Prince, a loud and proud celebrity at the top of the entertainment industry in the 21st century, has his world turned upside down when he wakes up in the past as a good-looking, closeted nobleman in the Thongburi Kingdom – thus unfolds the story of the new Thai series I’m The Most Beautiful Count, starring Nut Supanut Lourhaphanich and Ping Orbnithi Leelavetchabutr in the lead roles. In conversation with Earmilk, the pair dive into their new show, acting together and their chemistry, their deep love for their fans, future plans and much more.
With comedic touches alongside a message of self-discovery unveiled in the trailer, the series has Nut front and centre playing not only Prince – a fierce and sassy idol who is unapologetically himself and shaped by the social pressures faced by the LGBTQ+ community – but also essaying the role of Khun Woradet, the gentle and well-mannered son of the ruler of Singhanakorn. Meanwhile, Ping plays a loyal love interest to perfection as he embodies the role of Mom Kosol, the skilled and tough but exiled eldest son of the former king.
Speaking of his role, Nut says, “I prepared a lot! Prince is quite challenging—his energy, brightness, and confident queen's mindset are even more intense than my own. So I took extra acting classes to prepare.” In contrast to the confident Queen B persona of Prince, Nut describes Woradet as “constrained by his conservative father, often bullied and emotionally repressed.”
One would assume that playing two contrasting characters would be a challenge for any actor. For Nut, such challenges seem to be an exercise in determination and playing both characters at the same time, not only presented an opportunity to give his all to the project, but also resulted in his favourite scene. He says, “A scene that really stands out is the one where I had to play Prince and Woradet in the same scene. It was both challenging and fun. Also, the locations where these two meet are very interesting—I encourage fans to watch closely for some hidden hints.”
Meanwhile, for Ping, the role of Kosol was challenging in the best of ways. Playing someone with a steadfast ambition to change the country alongside a deep belief in true love stretched his physical, emotional, and professional capabilities to the max. He reflects on his experience, “I had to push myself in every area. From gaining 10 kilograms and combat training to performing both action and love scenes, I had to do it all.” Of course, these challenges came with equal rewards, as he looks back proudly on his horse-riding and sword-fighting scenes, saying, “ I felt cool and strong in it. But honestly, credit goes to the director for making it look so good.”
As much as they shine in their individual roles, the pair’s chemistry is undoubtedly part of the show’s allure. Having already gained a solid fanbase from their previous collaboration as a pair, Ping and Nut’s second foray as an acting pair is steeped in what Ping describes as a “very natural, warm, and gentle” chemistry. Building on the love they’ve already gotten as a pair, Nut also sees this as an opportunity to showcase the dynamics in a fresh setting.
In addition to chemistry, the pair flourish from their openness to learn from each other at every step. For the more experienced Nut who describes acting as “ understanding human lives,” working together has fostered a better understanding of each other, both personally and as their characters. Ping adds, “I’ve learned a lot from Nut. He has a solid foundation and great acting skills. I’m still fairly new, so I’m lucky that Nut is always willing to help and support me. And of course, I do my best to support him too.”
While constantly motivating each other to do better in their acting journey, they also draw inspiration from other sources. Speaking of who inspires them, Ping says, “In Thailand, I admire Nadech Kugimiya. He’s handsome, cool, and a great actor. In real life, he’s also disciplined and kind. He’s a perfect role model for today’s generation of actors. Internationally, I’d say Robert Downey Jr.—his life story and transformation are really inspiring,” with Nut adding, “There are so many actors I admire, but my biggest source of inspiration is the fans—that’s what keeps me going in this career.”
And the fans really do seem to hold a very special place in both their hearts. Whether it's their endearing excitement at the love they get from audiences in countries like Brazil or their hope to have overseas fan meetings and engage with fans in different parts of the world at some point, the fans keep coming up as a topic of conversation throughout our interview.
So, it's no surprise that when asked about what they'd like to achieve in the future, it's the fans that form the core of their dreams. They do have acting goals, with Ping in particular – as a former badminton athlete – wanting to try a sports role or star along with Nut in a mafia-themed drama. But they are more than content as long as they receive love from fans. Nut says, “I don’t have any concrete plans yet. It depends on how much the fans like our work. If possible, I’d love to meet fans in many different places and personally thank them for their love and support,” with Ping adding, “As an actor, my hope is simply that viewers will connect with and love my character. That alone would make me very happy.”
Two actors who have taken vastly different paths to the current moment – with Nut’s “roller coaster” journey of varied opportunities meeting Ping’s slow and steady growth – and together they seem poised to create magic on our screens.
Delivering a love story, wrapped up in layers of humour and an empowering reminder to embrace our true selves, I’m The Most Beautiful Count – which also stars Pop Pataraphol Wanlopsiri, Lee Asre Watthanayakul, Aton Thanakorn Techawicha and Belle Jiratchaya Kittavornsakul – premiered on August 1 and will air every Friday. Watch the first episode here.
Connect with Nut Supanut : Instagram | Connect with Ping Orbnithi : Instagram
