For someone with a fresh, modern look who could set her sights on international stardom, Davika Hoorne is spending a lot of time in the past.
When she first landed in the firmament of Thai celebrity playing the legendary ghost Mae Nak in last year’s blockbuster Pee Mak Phra Khanong, it was set in the mid-19th century. For her latest film, Plae Kao (The Old Wound), the actress nicknamed Mai is winding the clock back to the 1930s for her role as Riam.
In the latest big-screen adaptation of Mai Muengderm’s classic dramatic romance novel, Davika plays a teenager raised in the rice fields of Bang Kapi (long before it was subsumed into Bangkok’s sprawling metropolis). There she falls in love with Kwan (Chaiyapol Julien Poupart, aka New), but since this is a tragedy of star-crossed lovers her parents deem the match beneath her and decide to send her to Bangkok where she is taught to be a lady. Her return to Bang Kapi brings back the memories of her Romeo and Juliet-style love for Kwan.
While the story might be as old as time, both Davika and Chaiyapol represent the new breed of Thai celebrities. Both are half-Thai, half-Belgian and have the luk krung looks that directors and casting agents seem to relish. But Davika's biggest roles have been in a traditional vein — her part in Pee Mak, the highest-grossing Thai film of all time, drew from a rich tradition to inspire the comedy.
ML Bhandevanov Devakula’s adaptation of Plae Kao also gives a new take on a much-loved story, but as a drama presented a different challenge altogether for the beautiful and playful actress. “I’ve been in an acting workshop for almost six months just for this role,” she explains.
“But being surrounded by awesome people in the production team has been amazing. I have learned a lot from this job. I’ve been working as an actress for several years, and gaining quite a lot of experience, but when it came to making this movie, I had to start over again. The techniques I’d acquired from my previous work are too different for this task. This film taught me to be brave, and to make a brand new beginning.”
MAI-RIAM RELATIONSHIP
Davika’s life as a Bangkok celebrity in the 21st century may seem a world away from the Bang Kapi rice fields, but she sees something in common with her character. Riam was exposed to modern ideas, was open to Western cultural influence and was a liberal thinker for her time. But that is not to say Davika would have behaved the same way if faced with forbidden love.
“Don’t misunderstand that Riam was a typical clingy girl from the old days. She was neither a tame nor a childish girl,” she says.
While Riam is a rational and considerate young woman who goes through several decisive moments as the plot progresses, Davika would have been more demanding about understanding the reasons for the hatred between the two families.
"If I were Riam, I would not let the grown-ups force me to leave my true love without knowing the underlying truth about why the two families had become such bitter rivals who speak so harshly about each other. I would ask for a sound reason why they hated each other that much.
“Still, I admired Riam’s sense of sacrifice for true love. As I am one of the millennials who are prone to being self-centred, Riam’s kind of devotion is incredibly rare to me. That’s why I adore her as much as I respect her decisions. And, for me, having no doubts about my role and belief in [my character’s] true self is the only way to perfect my acting.”
AT HOME IN A RICE FIELD
Despite growing up in Bangkok listening to the latest Thai pop music and international hits, Davika was nevertheless very familiar with the famous story’s theme song and its hook “Riam luer thon leaw nun” (Riam can’t bear the sorrow). The song dates back to the first film adaptation in 1977, widely known as The Scar, and is a classic in its own right.
Hearing the song as a young girl gave Davika a hint of its cultural significance — like Pee Mak, the first Plae Kao was a massive box-office hit in its day. But it was only on taking up the role of the woman who sings the heart-rending song that she appreciated its true impact.
Although some half-farang stars who have taken Thai period roles have attracted criticism for their appearance seeming out of place (among them Davika’s Pee Mak co-star Mario Maurer in the latest version of Jan Dara), no one has been surprised at the casting choice in this case. Davika has never thought of herself as looking more Western than Asian, and she felt perfectly natural acting in the sun-drenched rice fields.
“I think I’ve got a face which can be transformed into various types of styling, including a very Thai look. I think that’s one of the reasons why I’ve got this role. As a half-Westerner who was born and grew up here in Thailand, I’m very glad to have an opportunity to experience Thai ways of life from the olden times which are really difficult to find.”
The charm of the film also fascinated Davika, and she was enticed by the chance to place a character who flirted with her lover on a buffalo’s back.
“It felt like I was in another world I would have never seen in my whole life.”
PASSION AND PROSPERITY
Davika started hunting for jobs in TV commercials in her mid-teens, but in the 22-year-old’s mind she has only been working in the entertainment industry for about four years. At 18, her acting career was jump-started when she landed the role as one of the protagonists on Channel 7 television series Ngao Kammathep. Since that first appearance in 2010, her roles have only grown in prominence as the actress has grown in popularity.
But it may be a while before Davika, or anyone else, does better than Pee Mak. As the legendary ghost, she was the only female lead in the first Thai film to gross more than a billion baht (leaving the Suriyothai and Naresuan epics a long way behind). Even as Pee Mak continues to be screened in certain parts of the world, Davika does not feel there is any pressure to repeat that success.
“I’m extremely happy with my previous work and that’s it. It’s done. I don’t think I can be a billion-baht star again. Money isn’t the only thing that matters — I would like to focus more on enhancing my performance.”
While she has plenty of praise for the production team, Davika lavishes the kindest words on new role model Sinjai “Nok” Plengpanich. Watching and learning from the highly experienced actress, who first rose to fame in 1990’s Air America, was one of the highlights of making the film.
“I’ve never met anyone like her. As a newcomer in the entertainment industry, there’s no one but Sinjai who has constantly delivered her work to the highest standards for decades and still remained a renowned actress and a beloved senior professional among co-workers,” Davika says. “Her acting is so powerful that I could almost effortlessly respond to her natural stream of sophisticated emotions during the shoot. I could feel her infinite talents and proficiency in the art of acting.”
Sinjai also had words of wisdom to help the young star translate her success into a long-term career stardom, and Davika was full of admiration for her professionalism in dealing with every task she was given.
“Those dramatic scenes in the movie wouldn’t have been complete without Nok Sinjai. It was my pleasure to star alongside her.”
When it comes to emulating such a long-standing career, Davika knows Rome wasn’t built in a day.
“Though some believe in the potential of a gift, my four years in acting through which I have made a name for myself, it does require great endeavour and patience,” she says with a determined gleam in both eyes. “I’m convinced that before a person can achieve success, he or she must pass through the right steps.
“I’m excited by the wonders of my future. But first let’s watch my latest movie.”
