Cover Story: Dashing Thai Actor, Gulf is Ready For The World
Actor, musician, model, and the first male friend of Gucci in Thailand — it seems that 25-year-old Gulf Kanawut can do anything he sets his mind to.
These days, the style-savvy set knows Gulf Kanawut best as the young actor who was recently named as Gucci’s first ever Thai male friend of the house. His rise has been fast and unrelenting — the 25-year-old started his career eight years ago as a model and with a guest role on Thai television, and by 2019, Kanawut landed one of the leading roles in the popular show, TharnType: The Series.
A year later, he scored his first magazine cover with L’OFFICIEL THAILAND and kept the momentum going in 2021 with a string of appearances in music videos of Thai musicians including VYRA and Polycat. In an exclusive interview with L’OFFICIEL HOMMES SINGAPORE, Kanawut talks about his diverse skills and tells us what we can expect from him next.
Hi Gulf ! Some recent dramas that you have been involved in are You Are My Makeup Artist and The Heart of Taewaprom. How did you enjoy being a part of these productions?
Hi L’OFFICIEL SINGAPORE. I had fun working on both shows. The two characters are very different. In You Are My Makeup Artist, the character I played was softer and gentler. In The Heart of Taewaprom, the character was flirtier and more like a playboy. In reality, I’m probably more similar to my character in The Heart of Taewaprom [laughs].
You’ve been in the entertainment industry full-time for about four years now. What are some of the most memorable moments for you so far?
The most memorable part for me is the beginning, when I started. That was the beginning of everything — my fan club, my first drama, and feeling proud of myself. After four years, there are more challenges than before because every piece of work that I do now is something new for me and something that I’ve never done before.
What type of roles would you like to try next?
I want to do something more challenging and play a more intense character — someone complicated who has a lot going on in his mind.
One of your first solo magazine covers was with L’OFFICIEL. What do you remember of that experience?
It was my first magazine cover and I feel so proud of it. I think I was the first male star to be on the cover of L’OFFICIEL THAILAND. Everyone on set was really polite and I enjoyed the shoot.
What can we expect from Gulf for the rest of this year?
Music. I’m learning more about singing and I have a music-related project coming.
What do you like most about singing?
I think that I’m a better rapper than singer. And I like hip-hop music.
“THE MOST MEMORABLE PART FOR ME IS THE BEGINNING, WHEN I STARTED. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING — MY FAN CLUB, MY FIRST DRAMA, AND FEELING PROUD OF MYSELF.”
Earlier this year, you were named as the first male friend of Gucci in Thailand. Tell us about some of your most memorable moments with Gucci.
Every moment. Everyone is so kind and warm, and I genuinely love them.
What are your fashion must-haves at the moment?
For me, a watch — when I don’t wear one, I feel kind of empty. I like cargo pants too — they’re comfy.
What are three of your favourite things to do when you’re not busy filming?
Sleep, sleep and sleep. When I have time, I put sleep first because I want to rest more. And playing with my cat.
As a fast rising and relatively young actor, what are your dreams and goals?
I want to try different characters — new characters that are challenging. Any role and any style that speaks to me. I still have a lot of things to try.
Photography SUTTHIWAT SANGKONG
Styling MILE SUPAKASEM
Production GOY VARALUK
Hair TIYANON KUMTAWAI
Makeup RATTANACHOT POKUM
Photography assistants AMNAJ WAIMALEE, CHATCHAWAN SUKITTANAN, and CHOTITUD JAINKIATFU
Styling assistants MAETAVUT WNGYO and SIRIWAT WORAWONG
