People's Artist Tra Giang - A movie star once and the pain of losing her husband, leaving her children, living alone in her late afternoon

Possessing a beautiful smile and talking eyes, People's Artist Tra Giang has been considered a symbol of Vietnamese beauty for decades. Although she is a famous female artist, she keeps her life peaceful and simple.

Famous beauty of Vietnamese cinema for a while

People's Artist Tra Giang, whose real name is Nguyen Thi Tra Giang, was born in 1942 in Quang Ngai, one of the first generation actors of the Revolutionary Cinema of Vietnam.

People's Artist Tra Giang's father is Meritorious Artist Nguyen Van Khanh. At the age of 12, People's Artist Tra Giang followed his parents to gather in the North.

In childhood, the life of Tra Giang's family was very difficult. Growing up during the war, she often had to evacuate with her parents. When the group of artists and women's fathers was disbanded, the union staff no longer performed art shows, but had to return to increase production. They had to eat porridge with bananas instead of rice. Because of that, Giang was also hungry, following the hardships and difficulties of the whole group.

Born in a family with artistic traditions, People's Artist Tra Giang soon revealed the qualities of an artist.

In 1959, she passed the entrance exam to dance school. However, Tra Giang's path to dance was soon stopped when Meritorious Artist Nguyen Van Khanh told his daughter: "You have a beautiful face, why don't you try to be an actor?".

On that occasion, the Ministry of Culture held an audition to recruit actors for the first course of the Film School. The enrollment is directly in charge of foreign experts. It was Meritorious Artist Nguyen Van Khanh who took pictures of his own daughter, sent photos and helped Tra Giang register for the contest.

The cinematic face with the talking eyes of People's Artist Tra Giang helped her pass the entrance exam, becoming the first actor class of the Film School, the same class as Minh Duc, Thuy Van, Kim Chi... .

Becoming the first generation of actors in Vietnam's cinema, despite suffering many disadvantages and lack of facilities and learning conditions, the female artist and her classmates are always appreciated by experts. Foreigners come to Vietnam to guide and teach in a dedicated and methodical manner on acting skills.

Her first role was a supporting role in the film A Phu Couple. Later, she gradually asserted her name with a series of lifetime roles such as Sister Tu Hau, 17 Days and Nights, Hanoi Baby...

Notably, many famous films helped the female artist win many domestic and international awards such as: Sister Tu Hau (silver medal at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1963), 17th Parallel of Days and Night (as Tender) , won the best actress award at the 1973 Moscow International Film Festival).

That makes until now, People's Artist Tra Giang is still remembered as a star of Vietnamese cinema. Sharing about this nickname, the female artist confided in an interview with VTCNews:

"I have never dared to claim to be a star, although there were times when foreign media called me "Vietnamese cinema legend".

At the time when I received the Best Actress award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1973, a journalist wrote about me and called me a star. In one meeting, I said: "You help me, but call me a star, I'm too shy".

I say these words very sincerely, without the slightest bit of pomp. Our generation on the first day of the acting profession was taught very carefully by the teachers. Teachers always say that acting is a special job, but actors, like other workers, have to put in hard work and work seriously to get results.

I think the word "star" suits Western actors better. As for me, please just call me actress Tra Giang. Just being called that, I feel very happy."

Since 1989, artist Tra Giang has gradually disappeared from the screen. However, she explained that she never intended to retire as the audience thought, but due to the incident that happened while filming the movie about Son My, and the change in the film market, she did not accept the invitation to participate in the film. new.

"During this period, the country is also undergoing many changes. The economic model is shifting from subsidies to the market. War movies are no longer as popular as they used to be. Filmmakers are turning to making movies. video films. There are many directors who invite me to act in their films, but I kept waiting to find the right role before accepting. I kept waiting until today," she said.

Currently, although she is no longer acting, the female artist still maintains her passion for art by painting. She said, although not in front of the camera lens, she always accompanies her colleagues in the activities of the Cinema Association.

The love affair with the only man in life

Like many characters in the movie, in real life, People's Artist Tra Giang is a kind and gentle woman. Although she is a famous person, she always keeps her simple and peaceful life. All her life, she had only one love, faithful and brilliant with her husband, the late Professor, Music Doctor Nguyen Bich Ngoc.

Tra Giang confided in the past, her father always wanted his daughter to marry a Southerner to return to Saigon. He often appeared happy when he saw the Southern guys coming to the house. But then Tra Giang met artist Nguyen Bich Ngoc through his brother - writer Nguyen Thanh Long. From there, they developed feelings and officially got to know each other.

When it comes to her late husband, People's Artist Tra Giang gives much love and admiration. In the eyes of the female artist, her husband is a person with a strong will, always understanding and empathizing with his wife.

Sharing with Dan Tri, People's Artist Tra Giang confided: "Brother Bich Ngoc is the only love in my life. My husband's care and concern for me during the days of filming, sleeping, peeling oranges. , made a glass of milk and taught me how to row a basket for a movie ... still intact in my memory. He was my first and last love in my life."

In 1999, artist Bich Ngoc suddenly died of illness, leaving People's Artist Tra Giang in unrelenting pain. After her husband passed away, she no longer walks, but lives alone until now.

It is known that artist Tra Giang and her husband have a daughter named Bich Tra, also following her father's musical career. From the age of 14, Bich Tra went to Russia to study and is currently a famous pianist abroad.

Life alone at the age of 80

Currently, People's Artist Tra Giang has turned 80. She currently lives alone and takes care of herself. Tra Giang's daughter, although far away, always accompanies her, in addition, she also has close friends.

In everyday life, People's Artist Tra Giang spends most of her time painting, because painting helps her not to feel lonely. "I consider myself a happy person because I always find what I love and devote myself to it. Before, how much I put my love, passion and effort into cinema, now I also find joy. and passion for drawing," she confided.