Cover Story: Est Supha Sangaworawong is Making a Splash
With a starring role in ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat, the 23-year-old former national swimmer is shaping up to be a next-gen leading man.
Thai acting ascendant Est Supha Sangaworawong is shaping up to be a next-gen leading man. He's got the looks, and as a former national swimmer he's certainly got the build. Now, with a starring role in his new Netflix series ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat, he's proven to have the chops. It's a big step up for the 23-year-old, and he's merely getting started. Est is setting his sights on a new ambition for the future: attending fashion week. Given the trajectories of his fellow Thai headliners, we expect to see him on the front row soon enough.
Hi Est! How are you? What have you been up to recently?
I’m doing great! I just got back from vacation in Phuket, so not much going on really. At the moment, I’m getting ready for the Love Out Loud Fan Fest 2025 happening in May, as well as gearing up for more exciting upcoming projects.
We loved your performance in the new Netflix series ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat. What was the most enjoyable part about working on that project?
Every part of ThamePo was truly enjoyable; I love this series so much. If I had to choose, what was most special was finally getting to star in a leading role — that’s been one of my biggest goals as an actor. More importantly, I got the opportunity to work with [William LYKN], which I had always been looking forward to. ThamePo allowed us to explore this journey together, and it was both incredibly fun and unforgettable. Beyond the series itself, I gained a meaningful new relationship, and that makes ThamePo even more special.
How similar are you to your character Po in real life?
There are similarities and differences between Po and myself. What we have in common is: we genuinely care about others, we have a strong sense of empathy, and we sometimes struggle with self-esteem. We both dislike being a burden in anyone’s life. The key difference is that Po tends to prioritise others to the point where it negatively impacts his own well-being, leading to a collapse in his life. While I deeply care for others, I would never let myself fall into that situation.
There’s a recent interview where you mentioned that you are comfortable being single. What’s the best thing about being single?
Being single feels great! I have no problem with it at all. The only downside is I sometimes feel lonely, especially on bad days or when I’m going through tough situations. In those moments, I wish I had someone by my side. But aside from that, life is all good!
What attracts you when meeting someone for the first time?
It’s all about the vibes, that’s what attracts me the most. Meeting someone who shares the same energy and wavelength is really appealing.
Besides acting, you are also a Thai national swimmer that competed at the Asian Games a couple of years back. Do you still keep up with training these days?
Yes, I was a Thai national swimmer for over 10 years and competed at the Asian Games two years ago. However, I’m no longer a competitive swimmer. I still think about going back to training, but my current schedule doesn’t align with the demands of national-level training. These days, I swim whenever I have time, mainly to stay in shape.
What was the most important lesson you learned from your competition days?
I learned many lessons from my competition days, but the most important one was discovering who my real opponent is. I came to understand that the only opponent is myself. As a national swimmer, I realised that if I kept comparing myself to others, I would never feel enough. So I reminded myself that even if I wasn’t the fastest in the pool, I was still faster than I was yesterday. That’s progression, not failure. And I believe this lesson still applies today.
What do you like to do in your downtime?
I like listening to music, playing games, and, if I have a few days off, I like to go on a little vacation getaway.
Complete the following sentence: I’m happiest when…
I’m happiest when I’m travelling!
Do you travel a lot? What is one place you’d like to visit in 2025?
Yes, I travel a lot, and there are still many places I want to visit. If I had to choose one, I would love to go to Iceland! It’s at the top of my list.
Tell us about your personal style.
I like to keep my style minimal, with neutral colours like black, white, brown, blue, and grey. One must-have item in my wardrobe is sunglasses, they help complete my look.
Finally, what is your goal for the rest of the year?
To overcome all the upcoming challenges and attend a fashion week, which is on my wish list.
Photography NARUEBES VADVREE
Styling FELIX WOEI
Hair PAKORN SEESEM
Makeup CHETTA SUDSALEE
Producer AUNG APICHAI
Set Design YUKON BOONPRASERT
Photography assistant ARNON BOONROD, PASSAPON KHEMMANIPITPON and PAK LUENG-ON
Fashion assistant PAWARISA
