Gentleman James

Hot star lights up the screen

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Jirayu Tangsrisuk (James) became a national heart-throb when he played the part of surgeon M.R. Puttipat, a character who was wealthy but gentle and unconcerned with social stratification, in the period drama Supap Buruth Jutathep (Gentleman from the Jutathep Family).

Since then, James’ star has continued to rise, with his name appearing in local gossip columns on an almost daily basis.

Student Weekly recently met up with the 19-year-old actor at the Bangkok Post building. It was a chaotic day, with female staff in the building unable to concentrate on their work. James was friendly and energetic as he told us about his interest in music and his upcoming soap opera, Rak Sood Rith (Extreme Love).

Student Weekly: Is it true that you used to play bass in a band?

James: Yes. A friend played guitar at school and I thought it was cool, so we started playing together. When we decided to form a band, I started playing bass instead of guitar.

Student Weekly: How did you feel when you performed onstage with the band?

James: My first performance was at school in front of 50 or 60 people. It felt cool being onstage. Some of the students sang and danced along with us. It was fun!

Student Weekly: You once made to the semi-finals at a national dance championship. Why did you decide to give up dancing?

James: I learned Latin and ballroom dancing because my dad thought it would help me with socialising. After I studied for awhile, an instructor asked me to take part in a national competition. But I eventually became more interest in playing music, so I quit dancing.

Student Weekly: How did you become interested in showbiz?

James: My mom runs a boutique, and she watches a lot of TV while working. She wanted to see her son on TV, so she supported my plan to work in showbiz. When my manager found me, I was about to study at a university in Bangkok, so it was a good time to start my acting career.

Student Weekly: Did your experience working on the film Where is Love help you when you acted in Supap Buruth Jutathep?

James: No. In Where is Love, all the actors were new. There were no celebrities in that film. But Supap Buruth Jutathep was a big production. I felt a lot of pressure at first, especially during the first day filming. I’m a country boy from Phichit province, so I was very nervous working with celebrities. I kept forgetting my lines!

Student Weekly: How do you feel about people saying that you made Korean series fans become interested in Thai dramas again?

James: It sounds funny, but I’m also a fan of Khun Chai Puttipat. [Laughs.] My real personality is very different to that character. When I saw the show on TV, I almost believed that he was a real doctor.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us anything about your upcoming drama, Extreme Love?

James: I play a bad boy who comes from a broken home. He’s actually fragile, but he covers up his weaknesses by acting tough and aggressive. I had to work hard to understand why the character reacts the way he does to certain situations.

Student Weekly: What was it like working with Punch Worakarn?

James: I was thrilled to work with her. She’s very friendly and we get along well. She even taught me some singing techniques on the set.

Student Weekly: What’s your main goal for the future?

James: I just want to be a good actor. I’m happy when people call me Khun Chai Mor, because it means that I made them believe I was a real doctor on TV. Over the next few years, I want to prove that I’ve become a better actor. I hope that people continue to support me.

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