Last week, Time out attended the yearly Academy Awards Ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw, an event that had many surprises in store. Yet nobody was too surprised when comedian Moe Di, who has been making people laugh for more than 45 years, won his Best Supporting Actor award since most people believed he deserved it.

With the dust now settled from the event, Time out visited Moe Di at his home to share in his excitement.

Time out: Congratulations, U Moe Di! You look very happy.
Moe Di: I can’t express how happy I am.

You won the award for role in a drama. How difficult was it for a comedian like you to act in this kind of role?

It was really difficult. Your acting must be natural and it shouldn’t look like you’re pretending. Even for the actors and actresses, drama is very difficult. For us comedians, people are used to seeing us as laugh and whatever we do they think it’s funny. So, sometimes, it’s really really difficult to make the audience see us not as comedians while we are acting dramatic roles. Some directors leave us out of serious scenes because we might make the audience smile.

You thanked the director of the film for this in your acceptance speech?

Yeah, he could have selected another supporting actor and there are many great ones. But why me, a comedian? If he hadn’t have given me the chance to act, I wouldn’t have got the award, which people in the movie industry value. I’m really grateful that he believed in my performances.

In 2006, you were also nominated for the film “Academy Pyone Cho Gyi” (Mr Sweet Smile) but you missed out. How did you feel this year when you heard that people expected you to win?

I was happy but I didn’t dare to hope too much. Also, one of my colleagues reminded me not to believe too strongly in the predictions otherwise I might miss the award! But, on the day in Nay Pyi Taw, I was secretly excited.

When you knew you are the winner…

When my name was announced, I forgot all my relatives, my friends and everything. So, when my son grabbed my arms and shouted ‘Dad!’, I was unconscious for a while and forgot who he was. The award is long awaited and is a milestone in my acting career. I can’t express how happy I am now.

So what inspired you in the role of Ba Phoe Thein, a father of a mischievous son and an unlucky daughter?

The main reason was my family. I’m a father of four sons and each of them is a great inspiration for me. We all live together in the same house. Having such great sons, I can perform well and express totally my parental love in the film.

We noticed how much you value your family.

Yeah, family is very important for me. When I first became a comedian, I had to visit many places to perform at mobile theaters. Every year, my schedule was full with trips and I had little time to spend with the family. I love being at home with my family.

How would you encourage newcomers in comedy?

We comedians entertain and make people happy with our sense of humour. Sometimes, we also face situations where people don’t laugh even though we say or do funny things. Comedy is important so too drama.