By all appearances, Chanikarn Tangkabodee—affectionately known by her nickname, Prim—is one of the brightest young talents emerging as the next generation of Southeast Asian screen queens.
At just 21, the poised Thai actress has already covered more ground on screen than many do in a decade, with works spanning from horror thrillers (Enigma) to emotionally complex dramas (A Love so Beautiful) and coming‐of‐age hits that tap into the feelings of a generation (F4 Thailand: Boys over Flowers).
Prim’s journey began when she was just 10, making her career debut as the younger version of the female lead, an aspiring actress named Paeng, in the 2014 film Chiang Khan Story—a poetic bit of foreshadowing, considering where she was headed. Even then, her presence was undeniable.
She has since gone on to receive accolades for her acting, but to frame her simply as a precocious success would be missing the mark, for that glow is rooted in the quiet, ongoing process of how she keeps redefining her own path and purpose. “I’ve been acting since I was a child,” she reflects. “At first, I just followed the director’s instructions, but as I grew older, I started to understand the characters on a deeper level—emotionally and in terms of their identity.”
The actress cites Enigma—the 2023 horror series in which she stars alongside fellow Thai actor Metawin “Win” Opas‐iamkajorn—as her most demanding role to date. As she shares, playing Fa, a teenager haunted by shadows both literal and psychological, required deep emotional excavation.
“The story itself,” she says, “was already a challenge because it’s very surreal and beyond reality, dealing with mysticism and dark magic. [The role] taught me how important imagination is, for it can take you to places within yourself you never knew existed.”
Prim further notes: “That’s how my relationship with acting has changed over the years. Now, I don’t just perform actions or act in front of the camera, but truly connect with the essence of each character. This deeper understanding has helped me grow not just as an actress, but also as a person.”
Currently a full‐time student pursuing a degree in commerce and accountancy at Chulalongkorn University, Prim admits that things “get overwhelming” sometimes, what with the script‐reading sessions, study groups, deadlines and night shoots, among other things. “I always try to make space for both [school and work though],” she says.
It makes sense, then, that off‐duty, Prim revels in the quiet: time spent indulging in some good books, simple meals with close friends and long walks. “Even when I travel abroad, I love wandering about on foot. I enjoy a peaceful, uncomplicated lifestyle,” she shares. Her personal world, it seems, is a gentle counterpoint to the emotional heights she reaches on screen.
There is a groundedness to Prim that feels rare in an industry obsessed with polish and perfection. She is refreshingly honest about the emotional toll of acting—how certain scenes can linger, how vulnerability on camera can bleed into real life.
“To perform emotional scenes well, you have to really feel them,” she explains. “And so when I act in these emotionally intensive scenes, sometimes I carry those emotions with me afterwards. But that has taught me that real life doesn’t have to be perfect—just like every character has a turning point that may not be ideal, it’s okay to feel sad in real life sometimes too. [These emotional scenes] have helped me realise how deep I can go emotionally, allowing me to open up more and be honest with my feelings.”
This emotional fluency is what gives Prim’s work such resonance, and not just enables her development as an actress, but also fosters personal growth. She candidly brings up the pressure to compare, especially in the entertainment industry, but returns to the power of self‐acceptance.
“No one’s perfect and…it takes time to accept that,” she says. “It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but I think it’s more important to understand who you are and be honest with your own feelings.” While accepting oneself as is is important, Prim also believes that “everyone should leave room for self‐improvement”.
Expounding, she says: “My favourite quote of all time is the saying, ‘Be like a cup that’s never full.’ If you think you’re already full, no one can teach you anything new. So I try to stay open.”
When asked what confidence means to her, Prim does not reach for grand declarations, but instead states simply: “It’s about knowing who I am and what I’m doing. That gives me stability. Being a young woman, I understand that change is constant, and that’s okay. What matters most is having self‐respect.”
This self-assuredness manifests in ambitions that stretch far beyond the roles Prim has played so far. “Since I’m only in my twenties, most of the roles I’m offered are still student characters. But personally, I’d love to take on more challenging roles in the future,” she says.
“I’d love to act in historical or fantasy dramas. I enjoy watching shows rooted in history, like The Crown (Netflix’s hit fictionalised drama inspired by real events, and that centres around the life and reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II). I find them very immersive and fascinating. If I have the chance to play a real historical figure, it’d be incredibly interesting—like stepping into another world. Roles involving combat or action scenes would also push me out of my comfort zone.”
Prim, it seems, is also looking to reach beyond the shores of her homeland. “I want to explore international projects, as I’ve never done any before, and I find [the idea] exciting and challenging,” she shares, expressing that she wishes to return to film acting as well—as she explains, “I acted in movies when I was very young, but haven’t done one in a long time”. Before these ambitions come to fruition, though, she teases a project on the small screen: “I’ll have a new series coming out soon—please look forward to it!”
For someone who has grown up in front of the camera, Prim still manages to keep her sense of wonder—a heartening sign, perhaps, of what greater things the audience can expect from her. She is a rising star, yes, but more than that, she is a curious soul, hungry to evolve, learn and live out her stories with truth.
And that may just be her greatest role yet.
PHOTOGRAPHY GRUNGE W
STYLING KELLY HSU
HAIR PROMYA BANGPONG
MAKEUP SUP WONG
PRODUCER NANTHACHAPHON PITUPAN
SET DESIGN YUKON BOONPRASART
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANTS CHUSAK CHUMMANO, DANAI SOMPONG, SANTIPONG JUNSUK
FASHION ASSISTANT ANYAMANEE TANGWIJITSRI
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT NUTTHA LOHAKUP
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