Dew, born Jirawat Sutivanisak, is not your ordinary Thai idol. "I never dreamt that one day I'll become the actor I am today," says the 22-year-old actor who has amassed a legion of devout followers seemingly overnight a little over a year ago with the release of GMMTV's F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers. The series marks the fourth adaptation of the cult teenage phenomenon: its source derives from the Japanese manga of the same name (Hana Yori Dango), before its Taiwanese (Meteor Garden), Korean (Boys Over Flowers) and Chinese (Meteor Garden) adaptations cemented the series as an instant classic amongst young audiences. Each release is significant, considering that an adaptation signals the start of a pop culture renaissance in each country. In Taiwan, its regional popularity paved the way for its entertainment industry; while in Korea, it became a hallmark moment in the rise of the Korean wave - also known as the Hallyu wave.
What does it mean for Jirawat then, who only had his acting debut through the series? It represents a guaranteed hit. History has shown that every actor that has starred in the adaptations became household names, not just within their local industries, but in the region and beyond.
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