Veteran Actor Pong Nattawat Unleashes Bold New Role in Drama
Veteran Thai actor Pong Nattawat discussed his daring new role as a sharp‑tongued director in the upcoming drama 'Raeng Ngao 2026,' saying it feels like releasing a tiger after 26 years of typecast hero parts. He addressed criticism over his casting, urging viewers to watch a few episodes before judging, and said the role revived his acting passion. Nattawat also revealed that intensive workshops helped him embody the character’s intense temperament and love scenes, leading to lifestyle changes and a fresh outlook on his career.
Pong Nattawat attended the blessing ceremony for the drama 'Raeng Ngao' at GMM Grammy headquarters on October 12, 2026, where he discussed his historic character shift after more than two decades. He portrays Janophop, a director with a fiery temperament and intense love scenes, a role he says shocked him but reignited his passion for acting. He acknowledged the casting backlash, saying he feels hurt but asks audiences to give the show two or three episodes before forming an opinion, confident they will forget his long‑standing hero image. He credited extensive workshops and personal preparation for bringing depth to the character, describing the experience as unleashing a caged tiger into the forest. Nattawat praised the creative team, noted that the love scenes are even more explicit than shown in teasers, and revealed that the role prompted him to change his lifestyle, including diet and weight training, marking a complete shift in his work attitude after years of playing conventional heroes.
