Thai actors Mile Phakphum and Apo Nattawin, together with their colleagues Son Yuke and Euro Yotsawat, greeted their European fans for the very first time last Sunday in Rome during the Shine The Series Fan Meeting.
The event offered fans who came from various European countries a packed programme, during which the actors shared their impressions of the Italian capital, they spoke about its cuisine and how they enjoyed the atmosphere. They also reflected on what the series means to them personally, talked about the roles they miss the most, took part in funny games and tried to speak Italian. In addition, the actors themselves performed some of the series’ OST songs live which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us.
If you’re a fan of Shine The Series, you’ll be probably happy to hear that we had the opportunity to interview the cast. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the actors themselves, as well as to Be On Cloud company and Jus in Bello, for making this interview possible.
Shine The series has touched the hearts of countless viewers around the world, including many fans in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We are delighted to share their thoughts, experiences, and personal insights, allowing fans to get to know the talented actors beyond their on-screen roles. The actors spoke about how they approach their characters, the challenges they faced during filming, and the types of projects they would like to pursue in the future.
Your incredible performances brought not only beautiful storytelling, but also sincerity, genuineness and warmth that your fans genuinely connected with. Many people have shared online how much the series meant to them (we are one of them, we can watch it forever, it is our comfy BL!). When you first read the script for the Shine, what was your very first emotional reaction to your character? When was the moment you told yourself, “I have to portray this character”?
Mile: I felt the natural state of the human heart and the various forms of freedom within Thanwa. He is a character with multiple dimensions — both in what is explicitly written in the script and in what we, as actors, can fill in and grow alongside. This was the interesting point that made me want to help Thanwa grow to his fullest potential, allowing the audience to see his charm and naturalness.
Apo: Honestly, when I first read this script, I have to say that all characters were selected by the director. The director and the writers helped write this script, and they thought this person suited this character, and that person suited that character. It means everyone was already placed. On the day we did the read-through, the reason everyone was placed was because the director felt these characters fit the script. When we read through it, I kept telling myself that the script is incredibly good! “The script is so good!” I kept repeating that to myself. I felt glad to act in this series because it drew inspiration from real things that happen in society, globally. Society dictates things must be a certain way, but actually, people say, “Hey, I want the freedom to make my own decisions.” It happens in every era. And oh, to add, it happens in every era and I’m very glad that it fulfills or brings comfort to many people.
The series is set in a historical, politically tense environment, where the love of the two main couples is forbidden, yet it beautifully develops against the backdrop of social conflict. Was there a particular scene that challenged you emotionally or physically more than you expected?
Mile: There was, but it wasn’t a romance scene. It was a scene where Thanwa grieves over the things he suppressed, pressing down on the deep wounds in his heart until he shatters — the scene where he gets intoxicated and breaks down. The challenge in acting was the time constraints and the limited number of takes allowed; we basically had one take per shot. Finding the balance of what was happening in that exact moment was challenging, but I was very happy to perform it. It wasn’t unexpectedly challenging, though, because once you enter a Flow State, everything just comes out naturally. I have to thank the crew for their understanding; I believe they gave all the actors the space and time to fully create their work.
Apo: Every scene where Trin has to be with himself, deciding whether to move forward with Thanwa or to stop. This was very challenging because I think it’s something inherent in every human being — how I will decide the path of my life in each dilemma. Because everyone has to make life choices anyway. Like, “What will I choose for this shot in my life?” which Trin also faces: “What will I choose? Will I move forward or will I stop?” It was challenging. Even in our real lives, every time we make a decision, it’s a huge deal.
Did you think that a series with such a challenging story, rooted in one country’s history, could also achieve such a big success internationally?
Mile: I did think about it. From my perspective, success isn’t primarily about being known on a massive scale. It’s about people being able to access it, feel a shared connection, and absorb the message we are sending — which then brings something positive to the life of someone who took the time to be friends with this story, Shine The Series.
Apo: I think this connects globally because it’s a story or problem that occurs worldwide. Societies everywhere on earth want their people to be this, that, or the other. But ultimately, every human wants freedom — whether in life or in their minds. Everyone tries to find this freedom. I think people worldwide want to find freedom because we are all humans. Someone once told me that every creature wants freedom. Wherever they feel comfortable and happy, they will go there and do that. Some people are 50, 60, or 70 and are still searching for themselves, searching for that inner freedom. I think this connects globally. So, I didn’t think it had to be specific to the history of any one country, but we just used the inspiration of things that happened in Thailand to speak on it because we are Thai. We have a close connection and can transmit Thai culture clearly and intensely. Because I believe this is something within everyone that can connect us.
How did all of you prepare to portray such a deep but turbulent relationships between each other on screen? What’s one most memorable thing you’ve learned about each other during this project?
Mile: By listening, staying in the moment, and having empathy for the character we are acting alongside. What is memorable: every single moment that happened together throughout the story.
