TEEN DREAM...Barely 18 and with a leading role against Hollywood veteran Kevin Bacon already on her list of accomplishments, here’s a young Thai actress who’s tipped for even bigger things…Richard Mcleish
The notion of the child star has become acultural cliche but all celebrities have their origins, humble or otherwise. Jirantanin ‘Guzjung’ Pitakporntrakul is a newcomer on the big-screen scene who came to prominence in last year’s Elephant White feature film, which grabbed local headlines when veteran Hollywood player Kevin Bacon came on board the project. She landed the lead female role and launched a movie career that stands on a precipitous juncture of chance, talent and fair wind. But Guzjung gets plenty more than Warhol’s 15 minutes of screen fame in Elephant White, so perhaps a star has been born.
The youthful actress graced us in the cosy surrounds of Italian eatery Grossi at InterContinental Bangkok. Her entourage consisted of her best friend, shopping buddy and general partner in crime – her mum. She spoke in clean, articulate English, and translated freely for her mum, who was consulted many times.
“I wanted to become an actress since I was three or four years old,” she said in her bubbly tone over an orange juice. She realized language would be an integral part of her career and learned English at Ekamai International School, which prepared her for her first feature.
Elephant White was shot entirely in English, which proved a challenge for Guzjung. “It was fun but it was my first movie and quite hard because I needed to speak English, so I practised with my acting coach a lot. Acting is already difficult, but it becomes even harder if I have to speak English.” Directed by the man behind Ong Bak and Chocolate, Prachya Pinkaew, the film tells the story of a mercenary hired to take out a gang of Thai sex traffickers by a father whose daughter – Guzung’s character – has been kidnapped.
Guzjung spoke highly of Kevin Bacon, her co-star of Elephant White. At such a tender age, role models can be integral to navigating the streets of Hollywood successfully. “Kevin Bacon is very nice, not rude like some superstars,” she said. “He is like an ordinary person and was very friendly to everyone on set. For example, at lunch the crew would try to get him food, but he would tell them he can line up like everyone else. Many famous people have people to take care of them but he says he can look after himself. I want to be like that.”
Movies for her are the ultimate career path, she said. Off the back of Elephant White, she went on to a larger-budget feature. “Trade of Innocents [starring Mira Sorvino and Dermot Mulroney], my second film, was a bigger production but I didn’t have such a big role. Everyone was so nice on set. There was less pressure because my role wasn’t that big, so people weren’t so focused on me.” The film is set for imminent release in US cinemas.
It seems that despite – or rather, because of – Guzjung’s young age, she has already fallen victim to type casting, as the film once again deals with the subject of sex trafficking on the Asian subcontinent. This time the plot revolves around a couple who, after the loss of their daughter, set out to rescue girls caught up in the sex trade.
To her credit, the movie’s director, Christopher Bassette, and American casting agents were baffled at how she managed to perfect the Vietnamese, Khmer and English accents required of her role in just two days. After one audition she was hired immediately, with the director proclaiming that casting would be complete if he could only find five more of her in different ages. Unbeknown to Guzjung at the time, it later transpired that she was the highest paid Thai actress on set.
So, given Guzjung’s burgeoning Hollywood credentials, who does she want to work with in front of the camera? “There are so many great people in Hollywood... I particularly want to work with Leighton Meester from Gossip Girl. She looks so mean, but so cute. Her acting is perfect.”
As to whether Guzjung’s own lifestyle matches that of a real-life Gossip Girl, she says she can’t complain. She works for cable TV as a VJ to help pay the bills, but still has plenty of time for the rest of teenage life. “I go shopping when I wake up, around lunch time. I mostly have breakfast at noon. I can be lazy…”
When she’s not shopping, working or eating, she likes to see her friends. “I’m not [officially] old enough to go out partying yet, but sometimes I go anyway, mostly to Ekamai or Thonglor, maybe once a month. I go to Tease at J-Avenue sometimes. It’s a private club that fits about 15 people. It’s chill. I don’t see my guy friends often because they don’t go shopping. So I go to a club or party to meet them.”
Although deeply entrenched in the indulgences of teendom, she showed maturity beyond her years when talking about other pursuits. “I love to make money. Anything that can make money, I will do in my free time. We have a family business that at first sold clothes on the internet. Right now we are planning to open a boutique store.”
And our time was up. So the daughtermother duo was off to Siam Paragon for some more shopping. Guzjung is living the teen dream for now. Only time will tell if the starlet’s luminosity will be more enduring than her contagious cuteness.
“I love to make money.
Anything that can make money,
I will do in my free time”
Guzjung is represented by Asia Sports and Entertainment Associates (ASEA)
(www.angelandbearproductions.com)
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Source: 2 Magazine , August 2011 Issue 58
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