To this day, despite nearly four decades passing since its release in 1986, the film *Journey to the West* remains an iconic classic in the hearts of viewers. The production faced challenges such as limited budgets, yet director Duong Khiet and his crew managed to create a version of *Journey to the West* that is still cherished.
Due to budget constraints, some actors had to forgo their salaries, while one actress was indeed paid the highest salary ever for a role that lasted only three minutes. This payment was higher than that of the main actor, Luc Tieu Linh Dong, who played the role of Ton Ngo Khong.
In *Journey to the West* 1986, actress Mã Lan (born 1962) portrayed the character Ản Ôn Kiá»u, a beautiful woman known for her stunning looks. She teamed up with director Tráng Nguyên and traveled to Giang Châu for the role. Unfortunately, during the shoot, she was involved in a serious car accident. Later, she gave birth to a son named Trần Huyá»n Trang, who is famously known as ÄÆ°á»ng Tăng.
During the audition process, Mã Lan was captivated by the blue eyes of director Dương Khiet. In the late 1980s, Mã Lan was a leading actress in Chinese theater. At just 20 years old, she had already established herself as a top national actress.
Moreover, Mã Lan also received numerous prestigious awards. In 1986, she was awarded the Hoa Mai Prize, the highest honor for actresses at that time. In 1988, Mã Lan received the award for Best Actress at the Kim Ưng and Phi Thiên Awards, among others.
However, when Mã Lan appeared on screen, it became clear to everyone why director Lương Khiết was determined to cast her. Just in moments where she stood on high ground, her beauty radiated, captivating everyone without needing any dialogue; the actress left a lasting impression with her portrayal of a character from a beloved literary work.
Specifically, the scene of Ản Ôn Kiá»u was particularly emotional, requiring her to portray the sorrow of a mother desperate to save her child, which moved many viewers to tears. Without any dramatic music or dialogue, Mã Lan’s performance conveyed the depth of a mother’s love and desperation with a mere gaze and a trembling hand as if trying to hold on to something precious.
Currently, the actress is 62 years old and happily living with her husband, who is over 16 years her senior. Her husband is DÆ° Thu VÅ© – a renowned lawyer, cultural researcher, writer, and professor at the Xinjiang University of Arts.
In 2007, Mã Lan received the Lincoln Center Arts Award in New York, where she was honored for her outstanding contributions to the arts in Asia. Besides acting, she also participates in teaching and is a professor at the University of Traditional Arts in Shanghai.
