Thailand’s BL drama world has introduced many memorable pairings, and one of our favourite ones is Boat Yongyut and Oat Pasakorn, lovingly called “Boatoat.” Their endearing chemistry in My Stubborn quickly won viewers over and made them one of the most talked-about duos in recent Thai BL dramas.

Boat Yongyut, who made his acting debut in 2022 and not long ago earned his master’s degree from Chulalongkorn University, is known for his great emotional performances. Oat Pasakorn, his equally charismatic co-star, complements Boat’s steady energy with spontaneity, making their partnership quite dynamic.

Following the success of My Stubborn, the duo is set to reunite in the upcoming Knot Series, the first Thai Omegaverse story. For those unfamiliar, the Omegaverse is a subgenre of romantic fiction that explores alternate dynamics in relationships, often focusing on themes of identity, hierarchy, and connection within imaginative social structures. In Knot Series, these ideas are brought into a narrative about love and destiny.

As Boat and Oat prepare to meet their fans for the first time in Europe at their upcoming JIB FANMEET in Rome, we sat down with them to talk about their creative process, character development, and the unique chemistry that keeps fans returning for more.

Right now, we’re both super excited and can’t wait to see everyone in Rome.  Boat and I are on the same page; the thing we’re most looking forward to is meeting the fans. [Boat exclaimed: “Yes!”] We hope you’re just as excited to see us, too. – OAT

View of the Arts: First of all, I want to say how much I truly loved My Stubborn – the chemistry and storytelling really drew me in. Would it be okay if we start our conversation by talking a little about the drama itself? Jun is a mischievous high schooler who constantly teases Sorn. OAT, what was the most fun and the most challenging part of portraying such a playful yet emotionally complex character?

OAT: The most challenging part of this series for me was taking on a BL role. I’ve acted in dramas and films before, but this was my first time in a BL series. The acting itself may be similar, but understanding and seeing things from the fans’ perspective was something entirely new to me. I’m still learning and growing, trying to better understand that side. Getting to know the character step by step, recognizing how society perceives these stories differently, and working closely with my partner, Boat, beyond the challenges, all of it has been a truly valuable experience for me.

As for the most fun part, it was getting to play a university student again – a time in life when you don’t overthink things, you just live fully and have fun while slowly growing through each experience. I think that’s the real charm of characters at this age.

VOA: BOAT, Sorn is portrayed as composed, orderly, and initially resistant to Jun.  How did you approach building his emotional walls and then gradually breaking them down? 

BOAT: Sorn is a character full of inner conflict. At first, I found it hard to connect with him because I didn’t understand someone like that. But as I got to know him and slowly learned his habits, I realized he built a wall between himself and Jun simply to protect himself—he believed he didn’t like younger guys. His desires clashed with his principles, so he put up that wall and pretended to be angry whenever Jun was near.

But deep down, he couldn’t control his own heart. He kept fooling himself into thinking things would stay the same forever as long as Jun was by his side. In the end, it’s only after losing Jun that he realizes how foolish that self-deception was—and that’s when Sorn becomes human again, finally letting go of his baseless anger. 

VOA: The chemistry between Jun and Sorn feels very natural on screen. How did you guys work together to build that dynamic?

BOAT: We’ve answered this question many times, and the answer is always the same: it’s because of the trust we have in each other. We didn’t know each other personally before working together. Oat is very open-minded and has never judged me. He always says, “Everything’s fine, go for it.” That’s why our trust is so strong.

OAT: It’s the same for Boat. I’ve learned a lot from him. The answer is still trust. If Boat says it’s okay, then it’s okay for me. I do it because I know he would never abandon me or leave me hanging. And in return, I’ll hold his hand firmly. That’s what always happens with us. I don’t know what to call it, but we’re each other’s comfort—without needing to say it out loud.

VOA: Jun and Sorn’s relationship is full of emotional highs and lows. Were there any particular scenes that were especially difficult for you to film emotionally?

BOAT: The toughest scene for me was when Sorn goes after Jun to make up. Filming was quite difficult – the environment was noisy, and our position was far from the monitor. As Sorn, I had to tap into so many feelings at once: happiness, fear, and the desperate wish to reconcile, all while he wouldn’t even let me touch him. It was really hard. The noise almost made me break character several times, but Oat kept feeding me the emotion, and in the end, we both made it through the scene.

OAT: For me, it was probably the drunken, selfish love confession. In that moment, I had to understand how Jun truly felt about Sorn – despite the initial conflict, Jun ultimately loves Sorn as he is. It’s a boy mustering the courage to confess to another boy, believing the love will be returned. Acting selfish toward someone I’m confessing to is really hard—I worry that if I behave badly, they won’t love me. I also had to watch the other person’s reactions. Boat responded so calmly in that take that I fully felt Jun’s heartbreak. That actually made it easier to channel the scripted emotions—so, thanks to that scene.

As for me, I’m absolutely looking forward to spending a wonderful time with all the fans there, and with P’Oat, too. I hope everyone can come and see us! – BOAT

VOA: OAT, Jun often pushes boundaries – did you find any similarities between yourself and him? 

OAT: I tend to overdo things quite often, that’s where I feel I’m similar to Jun, and I’m working on it. Sometimes I cross the line, so please feel free to call me out. I want to be a better version of the same Oat, and someone who’s kind to everyone. 

VOA: BOAT, Sorn is often seen as the more serious character – were there moments where you struggled not to laugh at Jun’s antics during filming? 

BOAT: In real life, Oat and I are pretty similar, both playful. But when filming as the serious Sorn, I did slip out of character a bit whenever I had to face Jun like that. What can I say? He’s just too cute. 

VOA: OAT, What did you learn about yourself as an actor while playing Jun? 

OAT: Taking on the role of Jun was my first step into a full lead. I’ve learned a lot about responsibility and adaptation, from how I carry myself to my mindset, and I believe  I’m growing. 

VOA: BOAT, the drama shows the complexity of attraction mixed with conflict. How do you think audiences relate to Sorn’s journey?

BOAT: Sorn’s journey is pretty wild, and I think viewers enjoy his emotional ups and downs. His sudden flare-ups or the way he blurts out his feelings a bit too bluntly can be funny, and I think that’s exactly the kind of charm fans are drawn to. 

VOA: Soon you will be coming to Rome. What are you most looking forward to experiencing at the JIB Fanmeet? 

OAT: Right now, we’re both super excited and can’t wait to see everyone in Rome.  Boat and I are on the same page; the thing we’re most looking forward to is meeting the fans. [Boat exclaimed: “Yes!”] We hope you’re just as excited to see us, too. 

BOAT: As for me, I’m absolutely looking forward to spending a wonderful time with all the fans there, and with P’Oat, too. I hope everyone can come and see us!

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of MFlow Entertainment and JUS IN BELLO

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}