My Chau

My Chau (1949-    ) is a famous actress of Southern Vietnamese folk opera known as cai luong.  Dubbed as Lolita My Chau, she first rose to fame in the 1960s with her alluring presence and unique ability of folk opera singing with an unusually low register.

Nguyen Thi My Chau was born on August 21, 1950 in Long An, South Vietnam.  She began her professional career as a Southern Vietnamese folk opera actress at the age of 11 when she joined the Tieng Chuong Theater Troupe.  That same year she made her stage debut in the classic cai luong play, Gia Nhan Ben Suoi Mong.  As one of South Vietnam's most promising newcomers on the cai luong stage, during the years that followed My Chau would be invited to collaborate with many different theater troupes such as Kim Chuong, Lan va Duoc (headed by Ut Bach Lan and Thanh Duoc), Thanh Cong, Kim Chung, Thu Do and as leading lady of Thu Do 2.  Among her most popular cai luong plays prior to 1975 include Trinh Nu Lau Xanh starring Huu Phuoc, Tấn Tài, Ngoc Giao and Hoang Giang, Khi Rung Moi Sang Thu starring Tan Tai, Minh Phung and Thanh Sang, Bong Hong Sa Mac starring Tan Tai, Minh Phung, Dung Thanh Lam, Kim Ngoc and Dieu Nga and To Dac Ky starring Minh Phung, Phuong Lien, Dieu Hien, Phuoc Trong and Thanh Tuan.  In 1967, My Chau along with Bao Quoc, Ngoc Bich and Phuong Binh were all honored with the Huy Chuong Vang -Thanh Tam Award, South Vietnam's equivalent to a Tony, for best cai luong actor/actress of the year.  She had also recorded numerous well-received cai luong soundtracks on audio for the Asie and Viet Nam record labels such as So Van Cuu Gia, Kiep Nao Co Yeu Nhau, Kiep Si Doi, Gio Giao Mua, Binh Ruou Nhiem Mau and Lan Hue Sau Ai.

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, My Chau's career continued to flourish starring in many successful cai luong stage productions which include Khach San Hao Hoa, Tam Su Ngoc Han, Hoa Moc Lan, Muon Dam vi Chong hoac Nang Hai Ben Nghe, Thai Hau Duong Van Nga, Ben Cau Det Lua, Tieng Trong Me Linh, Vong Cuoi Anh Trao, Hai Phuong Troi Thuong Nho, Hoa Doc Trong Vuon and Dong Song Dam Lay.  From 1990 until 1992, My Chau starred in many video adaptations of cai luong plays that had initially turned her into a star prior to 1975 such as Chieu Lanh Tuyet Bang Son, Giai Nhan va Loan (Duoc Me Hai Long), Bai Tho Tren Canh Dieu, Trang Nuoc Lac Duong Thanh and Nang Thu Ve Ngo Truoc.  She was honored by the Vietnamese government with the title of Nghe Si Uu Tu (Meritorious Artist) in 1995.  Two years later, she would announce her retirement from live performances on the cai luong stage.  In 1997, she began collaborations with several television stations and film production studios like Đài Truyền hình Cần Thơ (Can Tho Television Network), Tay Do Film Studios and HTV starring in reprisals of classic cai luong plays.  For the next 15 years, My Chau would win over the hearts of viewer audiences with her flawless performances in television and video adaptations of A Khac Thien Kieu, Doi Anh Mua La Rung, Tieu Anh Phung, Vo Tac Thien, To Vuong Sau Ly Biet, Muon Dam Vi Chong, Nguoi Yeu Cua Cha Toi and San Khau Ve Khuya.  She even ventured into a new career as television director of cai luong productions working with a slew of veteran Southern Vietnamese folk opera performers such as Minh Phung, Minh Vuong, Bao Quoc, Van Chung, Hong Nga and Ut Bach Lan and contemporary newcomers such as Kim Tu Long, Thoai My, Tuyet Ngan, Kim Tieu Long, Ngan Hue, Vu Luan and Bao Chung.  My Chau went into full retirement in 2012.  

Duc Minh and My Chau

In 1990, at the age of 40, My Chau married for the first time to fellow performer Duc Minh.  In 2002, she left Vietnam for the United States resettling outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband.  On January 14, 2014, My Chau lost her husband of over 20 years to cancer.  She has no children.  My Chau and fellow veteran Cai Luong performer, Minh Canh, share a website together that is visited by their many fans throughout the world.

Link(s):

MinhCanh-MyChau.com