Momma's little boy

Giant actor has plenty of room for mum in his heart

Story by Nuttaya Muneerat
Photographs by Paniti Boonma

He may weigh in at 170 kilogrammes and stand a towering 210 centimetres tall, but to Akkradech Rodwinij's  (Yokeyake Churnyim) mother he is still momma's little boy.

The 23-year-old comedian and actor never does anything without first thinking of his mum, Yaowanee Rodwinij. And Yaowanee has always been right there helping Yokeyake with his career, and more importantly, make it through life as a giant among men. "I always told him that being different doesn't mean he can't do good things like the other people," Yaowanee said. "A person's value depends on the way they act, not the way they look."

And if his successful career and his love for his mother are any indication, then Yokeyake is one heck of a valuable guy.

A very big boy

When Yaowanee was pregnant with her son, she had no idea that her baby would be different than other kids. Her health was fine and her first child was regular sized. And even after Yokeyake was born, people thought nothing of his size at the time.

"When Yokeyake was born he weighed 4.5 kilogrammes," Yaowanee said. "He just looked chubby, like any other fat kid. No one thought that he was strange at all."

He did get the nickname Yui, or fat kid, but other than that things were normal. "My mother told me that because I was fat, many baby-sitters volunteered to look after me. I guess they liked me," Yokeyake recalled. "Our neighbors would take me to their homes and give me food and treats."

But then Yokeyake started growing, and growing and growing. Soon his mother became worried and took Yokeyake to Bangkok to see a doctor. After days of tests, doctors informed Yaowanee that her son's pituitary gland was larger than normal and that was why her son was so big. But the doctor said not to worry about it because Yokeyake was healthy.

School days

And indeed Yokeyake was healthy, made friends and went on to school. Of course other kids teased him at times, calling him "elephant," "big ears" and "giant," but it never got out of hand.

And even though he was bigger than all the other kids, Yokeyake listened to his mother and never used his size to bully or intimidate other kids. "I taught what a mother should teach her children," Yaowanee explained. "I taught him to be a good boy."

In fact, Yokeyake was scared of the school bully just like his smaller friends. "I don't know why I was scared of him, but most students feared him, so I guess I dreaded him too," Yokeyake said.

Career man

After Yokeyake got his big break with a role on a Channel 3 comedy show at the age of 20, things have been much busier for him.

And also for his mum, who always worries about him now that he isn't at home all the time. "I am afraid that he won't take good enough care of himself, or that he'll be too tried from working, or that he'll get an accident when he drives and other things," Yaowanee said. "I believe that all mothers aren't happy when their child is far from them."

But despite his busy schedule, Yokeyake still tries to find time for his mum. "Whenever I have time, I bring her to go shopping and eat delicious food together." Yokeyake said. "But, if I have just a little time, I often buy something, such as fruit, for her and we�ll spend our time chatting and staying together."

Making mum proud

And Yokeyake hopes that all he is doing is making his mother proud of him.

"I think both my father and mother might be proud that I got the big chance to work in the entertainment business," Yokeyake said. "I can now be responsible for myself. They don't have to send me money and I can now afford to help them."

His mum should also be proud of the time he got to meet Her Royal Highness Princess Bhajrakityabha at a gala dinner, Yokeyake said. "It was my great day since she gave some guests, including me, a pin with her abbreviated name," he recalled. "I also took a photo with her and I keep that picture at my home."

But Yokeyake should know better. It doesn't take money or royalty to impress one's own mother. Yaowanee said it isn't any one thing that makes her proud of her son - she is proud of everything he does. "The best thing is that he has never forgotten his parents, even though he has become famous," Yaowanee said. "He is always our nice kid."

Vocabulary

towering (adj): extremely tall or high and therefore impressive
indication (n): remark or sign
volunteer (v): to offer to do something without being forced to do it or without getting paid for it
pituitary gland (n): a small organ at the base of the brain that produces hormones that influence growth and sexual development
intimidate (v): to frighten or threaten somebody so that they will do what you want
abbreviated (adj): a word, phrase or name made shorter by leaving out letters or using only the first letter of each word