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People's Artist Kim Cuong is one of seven artists and 53 names in other fields honored at the Ceremony to honor outstanding individuals in the cause of building, protecting and developing Ho Chi Minh City (1975-2025).

People's Artist Kim Cuong in a conversation about her life and her dramatic roles.

In addition, the work "Durian Leaves" by Kim Cuong Drama Troupe was also honored in the election of 50 typical literary and artistic works of the city.

For insiders and fans, this honor is completely deserved. She has left a deep impression on the public with many memorable roles and is an artist with a kind heart in charity activities that the public admires and loves. Recently, she took the time to chat with us.

The ultimate happiness of the artist

- When she heard that The Durian Leaf was honored as a typical stage work of the City in the past 50 years, she burst into tears. Surely there are beautiful memories of the play that made her so emotional?

- I was very happy to hear that Durian Leaf was called. This is not just a simple play but also contains beautiful memories of me and my mother (late People's Artist Bay Nam-PV).

The Durian Leaf has a simple story, not too profound but still touches the audience's heart because it is imbued with maternal love. The role of Miss Dieu in the play is not a difficult role for me, but because my mother (Mrs. Tu, in the play) and I are biological mother and daughter, the emotions of the character are conveyed more realistically. My mother and I have cultivated the characters through each performance, so the mother and daughter of Mrs. Tu and Miss Dieu live forever in the hearts of the audience. Whenever my mother and I cry on stage, the audience in the audience also cries.

The Durian Leaf has been performed for thousands of shows, more than 60 years since its inception, but the public still remembers it. For an artist, there is no greater happiness.

- People's Artist, Director Tran Minh Ngoc once affirmed: "Talking about Southern drama without mentioning Kim Cuong Drama Group is a big mistake". As a pioneer in building Southern drama with a very unique Southern color since she was young, now, looking back, do you feel that your youth was too reckless?

- I was born into a family with three or four generations of singers, most notably in the field of reformed opera. I was also prepared by my seniors to become a reformed opera actress and was also affectionately called a "diva" by the press at that time. However, because I realized my own limitations, I thought about a new path to develop my abilities.

Around the early 1960s, I decided to establish the Kim Cuong Drama Group, although I knew it would be difficult. Many mothers who had seen me perform Cai Luong wondered: “What is a drama? If you talk without singing, what will I watch?”. At that time, Cai Luong was in its heyday, so all the talented actors were writing scripts for Cai Luong. Who had the time to write a drama script? It was both unfamiliar and I didn’t know if it would be successful. That was the reason I boldly wrote the script myself, but I was also afraid that people would criticize me for being bad, so I didn’t dare use my real name and signed it with the pen name Hoang Dung. But gradually I got through those difficult days.

Kim Cuong Drama is faithful to the simple, emotional storytelling style like the character of the people of the South, so it gradually conquers the audience. When the audience meets me, they can tell in detail a series of plays of the Troupe that have been deeply ingrained in their hearts, such as Durian Leaves, Rose Pinned on the Shirt, Under Two Colors of the Shirt, Camellia Girl, I Am Mother, The Abyss of Heights...

Looking back on the journey, I see that it is not that I am brave or too talented. I just think that if I am determined to do something, I must do my best, wholeheartedly, and wholeheartedly to the profession, learn from good people, good things, and cultivate my abilities every day. Those efforts have fortunately been accepted and loved by the audience until today.

There is a Poor Man's Diamond

- You are also a rare artist who has devoted her life to charity work for over 50 years. What made a famous stage and film star Kim Cuong at that time, despite being busy with a thousand things, still not forget the poor?

- When I was young, because my mother and mother Nam Phi (People's Artist Nam Phi, aunt of artist Kim Cuong - PV) wanted me to study properly and "control" my son's mischievous nature, they sent me to a convent school. There, in addition to studying, I also followed the nuns to take care of children in the orphanage, and take care of the elderly and sick. Those were the first steps that helped form compassion in me in a very natural way. Whenever I saw poor people, those in more difficult circumstances, I wanted to contribute a little to help them.

Later, I formed a group of young people who loved me and spent time together collecting notebooks, candy, and small items to go to hospitals and orphanages on weekends to give gifts and play with the children. From such simple things, I became attached to volunteer work without realizing it.

People ask me why I am old and retired from the stage but do not rest and recover, running around asking for sponsorship to stop worrying about eye examinations and surgeries for the poor, to organize weddings for the disabled, then open a vocational training center for the disabled, take care of orphans due to the Covid-19 pandemic... I don't know how to answer, maybe it's because of my personality when I go out, see difficult situations and feel sorry, and think of something to help them. When doing charity, you have to put in the effort, put in all your heart and soul to take care of it properly.

From my appeal, I requested that all contributions from people be transferred directly to the Ho Chi Minh City Association for the Support of Poor Patients. Whatever I want to spend, even about 100,000 VND, must have proper and clear invoices. Thanks to that, my mind is also healthy, and the sponsors who have accompanied me for many years are always assured and confident.

Artist Kim Cuong (in black) on stage during a performance of the play Durian Leaves. (Photo: Archive)

- That trust is also given to you by artists and staff working in the theater industry. We have witnessed many artists, when facing difficult situations, only remember and call artist Kim Cuong… Can you share more of your thoughts on these things?

- Because I am an artist, I understand very well the thoughts, feelings, and circumstances of other artists. Artists practice their profession with their own bodies and souls. When you want the audience to cry for your character, you have to put all your heart and soul into feeling very real pain, you have to push your psychology to shed real tears, that process wears down your health a lot. Not only that, for ordinary people, people rise from small things to glory, but artists, when they are young, they will be kings, queens, then when they are old, they go down to supporting roles, old roles. In the end, artists when they are old, have nothing, illness, poverty and sometimes are forgotten. Artists are very sensitive, so that makes many people hurt.

I have had 10 years of running the program Artist Tri Am, giving gifts to poor artists every spring. Someone asked me why I didn't name it Artist Tri An, it seems more appropriate. I think that sharing should be called Tri Am, meaning that the supporters are soul mates, confidants, they help artists because of empathy, because of love rather than just material things. Due to health reasons, I have temporarily stopped this program, but I always worry and love my brothers.

Recently, I was very happy to receive the support of some hospitals, supporting free medical examination and treatment for artists, workers, and backstage workers who are old and sick. Some funeral facilities also accompanied me to take care of the funerals of poor artists who passed away and whose families do not have the financial capacity to organize them properly.

I'm almost 90 years old, my health is also unstable, but I'll take care of myself while I'm still healthy!

- Thank you for sharing!

According to nhandan.vn

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/phong-van-doi-thoai/202507/nghe-si-nhan-dan-kim-cuong-song-tron-long-voi-doi-voi-nghe-1046638/