Apo: Actually, it wasn’t just Trin and Thanwa who learned and impressed each other. It was every character and the entire crew. And another thing that was a learning experience and impressive was the script of Chai. It connected everything in this project because everyone was fully dedicated and intentional about conveying the feelings and thoughts embedded in Chai — whether it’s the imagery, sound, music, characters, or acting. We wanted people worldwide to connect with it. Humans have things they must do and things they want to do. How do we move forward without losing our identity? Ultimately, we have to choose. We have to make decisions every second. Like waking up in the morning, we have to choose whether to shower or go back to sleep. It must be chosen constantly. It made every moment of shooting Chai impressive because all the characters are constantly having to make choices. I was impressed by it all.
Is there a behind-the-scenes moment that fans would be surprised to hear about? And who tends to break character most often on set?
Mile: What might surprise fans is the character backgrounds that I, along with many other actors, built up to add reflective depth to our performances. We created foundational thoughts, backgrounds, and even their beloved personal items. For example, I chose to bring in an original Gibson SG from that era (1966) to paint. We used backgrounds that actors could implement — like the influence of Psychedelic hippie fashion, music, and trends regarding freedom of thought, as well as the influence of Thanwa’s mother being a writer, which directly impacted him. These small details gave the character so much depth. I never saw anyone break character or laugh during a take on this project. Everyone I worked with was incredibly dedicated and highly talented.
Apo: Honestly, there was almost none. Very little. Because everyone was focused and the characters had so many stories in their minds. Everyone did their job fully at those times.
When people watch Shine, what feelings or messages do you hope resonate with them?
Mile: “Love has no definition, just like freedom that shouldn’t be confined by boundaries.”
Apo: For me, it would be Trin. Because I’m a storyteller. From the beginning, while people were happy, there was another side of the moon where people were still fighting for their lives. Or even at the end, regardless of what happens, we must believe and stay firm in what we want, and we choose that path. Ultimately, we just have to trust our instinct that it won’t hurt anyone, and it’s what we want. I believe everything is possible. Every single thing is possible.
Shine The Series had a fan meet in Rome this May, and many European fans were excited to see all of you in person. For those who couldn’t attend fan meet in Thailand, this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How did you feel about meeting your European fans?
Mile: Every time I meet fans, and European fans in particular, they have a unique energy and cuteness. No matter the event, I always feel warm and safe, even when I’m so far from home. As for my expectations, it’s about the Give & Take of happiness during our meeting. I’m confident it will be another happy moment that I won’t forget.
Apo: I’m very glad to meet the fans in Rome since I’ve never traveled to Rome before. This was the first time. I’m glad they gave us such a warm welcome and prepared so well. They could sing “Chai” and any other songs along with us perfectly. They were cheering for us, full of positive and energetic vibes. It made us very happy seeing them happy.
Have you ever been to Rome before? More broadly, what are your impressions of Europe? Is there a country or place here that you would love to explore in the future?
Mile: I have been there; this will be my third time visiting Rome. I am impressed by the art, culture, and the loveliness of the European and Italian people. If I had the chance to travel and choose myself, I’d love to visit the various islands in Italy and Europe. I’ve been to Capri before, and I remember it being incredibly beautiful — it really recharged my energy. 🙂
Apo: I had never been to Rome, this was my first time. I was very happy and glad to come because it’s much more beautiful than in the pictures or what people say. Seeing it with my own eyes, it’s truly grand and beautiful everywhere. The weather was good. It’s just great and I want to visit again. And if there’s any country in Europe I’d like to visit in the future, I’d want to go all over Italy. Because I feel Italy is one of the cities I like or something like that.
If you were to make a Thai version of a world-famous story or movie, which one would it be and why?
Mile: I would love to act in a remake of Face-Off. It’s a story that looks fun and would heavily challenge acting skills. Most importantly, the message in the story shows what can happen stemming from the human mind—both its absolute best and worst sides
Apo: I want to do Jurassic Park in a Thai version. Because I feel it’s a plot, a script that the whole family can watch together. It’s a warm story, fun, exciting, and inspiring too. It feels good. And I feel like there are a lot of forests in Thailand too, so I want dinosaurs running around in them.
You’re all such incredible actors, what are your plans for the future? Do you have any acting dreams or projects you’d love to do?
Mile: Thank you for the compliment. For me, I want to take on challenging roles that deliver a good message to the audience and society. Also, doing KinnPorsche The Series again. It’s the project that brought so many of us together; it would bring me a lot of happiness to have a reunion there once more.
Apo: In the future, I’d like to try being a director if I have the time. And there are movies and series coming up to shoot, which will be interesting new roles. Stage plays are also something I’m interested in. And in the future, I actually want to work with an Italian production too. Because every city and nationality has a different persona or character. And Italians are a nationality I feel would be great to work with because they have this coolness, style, and sexiness. So I feel it’s very interesting.
Source: Interview with Mile Phakphum & Apo Nattawin, Be on Cloud, Jus in Bello
