The well-loved Thai Actress Tontawan Tantivejakul, also known as Tu Tontawan, recently shot to fame when she starred as Gorya in F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers. In the remake of the popular manga Boys Over Flowers, she acted opposite the biggest Thai actors, including Bright Vachirawit Chivaaree, Dew Jirawat Sutivanichsak, Win Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, and Nani Hirunkit Changkham. As the lead actress, Tu drew viewers in with her charm, acting talent, and natural chemistry with her male leads. Here are 10 things to know about the Thai actress to have on your radar.
1) Her name means “Me”.
Her father gave her the play name “Tu”, which means “me”, representing a wish that she remains authentically herself. Her first name, Tontawan, means “east”, and it bears a connection to her brother’s name, Tonhon, meaning “a navigator”. It’s as if her name provides a direction for his vessel to follow.
2) Her friends call her “auntie”.
During her school years, Tu’s friends and juniors called her “auntie” because she wore spectacles and her hair was messy, making her look rather plain. After she got her role in F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers, her friends call her “Gorya”, the name of her character in the show. They also call her “Gorkluay” (a bunch of bananas) and “Tonya” (grass plant).
3. Tonhon and Tontawan are not twins.
Though Tonhon is Tu’s brother, Tu used to feel that they did not look like each other that much. However, one day they did a body swap dance challenge on an app, and the similarity was striking. That was when she understood why people always say they look like each other.
4. She is currently a dentistry student.
Right now, she is studying at the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University. Before that, she attended Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Secondary School for six years.
5. Her life changed after she got braces.
When Tu was little, she was not confident of her smile. After getting braces, it changed her personality and lifestyle. That is why she is inspired to become a dentist to help others restore their confidence in their smiles.
6. If she was not an actress, she would be a dentist.
She would also like to have her own business, like opening a cafe for people to chill out or starting her own clothing line.
7. Her hobbies include taking film photographs.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading novels, social networking on Twitter or Instagram, and taking film photographs.
8. She enjoys travelling.
In Thailand, she likes to go to the beach. She particularly enjoyed her time at Ko Man Nork and wishes to be there again. She’s also enjoys touring South Korea and Japan.
9. She is a K-pop fan.
She collects K-pop albums, photocards and various merchandise from her favourite bands, which are EXO, NCT, and Red Velvet.
10. She has a pet dog called Tee.
Her dog, a Jack Russel terrier, is named Tee, as her family wanted it to have the same initial as her brother and her. She likes how Tee is so energetic all day long: it’s always awake, running around, digging, climbing and jumping to catch rats or snakes. In addition, of all animals, she loves dogs the most, as they are loyal to their owners and are lively.
Read More: Tu Tontawan: My Goal As An Actor Is To Be Happy With Every Opportunity