Spirited star

Pim takes on new roles

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos courtesy of Channel 7

Pimprapa Tangprabhaporn (Pim) has been an award-winning actress since the age of 11. In 2007, the young actress tried her hand at singing by joining the girl group Chilli White Choc, and later the group SWEE:D in 2010.

When her contract with the Kamikaze label expired, Pim put her showbiz career on hold to focus on her studies at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture. She then went back to acting in 2013.

After a few supporting roles, the 22-year-old actress starred in Channel 7’s dramatic TV series, Budsaba Ta Ruea, whose final episode aired at the end of April. Pim is currently working on three TV series — the comedy Mon Rak Pleng Pee Bok (Look Tung Spirit Singer), the romantic comedy Koo Prab Cha Bab Hua Jai (Opposite Match), and the classic drama Baan Sai Thong (Sai Thong Mension).

Student Weekly recently caught up with Pim on the phone. The young star enthusiastically told us all about her acting work.

Student Weekly: Why did you decide to go back to acting?

Pim: I became a singer because I had an opportunity to do it after passing an audition. But acting is what I’ve loved most since I was a kid. It’s challenging interpreting and getting to know each different character.

Student Weekly: How have you developed your acting skills?

Pim: The more I work on dramas, the more my skills develop. I empty my mind on the set. When an actor directs emotions or dialogue to me, I react to it naturally. I don’t have to force myself to cry in a sad scene. My tears come effortlessly.

Student Weekly: Were you nervous when you returned to dramas after a break of several years?

Pim: Yes. I was really tense and forgot my lines during my first scene! I felt under pressure because I had to act with professionals like Tle Tawan and Cheer Thikamporn. But they were very nice. They gave me advice and support, so I made it through.

Student Weekly: Which was the most difficult when you worked on four TV series at the same time?

Pim: Budsaba Ta Ruea. My character, Budsaba, had a complicated background. Her father left before she was born, and her mother was a prostitute living with a stepfather who sexually harasses her. I had nothing in common with the character, so I had to imagine that kind of environment and how Budsaba would behave.

Student Weekly: Did you enjoy acting as a seller at a fish market?

Pim: Yes. I felt like I was a real fish seller. When I went home, my dad said that I smelled fishy! [Laughs.] I had to spend all day at a fish market, where I learned how to cut fish heads and remove the scales. I enjoyed it.

Student Weekly: How did you prepare for the action scenes in Budsaba Ta Ruea?

Pim: I took boxing classes, so I knew the right poses and how to kick. It was fun. I now go to boxing class three days a week to exercise and to help control my weight.

Student Weekly: How do you feel to have a part in Sai Thong Mension?

Pim: I feel honoured and thankful to the executives for letting me be a part of this classic drama, which is a large-scale production. My character Ying Oam is a wealthy student who tries to help the leading character, Potjaman.

Student Weekly: What’s it like singing in Look Tung Spirit Singer?

Pim: I always admire look tung singers because the genre requires a lot of difficult techniques. When I heard veteran singers like Ae Chaiya, Roong Suriya and Katariya Marasri perform on the set, I sometimes had goose bumps because they sang so beautifully. Before singing, I had to practise and listen to a lot of look tung songs. I felt great when I was able to sing look tung. It took my singing skills to another level.

Student Weekly: Do you miss singing?

Pim: Yes. My fans also want me to be a singer, but I’m not going to release an album while I’m working as an actress. I’m glad that I have an opportunity to work on a drama that allows me to sing for my fans.

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