When Pond Naravit and Phuwin Tangsakyuen first began working together, both were at very different points in their careers, still finding their feet as leading actors and probably with little idea of just how much their lives would change over the next few years. Since then, they have grown up in front of an audience, taken on bigger and more varied roles, built careers outside the projects they share and, at the same time, developed a great partnership.

Since Fish Upon the Sky brought them together as leading actors in 2021, they have gone from university romance to action, drama and comedy, all while building individual careers of their own. Pond and Phuwin have both changed a lot since they first started working together, and naturally, so has the way they work as a pair. After several years and numerous projects, they know each other well enough to understand what the other needs in a scene, when to give each other space and when to simply trust where the moment is going. As Phuwin explains, that familiarity also means they no longer have to spend as much time figuring each other out at the beginning of every project; some of that groundwork is already there.

Knowing each other so well doesn’t mean that Pond and Phuwin want to keep doing the same thing, and Me and Thee gave them a chance to show a slightly different side of what they can do together. For Pond, playing Thee meant stepping properly into comedy for the first time and finding the humour in a character who can be wonderfully unusual, while Phuwin’s Peach is much more down-to-earth and easy to relate to, almost like the person watching all of Thee’s behaviour and trying to make sense of it along with the audience. Their story continues in Peach and Thee, this time moving the perspective towards Thee and exploring what happens after the romance reaches the point where many dramas would simply roll the credits. Love is one thing; sharing a life and dealing with everything that comes with it is another.

However, away from the cameras, their careers continue to expand as well. Pond has music and performance through JASP.ER, while Phuwin continues to build his own path as an actor and artist. Yet neither seems to view individual success as something that has to come at the expense of their partnership, as there is room for both.

Two years after their last JIB appearance, Pond and Phuwin returned to Rome for JIB DREAM FANMEET 7, ready to meet European fans again, enjoy the city and, unsurprisingly, make the most of the Italian food.

View of the Arts caught up with them to talk about how they have grown as actors, taking on something different with Me and Thee, supporting each other’s individual careers and what they would still love to try next.

One important thing we’ve learned from each other is the importance of giving each other space and respect. I think mutual respect is really important, both when working together and in our everyday relationship – Pond

View of the Arts: Pond, you recently returned to Rome for your second JIB DREAM FANMEET, two years after your first appearance. How did it feel to be back, and what did you enjoy most about experiencing the city again?

Pond: I felt really good. Rome was [and still is] such a beautiful city, and the food was amazing. It was a little getaway after finishing the concert. Every meal felt special because each one was a new experience. I really enjoyed taking the time to explore the city and experience the local food and culture.

VOA: Phuwin, this was also your second JIB DREAM FANMEET in Rome. What was it like coming back after two years and meeting both familiar faces and fans seeing you there for the first time?

Phuwin: I was really happy to be back again. It’s been two years since my last visit, so I was really excited to see both the fans I’ve met before and those who are joining us for the first time. What makes this trip especially exciting is that we had three shows this time.

VOA: Pond, Me and Thee gave you something you hadn’t seriously attempted before – comedy. What attracted you to the project, and what was the biggest challenge of finding that side of Thee?

Pond: The biggest challenge was that this was my first time seriously taking on a comedy role. That’s also what attracted me to the project. I found the story interesting, and I wanted to challenge myself by trying comedy for the first time. It was a new experience for me, but I really enjoyed it.

VOA: Phuwin, Peach is much more ordinary and grounded, particularly when compared with someone like Thee. What interested you most about playing him and the contrast between these two personalities?

Phuwin: I think what’s interesting about Peach is that he’s such an ordinary and relatable character. In many ways, he represents the audience. When he meets a character as unique and unconventional as Khun Thee, the contrast between the two characters becomes really clear. I think that contrast is what makes their dynamic so charming and interesting to watch.

VOA: Pond, in Peach and Thee, we see these characters at another stage of their relationship. Having spent more time with Thee, has your own understanding of him changed? Have you discovered anything about him that you didn’t quite see the first time around?

