I was confessed with a straw

- Looking at your demeanor, you seem very healthy. How is your life at the age of 85, madam?

Maybe that's true, because when I go out, many people compliment me : "Ma'am, why is your skin so beautiful, still rosy and white?" At this age, you should know yourself, but hearing people say that, I'm happy.

Now I don’t have to do much, I just sit here at the end of the alley twice a day drinking tea. Mrs. Xuyen (artist Kim Xuyen) from Hang Vai comes here every day to sit with me. We chat about all sorts of things. Many passersby who saw the artist came in to take pictures and chat.

Le Khanh has been living here for many years now, in the house inside, next to mine. Le Vy, who lives far away, also calls often. The children often visit and encourage me, so I have nothing to complain about.

Artist Le Mai and artist Kim Xuyen with a friend during a meeting and chat.

- At the age of 85, you were just awarded the title of Meritorious Artist. Were you surprised?

I was so surprised! Honestly, I thought I would never be able to do it. When people on TV told me: “Madam, you were awarded the title of Meritorious Artist, your younger brother, Mr. Le Chuc was awarded the title of People’s Artist” , I was still half-believing. Only when the Artists’ Association invited me to a meeting did I believe this was true.

My sister and I shook hands, happy and joyful at the Artists' Association meeting. Being an artist family, I was very happy to be recognized. Perhaps God loves me so that at the end of my life I have many things to be satisfied with.

Artist Le Mai in her house on Phan Dinh Phung street.

- Before having the peaceful life you have now, you had to go through many ups and downs. How did you get through those days?

The most difficult time was when I was pregnant with my first daughter, Le Van, and I had to quit my job at the Central Drama Group. I had a friend who worked at Dong Xuan market, so I could receive goods to sew and bring them to her every week to sell. At that time, domestic machines were still very rare. A friend in Bulgaria bought me a sewing machine head, then asked someone to carry it home. I managed to buy a tripod, put it upstairs and sat there sewing. After sewing for a few days, the neighbors complained because the machine was too noisy, so I brought it down to the kitchen, which was only 6 square meters, to sit and work. It was low and hot there, so I just covered my head with a wet towel, wiping sweat while sewing.

After sewing, I took the package to Dong Xuan market to deliver to my friend. One time, on the way, I was stopped by the tax office. When they asked for my business license, I fumbled and pulled out a piece of paper from my pocket. After reading it, they burst out laughing: “This is an invitation for you to act in a movie.” Seeing that I was an artist, they let me go and didn’t ask any more questions.

Artist Le Mai with her three famous daughters: Le Van, Le Khanh and Le Vi.

- When did you start to know about movies?

It was 1980, when director Ha Van Trong started making the movie The Neighbor's Child , and invited me to participate. At that time, I knew nothing about movies, and thought I was too small, only 34 kg, so I put on a sweater inside and a blouse outside. When we got there, Mr. Trong told me: "Oh my God! There are so many fat people in this world, I invited you because you are skinny."

After that, I was invited to participate in many other films. At that time, artists were paid whatever salary they were given. The important thing was to see yourself on TV, it was very fun. In those days, films were rare, every time it was time for a film, the whole neighborhood gathered at my house to watch, just like at the cinema.

Artist Le Mai keeps many photos and articles as souvenirs.

- Before coming to theater and cinema, you were a dancer. Why did you leave this field?

When I was 17, my father - poet and playwright Le Dai Thanh - came to Hanoi from Hai Phong. He said: "Come here, I will take you to audition for the art troupe." I was so happy that I packed my things and left. I was accepted right away because I was good-looking at that time.

I learned quickly, but felt self-conscious because I had a slight disability in my arm since I was a child. Due to falling from a rosewood bed, my bone protruded and did not heal, and a part of it was slightly bent. At first, when I danced traditional dances, I wore ao dai, my arm was covered so no one noticed. One day, the whole group switched to Cham dance, wearing costumes that were almost like a yem shirt. I was so embarrassed, and still childish, I wrote a few words to the 66 Quan Su group: "Hello, sisters, back home" , then took a car back to Hai Phong .

- What chance made you return to art later?

I returned at the right time when musician Tran Hoan was the Director of the City Department of Culture. Uncle Hoan loved the arts and was passionate about teaching them. He let me teach singing and dancing. Some time later, my father called me to Hanoi for the second time and helped me apply to join the Central Drama Troupe, where playwright Hoc Phi was the troupe leader.

Looking back on my time on stage, I was also lucky. I played many different roles, including beggars and nobles. Many times, my mother and I were on stage together. I still have many souvenir photos of my roles at home, and I still look at them.

- Here, you met and married the late People's Artist Tran Tien. Was this your first love?

Yes! Our story was very romantic and interesting. I was in one group, he was in another, separated by a wall, with a door to go back and forth. One day, while I was leaning against the door, I suddenly felt something rattling behind me. I turned around and saw a piece of straw being held out to me. I pulled out the straw, and he wrote on it: “I love you”.

The following days, we went out together, fell in love, and became attached. I agreed with him quickly because Mr. Tien was only one year older than me, handsome, and a native Hanoian, civilized and elegant.

Artist Le Mai and the late People's Artist Tran Tien when they were still together.

- When you divorced him, were you sad and depressed?

I was not like that. Tiger women are usually strong and resilient in the face of adversity. Mr. Tien was the one who asked for a divorce, but after giving me the papers to sign, he forgot. About 3 or 4 months later, when I was moving house, I suddenly saw the papers fall in front of me. I immediately submitted them to the court. When he received the divorce result, he was very surprised.

After breaking up with Mr. Tien, many people expressed their feelings for me, but out of love for my children, I refused them all. In general, everything was over. On the day he passed away, my children and I sent him off on his final journey with full respect.

Thanks for sharing!

Yen Linh

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