THE SUN KEEPS SHINING

HE SINGS, ACTS, AND IS STUDYING FOR A PHD IN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE INCREDIBLE MEW SUPPASIT CANNOT DO?

- HAZIM ASHRAF

MEW SUPPASIT PICKED UP singing by accident. His father was a massive karaoke enthusiast and would belt into the microphone late into the evening. Unable to sleep, the newly engaged actor would join him. Together, they would sing until their hearts were content. Those balmy, music-filled evenings planted a desire in Suppasit to become an entertainer. In the school orchestra, he played the trumpet, clarinet, and percussion. Life, however, had other plans.

His grandmother, whom he’s close to, wanted him to study industrial engineering. So, Suppasit did, graduating with first-class honours in Kasetsart University, Bangkok. Even now, while growing his entertainment career, he’s still pursuing his doctoral studies in the same discipline. The multihyphenate possesses a dogged persistence. It’s a rare quality, especially in a world that values instant gratification. “I was my best teacher. Learn from the mistakes I made yesterday and then ask myself what I can do better tomorrow,” he says.

He’s also voracious for knowledge, and points out that it’s ironically the meaning of his name. “In Thailand, usually parents will choose names for specific meanings, like to be loved or to even be rich. My parents wanted me to keep learning,” he says, laughing.

Like every great actor with their own ritual, Mew Suppasit has his unique process, too. He describes it with a touch of intrigue.

“When I get a character, I like to visualise him as an animal or object. For example, there was once when I imagined my character as a bomb. Just like a bomb, he had a time limit and was going to explode and be aggressive. So, whenever I close my eyes, I envision this bomb to get into character.”