Tuan if he has any regrets? He answered that he has no regrets and feels happy because life has favored him with the opportunity to study and work in the right profession until he retired.

Excerpt from the movie "Life is still beautiful":

Photo: NVCC

People's Artist Ngoc Thu: My husband and I have a very stormy marriage! "Normally when I act in a movie, my friends often take screenshots to congratulate me, but with this role, out of 10 friends, only 2 texted me. They were silent as if they "hated me so much they didn't want to play with me", People's Artist Ngoc Thu.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hon-nhanh-hanh-phuc-cua-ong-trum-vai-deu-nsut-minh-tuan-va-nsnd-ngoc-thu-2415645.html