" From the beginning, I have always told the public that I was aware that Binh had a breakdown in his marriage and was single before we started dating," Oanh told VnExpress. "I have never used the word ‘divorce,’ though. In fact, ‘breakdown’ is a broader term. My only mistake was being too innocent and ignorant."
Last August, Oanh, 34, said that she was dating technology entrepreneur Binh, 43, after photos of the couple circulated on social media.
Actress Phuong Oanh, 34. Photo from Oanh’s Instagram |
Since then, she has faced a backlash and accusations of interfering in Binh’s marriage. Despite being separated, Binh and his wife were still legally married when the relationship began.
She said she now considers the scandal a chance for her to mature, as she learnt how to manage her emotions better.
"When the news first broke out, I couldn’t behave normally. I even feared visiting my parents. Whenever I met them, I tried to behave like nothing had happened, hoping that would help my parents not worry," she said.
Looking back at the event, Oanh expressed her gratitude to her family, Binh and her fans for supporting her, despite the fact that she’s been moody recently as a result of the public backlash.
"Binh comforted me whenever I lost my temper. I don’t know what awaits us in the future, but at this moment, I’m feeling grateful because I had the chance to meet the right person who accompanied me in overcoming hardships," she said with teary eyes.
She added that kind gestures from Binh have made her believe in love, which she had refused to do before.
She then described how she and Binh are the kind of people who focus on the present they are living rather than thinking and making promises about the future.
When asked about being called "Binh's mistress" and "taking care of Binh and his children in exchange for money," she said the accusations didn’t affect her because they were untrue.
"The only reason for us to stay together until now is love, and I have always told Binh that I don’t need him to be with me because of a feeling of responsibility or guilt. All I need is pure emotion," she said.
"People’s negative, or even toxic, opinions about me won’t change the way I take care of Binh, his family and his children. I treat them with kindness and genuineness," she added.
She cited the fact that she had been active in the entertainment industry for over 10 years and has an established career and financial stability, so she doesn’t have to rely on anyone, despite what people might have said about her.
Oanh added that though she didn’t interfere in the breakdown of Binh’s marriage, she understood public judgments of her decisions and relationship.
She then revealed that the scandal didn’t affect her career and she has still been receiving invitations to film projects and events. She’s been turning them down recently because she only wants to appear in public when she is fully prepared and can totally focus on bringing out her best performances.
However, she said she has thought of the worst-case scenario: if authorities ban her from appearing in broadcasts for "violating traditional habits and customs."
Oanh said that although she feels such a decision would be "unfair," she would still be able to accept it.
Oanh is a renowned actress, starring in several TV series. In 2018, she was nominated for the Vietnamese Golden Kite Award for Best Actress, one of the most prestigious acting awards in the country.
Binh is the founder of various tech startups, including Nexttech Group of Technopreneurs, which has been dubbed the "Alibaba of Vietnam" by Chinese media. He joined Shark Tank Vietnam as one of investors in 2019.
On Tuesday, he confirmed that he had completed his divorce.