Pond: I’ve come to understand Khun Thee’s growth and development, especially the way he learns to adapt to different situations, much more deeply. I also got to see another side of Thee. I feel that he has become a little calmer and more composed compared to before.

I’d really like to try a horror series someday. I think it would be a very challenging and interesting experience, and it would give me a chance to explore a completely different side of acting – Pond

VOA: Phuwin, one of the pleasures of Me and Thee is watching two complete strangers gradually become something much more important to one another. How would you describe that emotional journey, and what do you hope people ultimately take away from their story?

Phuwin: I would say that the emotional journey for the two characters is something that is really beautiful. We get to see both characters turn from strangers into acquaintances, then into something more, and I hope that at the end of the day, what the audience takes from Me and Thee is smiles and happiness from witnessing the relationship between two human beings.

VOA: Pond, Peach and Thee continues that relationship but approaches it from a different perspective. Without giving too much away, what changes this time around?

Pond: This series continues the story of the characters’ relationship. In the first part, the story was mainly told from Peach’s perspective, while the second part is told from Khun Thee’s perspective. So, the audience gets to understand the relationship and the characters from a different point of view.

VOA: Phuwin, you and Pond have been acting opposite each other for several years now. Does knowing someone that well make certain things easier once you step onto a new set together, and what has changed most as you’ve both grown as actors?

Phuwin: I think that it is the understanding between us two. There are things that we as actors would usually have to go through in every project that can be skipped due to the closeness and familiarity with both of our characters. What has changed the most is definitely our skills as actors, and I think that as we have both grown up alongside each other, it has made our acting as a whole much more dynamic and fun.

VOA: Pond, from your side, how has your relationship with Phuwin developed through all those years of working together? What have you learned about giving each other what you need, both as actors and away from work?

Pond: I think our relationship has developed naturally as we’ve worked together more. We’ve become closer and started spending more time together outside of work as well, such as going to the gym together. One important thing we’ve learned from each other is the importance of giving each other space and respect. I think mutual respect is really important, both when working together and in our everyday relationship.

View of the Arts: Phuwin, you both have careers away from the projects you share. How important is it to you that you continue growing individually while still having this partnership to return to?

Phuwin: Both are of equal importance, and I think that it is the same for Pond. I would like to see him succeed and reach as high as possible as Pond JASP.ER, as an actor, a model, or whatever else that the future has in store for him. At the end of the day, I feel the same as Pond once mentioned. Although we do have our solo careers, at the end of the day, working with each other is still our comfort zone and also someone that we can look back to when we’re tired.

I was really happy to be back again. It’s been two years since my last visit, so I was really excited to see both the fans I’ve met before and those who are joining us for the first time – Phuwin

VOA: Pond, fans obviously know the chemistry between you and Phuwin very well by now. After several projects together, how do you hold on to that familiarity without simply repeating what you’ve done before?

Pond: I think we still maintain the chemistry that our fans love. But whenever we start a new project, we always focus on the characters and the relationship in that particular story. We also try to explore new things and bring something different to each project, so that every series feels fresh and unique while still keeping the chemistry that fans enjoy.

VOA: Phuwin, one last question about Rome. If you and Pond had an entire day with no schedules, rehearsals or cameras, who would be exploring the city and who would disappear in search of the perfect Italian meal?

Phuwin: I would definitely be the one searching for something to eat, and Pond would probably be exploring around town.

VOA: Pond, you’ve already explored romance, drama, action and now comedy. What’s still sitting on your acting wish list?

Pond: I’d really like to try a horror series someday. I think it would be a very challenging and interesting experience, and it would give me a chance to explore a completely different side of acting.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Image © Alessia Belotti for View of the Arts

_{A big thank you to Jus in Bello and JIB DREAM FANMEET for helping us with this interview, and to the GMMTV team for accommodating us. And, of course, a huge thank you to Pond and Phuwin for taking the time to answer our questions!}

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.}