NSND Hoàng Cúc: From 'screen beauty' to life at 70s making many people dream

NSND Hoàng Cúc is considered one of the veteran actors in the Vietnamese theater and film industry. Besides her acting talent in roles with deep psychological dimensions, Hoàng Cúc is also regarded as a beauty icon of the female stars in the 1980s in the North of Vietnam.

During that time, Hoàng Cúc was affectionately referred to as the "beauty of the silver screen" because of her full beauty, the epitome of Vietnamese women. From the 1970s to 1980s and up to now, NSND Hoàng Cúc continues to receive admiration from the public.

NSND Hoàng Cúc when she was young (Photo: provided by the individual).

Hoàng Cúc originally studied and enrolled in the Vocal Music Department at the National Academy of Music in Vietnam.

While waiting to start school, she was convinced by the Tuyên Quang provincial art troupe to perform, and later worked for two years with this provincial art troupe.

Although her expertise was in vocal music, the artist Hoàng Cúc also dabbled in acting. Many older colleagues in the troupe advised her to pursue a career in theater because of her young age, long career ahead, and many interesting experiences.

Hoàng Cúc listened and she abandoned vocal music, enrolling in a four-year Drama program at the Viet Bac Arts School. After completing her studies, in 1982, she applied to join the Hanoi Drama Troupe because she was enamored with their play, "Conspiracy and Love."

Hoàng Cúc's first role was Sa-ghi-a in "The Woman Behind the Blue Door" (based on a script by a Russian author) in 1984. Initially, she was not listed for any roles. When she saw two actors auditioning for the main roles, she was intrigued and requested director Tạ Xuyên to allow her to audition.

The moment she transformed into a gentle yet resolute wife to protect equality rights convinced the director. In the end, she was chosen for the lead role, acting alongside actors Hoàng Dung, Minh Vượng, and Minh Trang. In her debut work, she surprised the industry professionals and audiences with her flexible, authentic, and compelling acting.

From then on, the Northern theatrical stage shone even brighter every time Hoàng Cúc appeared.

The beauty icon of a bygone era (Photo: provided by the individual).

Her name is closely associated with roles in special plays from the 1980s - 1990s such as: "Me and Us," "You're Getting More Beautiful in His Eyes," "Thinking of Myself," "The Beggars Once Were," "Master of My Village," "Season of Milkflowers," etc.

NSND Hoàng Cúc is also a familiar face to audiences through various films, including: "Retired General," "Belgium Shell," "Trap Soul," "Orange Bell Ring," "River of Aspirations," "Transient Life," etc.

Among her notable roles in her career, the character Thủy in "Retired General" stands out. The image of a woman with sharp eyes and a steely voice truly convinced the viewers. Thanks to this role, she won the Best Actress award at the Vietnam Film Festival in 1990.

Speaking with a reporter from Dân trí, NSND Hoàng Cúc shared that during her time, artists in the North were known as the time of all-encompassing artists. Because the pay for a night's performance was not enough to even buy a bowl of pho, salaries were not enough to feed children...everyone in the Hanoi Drama Troupe at that time had to do many jobs. She mentioned that NSND Hoàng Dung sold children's clothes at Hàng Đường street, NSƯT Minh Vượng sold shoes, artist Kim Xuyến opened a bridal shop, artist Tiến Đạt sold suits... she herself opened a bridal shop. Despite this, she never thought of quitting the acting profession.

"To me, acting is a career, a mission. Currently, in this state of mind, even though the conditions are tough, I still feel proud, excited, and fulfilled," NSND Hoàng Cúc said.

NSND Hoàng Cúc and the late NSND Hoàng Dũng in the film "Retired General" (Photo: provided by the individual).

The former beauty of the Vietnamese silver screen talking about acting as a career, a mission, feeling connected to the profession even though sometimes the pay was only enough to buy a bowl of pho (Photo: provided by the individual).

Speaking about the past glory days, the veteran actress once shared: "The most memorable thing for me is the affection of the audience. Back then, wherever I went, whether in the South or the North, the audience followed, chatting, requesting autographs, giving gifts... People called me 'queen' because of that reason.

The spreading power of art is truly strange, and the emotional connection of today's audience - past and present remains the same, making an artist like me very happy."

NSND Hoàng Cúc was the Deputy Director of the Hanoi Theater. In 2010, she found out she had cancer nearing stage three and had to focus on treatment. She retired in 2012.

Hoàng now (Photo: Hữu Nghị).

Currently, at the age of over 70, after 13 years of battling cancer, NSND Hoàng Cúc remains optimistic and enjoys a peaceful life that many dream of. In the morning, she practices yoga, meditates in the evening, indulges in self-care when she has time, and travels abroad.

"After 13 years of fighting this insidious disease, I have learned to accept my fate. There is a saying: 'Even if tomorrow is the end of the world, tonight the lotus will still bloom,' which means, even if tomorrow no longer exists, today I must still live happily and comfortably," NSND shared with a Dân trí reporter.

The veteran artist candidly stated that after going through all those painful experiences, she realized that she wants to exist to do more things to help herself, her family, and society.

At over 70, NSND Hoàng Cúc enjoys a leisurely life, writes poetry, and travels around the world (Photo: individual’s Facebook).

She also has a hobby and talent for writing poetry. She mentioned that she does not idolize any particular author but there are poets who have moved her. When she was young, the artist read some romantic poems by Lamartine. When she was young, she truly loved the poetic voice of Pushkin.

According to NSND Hoàng Cúc: "Literature is borrowing someone else's pain to express your own, borrowing someone else's joy to make it your own. Sometimes it's about me, but other times it's not about me."

Currently, she feels happy and proud of the journey she has gone through.