HÀ NỘI – Award-winning actress Lan Hương charmed spectators at Việt Nam National Drama Theatre with her role in the Tai Biến (Accident) play on Wednesday night.

Hương acted in the supporting role of Mrs Cầm in a play that was held by the theatre to highlight her strong stage performances. She will retire on August 17 at the end of a 38-year career with the Việt Nam National Drama Theatre.

“The performance last night was invaluable to me and my family,” Hương said. “Thanks a lot to my colleagues – my beloved people. Thank you to the theatre to which my heart will always belong.”

Hương had great success with her role in the Tai Biến play, even though it is a supporting role. This role, however, is very special to her as she has played it across the country.

Born to a Hà Nội-native family, Hương came to the stage by chance. She had accompanied a friend to a recruitment event at an art school. The judges chose Hương but did not accept her friend. However, she was later threatened with expulsion from the school as she was unable to continue demonstrating sufficient ability.

One teacher took an interest in her and persuaded her to continue studying to be an actress. Since then, the actress has not only made great contributions to the stage but has also become a popular presence on many television shows.

She was very young when she accepted her first on-screen role, playing a young volunteer in Vũ Phạm Từ’s movie Khoảnh Khắc Im Lặng Của Chiến Tranh (Silent Moment of War).

Her second movie role was in Mùa Ổi (The Season of Guavas)*, directed by Đặng Nhật Minh, where she played the younger sister of a mentally handicapped man. The role earned her the best actress award at the Singapore International Film Festival in 2001.

She also received two gold medals for her roles as Lý Chiêu Hoàng in the historic Trần Thủ Độ play and as Mrs Cầm in Tai Biến at the National Profession Theatre Festival in 1995 and 2013, respectively.

Her husband, actor Đỗ Kỷ, starred alongside her on only one occasion, for the television series Nếp Nhà (Domestic Decency).

Hương was granted the People’s Artist title in 2011. — VNS

*The Season of Guavas will be screened at 7.30pm tonight at Hanoi Cinematheque, 22A Hai Bà Trưng Street, Hà Nội.