There is something quite extraordinary happening with Thai BL right now; its stars are no longer loved only at home, or even within Asia. They arrive in cities such as Rome and are greeted by fans who know the characters they have played, the stories they have told and the journeys they have followed despite living thousands of miles away from Thailand. At JIB DREAM FANMEET in Rome, that affection was impossible to miss, and Sky Wongravee and Nani Hirunkit (also known as SkyNani) were right at the heart of it.

Sky and Nani are simply fun to watch together; they have very different personalities and their own way of approaching a role, but put them in the same scene and it works. There is plenty of humour between them, a lot of fun energy, and underneath all of that, a real sense that they trust each other as actors.

And WU certainly gives them something different to play with. The series pulls SkyNani into a world of fate, demons, rituals, supernatural powers and difficult choices, where very little is as straightforward as it first appears. Sky’s Niran has the extraordinary ability to interfere with fate, while Nani’s Pete lives with part of a demon’s soul inside him. On paper, both characters sound fantastical; look closer, however, and their struggles are surprisingly human: loneliness, fear, responsibility, the need to be loved and the hope of finding somewhere to belong.

When View of the Arts caught up with Sky and Nani following their time at JIB DREAM FANMEET in Rome, we spoke about the incredible support they receive from fans thousands of miles away from Thailand, their experience in Rome, and what it took to step into the strange and supernatural world of WU together.

When it comes to working with Sky, I feel like every day is always a step forward for both of us. We never know what new challenges we’re going to face each day, and there’s always something new that we have to work through and solve – Nani

View of the Arts: Sky, recently you participated in JIB DREAM FANMEET in Rome. Fan meetings offer a very different kind of connection compared to acting. What do you enjoy most about meeting fans in person?

Sky: I feel like meeting fans at a fan meeting is completely different from acting because we get to be ourselves. We’re not playing characters, so it feels like we’re able to connect with people in a more personal way. I really love getting to see fans up close, especially when we travel overseas. This time, we were in Rome, meeting people who live so far away from Thailand, so the chances of actually seeing each other in person are pretty rare.

Most of the time, we connect through social media, and we can always see how much our fans support us. So I was very happy when I met so many fans in Rome and experienced that special moment together.

VOA: Nani, Rome was also your first opportunity to meet many of these fans properly. You have travelled to Italy before for Fashion Week, but did returning specifically for a fan meeting change the experience for you?

Nani: I’m really happy to finally meet my fans in Rome for the first time. Usually, when I come to Italy, it’s mainly for Fashion Week, so I’ve never really had the chance to spend this much time talking to or meeting my fans in person. Every time I visit, they always give me such a warm welcome and so much love, but having a fan meeting this time was incredibly energising for me.

It made me realise that, on the other side of the world, there are people who are waiting to see me, and I could truly feel that love. It means so much to me, and of course, I’d love to come back and see them again. I’m genuinely so happy every time I get to return to Italy.

VOA: Sky, WU [TV series] explores ideas of fate, destiny and human relationships through a supernatural world. What was your first reaction when you read the script, and what made Niran a character you wanted to play?

Sky: My first reaction when I read the script was that it was really challenging. I wasn’t sure if I could do it, and I had so many questions in my head because I’ve never really been very confident in myself. I tend to rely more on effort and preparation, so I put a lot of time into the workshops. For example, I took extra Chinese lessons and did workshops on things like chakras and the character’s background. I tried a lot of different things to really understand the character and get into the role.

What made me want to take on this role was definitely the challenge. I’ve been in the industry for 10 years, so I wanted to try something new and take on a role that’s different from anything I’ve done before. I also want to keep challenging myself and continue growing as an actor.

VOA: Nani, Pete carries part of a demon’s soul and can sense supernatural energies that others cannot perceive. What fascinated you most about him when you first encountered the character?

Nani: What initially interested me about Pete was the idea of having a demon living inside him. I thought that concept was really exciting and something I was very drawn to. But as I grew and learned alongside the character, I came to understand Pete much better. He’s actually just an ordinary person who wants a normal life, a family, happiness and a home of his own. No matter how many challenges he has to face or how difficult things get, what I really admire about Pete is that he never gives up. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to hold on to the hope that, one day, he’ll be able to achieve the life he dreams of.

That’s what I love most about Pete. I could probably talk about him all day and still not say everything, so you’ll just have to watch WU: The Series! [laughs].

I don’t think we need to define or label the positions of our characters. It’s all part of our journey and growth as actors. I try to treat every character equally and always give my best in every role – Sky

VOA: Sky, Niran possesses the rare ability to alter fate itself, which places a huge emotional and moral burden on him. How did you approach balancing his extraordinary abilities with his more human vulnerabilities?

Sky: Niran isn’t really a character who is simply good or bad. He has a very human side to him. He has his own ideas about what’s right and wrong, good and evil, but different circumstances eventually lead him to where he is in the story. He might be someone who has lost his way and never really had anyone to guide him because he’s always been on his own. So on the outside, he might come across as quite outspoken and intense, but deep down, he’s actually very vulnerable.

There’s nothing particularly complicated about it. I’d say the character can be looked at from two sides. One is the ritual aspect, which connects to the mysterious and supernatural elements of the story.

VOA: Nani, Pete begins the story carrying both emotional and supernatural burdens. How did you prepare to portray someone constantly balancing fear, responsibility and vulnerability?

Nani: I had to prepare myself physically because Pete has a lot of action scenes, and I pushed myself to do things physically that I had never done before. I also had to really believe in the world of WU, which is completely unfamiliar to me, as well as explore Pete’s emotional side in depth.

It was definitely one of the most exhausting projects I’ve ever worked on, but at the same time, I had so much fun doing it.

VOA: Sky, you’ve played a wide variety of roles throughout your career. Where does Niran fit within your journey as an actor, and did portraying him challenge you in any unexpected ways?

Sky: I don’t think we need to define or label the positions of our characters. It’s all part of our journey and growth as actors. I try to treat every character equally and always give my best in every role. For this particular role, one of the biggest challenges was probably the aspect of belief, as it was quite difficult to fully immerse myself in this world. It required quite a lot of workshops and preparation, both from the cast and the entire production team.

VOA: Nani, acting often requires a great deal of trust between performers. Was there a particular moment during filming WU when you felt that your partnership with Sky had reached a new level of understanding?

Nani: When it comes to working with Sky, I feel like every day is always a step forward for both of us. We never know what new challenges we’re going to face each day, and there’s always something new that we have to work through and solve. That’s why I think the encouragement and support we give each other are so important. We’re always there to cheer each other on, and I think that’s what helps us continue to grow and move forward together, one step at a time.

I’m really happy to finally meet my fans in Rome for the first time. Usually, when I come to Italy, it’s mainly for Fashion Week, so I’ve never really had the chance to spend this much time talking to or meeting my fans in person – Nani

VOA: Sky, after spending so much time working together, is there something about Nani’s approach to acting that still surprises or impresses you whenever you step onto a set together?

Sky: There wasn’t really anything that surprised me, because he always puts his full effort into everything he does.

VOA: Nani, looking ahead, WU certainly won’t be the end of your work together. Is there another project already in the works? And what excites you about exploring a new genre together? What are you hoping audiences will see from Sky and Nani this time?

Nani: Actually, there’s also Arrest and Action, a new project that we’re about to start filming. It’s a new genre for both Sky and me, so I’m really excited to explore these new roles and work on something different together. I really hope everyone will enjoy it. Please look forward to it and continue to support both of us!

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Image © Alessia Belloti 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 Sky and Nani 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.}