Duong Tu Man: The queen of 18+ at one time, left showbiz because of K disease, now the owner of a noodle shop

When the genre of films banning children began to bloom in Hong Kong, a series of young actresses took advantage of the opportunity to shine. Among them, Duong Tu Man made the whole of Asia feverish with the role of Phan Kim Lien in "Tan Kim Binh Mai".

A difficult childhood and a fateful turning point in cinema

Born in 1976 in Chiba, Japan with the birth name Otada Asami, Duong Tu Man had a not very peaceful childhood and a difficult family life. Her family background was not well-off, forcing her to make a living early with many manual jobs, including an elevator operator at a shopping center. The life of the young girl Otada Asami seems to revolve only around worries about money, there is no sign of a future that will become an Asian star.

However, a coincidence opened a fateful turning point for her life. When she was introduced to work in Taiwan, she had the opportunity to approach the entertainment world. At that time, Hong Kong's film industry was in a period of strong boom, especially hot movies, providing opportunities for many new faces who wanted to try.

With the new stage name Duong Tu Man, she quickly caught the eye of director Tien Van Ky – who was actively preparing for the project "Tan Kim Binh Mai" (1996), a film inspired by the famous ancient novel "Kim Binh Mai". This is a controversial but also fascinating literary work, and the role of Phan Kim Lien is the soul of the story.

Phan Kim Lien and the peak of fame at the age of 19

Playing the role of Phan Kim Lien – a symbol of sensuality, ambition and controversy in Chinese literature – Duong Tu Man showed an excellent incarnation that was likened to breathing soul into the character. At the age of 19, with her fresh beauty, soulful eyes, delicate inner expressions and charming demeanor but not vulgar or cheap, the actress made the audience unable to take their eyes off.

The in-depth performance and ecstatic role-playing ability helped Duong Tu Man surpass a series of contemporaries, quickly rising to become a phenomenon. Even many critics and viewers assessed that she had "overwhelmed" Thu Ky, a hot movie icon at that time, in terms of temperament and ability to express the depth of Phan Kim Lien's character. The unexpected success of "Tan Kim Binh Mai" has brought Duong Tu Man's name to shine, becoming a sought-after face throughout Asia.

After this fateful film, Duong Tu Man continues to affirm his image through a series of photo books and art publications with a sexy but not vulgar style. She skillfully combines physical beauty and artistic elements, creating high-quality products. In particular, her photo series "Goblin Kaihua" once caused a fever in the whole region, praised for its combination of oriental aesthetics and modern visual sense, shaping a sexy style full of class.

Life events and the decision to leave the aura

However, while Thu Ky quickly separated herself from the genre of films banning people under the age of 18 and successfully switched to mainstream art cinema, reaping many prestigious awards, Duong Tu Man struggled in an effort to get rid of the sexy image.

Although she has collaborated with big stars such as Kim Thanh Vu or To Huu Bang in drama film projects, the echoes from the past, along with the prejudices of the public and the professional world, make it difficult for her to be taken seriously in terms of acting. Careers began to slow down, opportunities for roles with depth gradually disappeared, and prejudice persisted.

Meanwhile, a major event struck, completely changing her life: in 2000, Duong Tu Man found out that she had breast cancer. This is a big shock for an actress who was once famous for her body and beauty.

Faced with a dangerous disease, Duong Tu Man was faced with a life-and-death choice. The decision to remove the mammary gland for treatment was an extremely courageous and painful step both physically and mentally. The surgery was successful, but she knew full well that her body, which had made her "brand" and brought her reputation, could not return to what it used to be.

After that war, Duong Tu Man gradually withdrew from the entertainment industry. From the sought-after "queen of 18 movies", she returned to a more idyllic life, working as the owner of a noodle shop in Taiwan. Her life is no longer flashy, no more spotlights or accolades, but full of simplicity and peace rarely seen among artists. This is a testament to the courage to let go and seek the true value of happiness.

Simple happiness and extraordinary life bravery

At that small restaurant, Duong Tu Man met and bonded with Arumi – a gentle and quiet Japanese businessman. He was always by her side, becoming a solid fulcrum after her health incident. They don't get married stalking, don't show off their affection, each live in the same place (it is reported that Arumi is still in Japan to run the business, while Yang Tu Man is in Taiwan) but keep a strong, warm and understanding relationship. This love affair shows a different side of happiness, without the need for rituals or noisy recognition from the outside.

Her rare later appearance was in an independent movie called "Ai My Le Cuong Tuong Khuc". After that, she completely disappeared from the media, did not reappear, did not accept invitations to act in movies or participate in TV shows. While many "movie goddess 18" at the same time tried to find ways to keep the aura at all costs, accepting small roles or appearing in flashes, Duong Tu Man chose to let go decisively.

That choice of Yang Tu Man was not a failure or a downfall. On the contrary, it shows an extraordinary bravery to live. She dared to leave when she was at the peak of her fame, dared to start over with a new identity – an ordinary woman, economically self-sufficient with her noodle shop – and sought happiness from the simplest and most authentic things.

There are no more dazzling spotlights, no more praise or scrutiny from the public, but it is Duong Tu Man who is the "winner" in an industry that is inherently cruel and shameless. Her life is an inspiring story of courage, energy, and finding true peace, transcending prejudice and vanity aura.

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