The first thing I notice when I call Pao is what’s behind him.
There are paintings, colourful objects, and what look like toys scattered throughout the room. I ask whether I’m looking at his home or his office. It’s his home, he tells me, and the figures behind him are art toys. Among them are pieces inspired by artists and several Iron Man figures, a character he’s loved for years.
I like that. There’s something endearing about adults who allow traces of their childhood to remain visible in the spaces they inhabit.
I’ve known Pao through Bangkok, a city that has become increasingly familiar to me, although we’ve never really had the opportunity to sit down and talk at length about everything he does.
Interior design, painting, modelling, acting, business. It’s difficult to decide which part of his life to begin with, and perhaps that’s precisely the point.
We talk about the strange things we inherit from the places where we grow up, and the difference between doing something because you’re good at it and doing it simply because it makes you happy.
At one point, I ask Pao to describe himself in three words.
He chooses optimistic, playful, and relaxed.
What interests me is how these qualities seem to coexist with a much quieter side of him. Despite his public-facing work, Pao enjoys being alone, painting without showing anyone, and spending time away from the attention of others.
There’s an ease to the way he moves between different interests. He doesn’t seem particularly concerned with choosing just one identity.
And perhaps being playful is precisely that: allowing yourself to try things without needing to know exactly where they’ll lead.
A ROOM FULL OF TOYS
Yasmina: First of all, where are you calling me from? I love the background. Is that your home or your office?
Pao: It’s my house. What you see in the background, they’re art toys. Some are inspired by famous painters and artists.
And then there are the Iron Man figures. I used to watch Iron Man, and I’ve always loved the character, so I bought a few.
Yasmina: I love when people keep elements of their childhood around them as adults. Sometimes I’ll go to a friend’s apartment and they’ll have drawings they made when they were children, but they’ve framed them and turned them into artworks. There’s something really nice about that. I think I’m going to get to know your interior style through this conversation.
Pao: I’m actually painting at the moment.
Yasmina: You’re painting yourself?
Pao: Yes. The one I’m working on is not finished yet.
Yasmina: I had no idea. Is painting something new for you, or have you always done it?
Pao: I’ve always enjoyed painting. I studied it as well. It just feels nice to paint.
Yasmina: Do you share your paintings, or are they something you keep private?
Pao: At the moment, they’re private. I haven’t really shown them to anyone. Sometimes I’ll send something to a friend who has an art gallery and ask for advice. Maybe one day, if the work is good enough, she could help me sell it.
But I need to like it first. Before I show it to anyone, I have to feel that it’s good.
WHEN A PAINTING DOESN’T WORK
Yasmina: How do you know when you like a painting? Because I have the same problem with writing. Sometimes I’ll write an interview or an article, look at it afterwards, and immediately think that something isn’t right. How do you recognise that feeling when you’re painting?
Pao: Usually, I can tell almost straight away. You might have planned the painting in your mind, you know what you want it to look like. But then you start painting, and the result is different.
Maybe the brushstrokes aren’t right. Maybe the colours or the composition don’t work the way you imagined. Even if you’ve planned everything, the result might only be twenty percent of what you wanted. And when you look at it, you know it isn’t right.
Yasmina: What do you do then? Do you keep working on it, or do you abandon it?
Pao: It depends. Sometimes I’ll stop and start again on a new canvas. Sometimes I’ll continue using the same canvas. For me, painting has a lot to do with how I’m feeling. I might work on something for a while and then reach a point where I don’t know how to continue.
So I’ll start another painting. And sometimes I won’t paint at all for months. If I don’t feel like painting, I don’t force myself. Then eventually I come back to it. That’s how painting works for me.
Yasmina: I love that. I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to turn everything we enjoy into something productive. But there can be something beautiful about keeping a creative practice just for yourself.
OPTIMISTIC, PLAYFUL, RELAXED
Yasmina: Something I’ve always found interesting about you is that you do so many different things. I knew about interior design, because that’s something you share publicly. But I also knew you’d done acting, photoshoots, and business.
And now I discover that you paint. I love people who are difficult to define through a single profession. So if you had to describe yourself in three words, which would you choose?
Pao: That’s difficult. I’ve never really thought about it. I think I’d say optimistic, playful, and relaxed.
Yasmina: I love those. I particularly like playful. Where do you think that quality appears most in your life? And are there areas where you wish you could be more playful?
Pao: I think I’m a playful person, but there’s something people don’t always realise about me. I’m actually quite introverted. When I’m with friends, or when I’m at an event, I’m happy to talk to people. I’m genuinely happy to see everyone.
I enjoy meeting people, and I don’t shut myself off from them. But there’s another side of me. I really enjoy being alone. I like my independence, having time to myself. And I don’t think everyone necessarily sees that. When I’m alone, I can feel just as alive as when I’m surrounded by people.
Yasmina: I understand that completely. I think people sometimes confuse being alone with being lonely. And they’re two very different things.
Personally, I need some time alone almost every day. Sometimes it’s waking up earlier and having a couple of hours before work. Sometimes it’s deciding not to go out and spending the evening at home. I need that time to think, reflect, or simply do things by myself.
Pao: Exactly. Sometimes you think much better when you’re alone. And I think reflecting is really important. Looking at what’s happening around you. Understanding what’s good, what’s bad, and what could be better. You need that space sometimes.
THE ENGLAND HE CARRIES WITH HIM
Yasmina: I want to talk about London. It’s a city I’ve always had a complicated relationship with. People often ask me whether I could imagine living somewhere other than Paris, and my answer is usually no. For me, it’s Paris or nothing.
I find London a little intimidating. It feels enormous, fast, and sometimes unsafe. You spent a long time in England. What memories do you have of living there?
Pao: I have amazing memories of London. It’s such an international city. You have people from all over the world living there, bringing different cultures and different energies. And every neighbourhood feels different.
Sometimes you only have to travel one station on the Underground and suddenly the atmosphere changes completely. That’s something I really love about London.
And the weather is funny. You can experience three seasons in one day. It can be freezing and raining, and then suddenly the sun comes out. I actually miss that unpredictable weather.
Yasmina: When did you first move to England?
Pao: I was around ten. I went to boarding school in Bath. It’s a beautiful area, about two hours from London. During school holidays, I’d spend time in London with my guardian. I loved walking around the city. When I was younger, I used to go to Oxford Street and visit Nike! I was really interested in sports, football, trainers, all those things.
Later, I spent around four years living in London itself. I haven’t been back for several years now, but I have very good memories of it.
Yasmina: Do you think there’s anything particularly British that you’ve kept with you? Because I already have an answer. Your accent. You have a very British accent, and I love it.
Pao: Yes, the accent has stayed with me.
Yasmina: And there’s something you always say. It’s great fun. I remember asking you about places to go in Bangkok, and you’d say, “It’s great fun.”
That sounds so British to me. An American would probably say, “It’s so much fun.”
Pao: That’s funny. But honestly, even after spending twelve years in England, I still feel much more Thai than British. Maybe eighty percent Thai. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to study abroad and make friends there.
But I don’t think I really became English. The accent is probably the main thing that stayed.
Yasmina: That’s interesting.
Pao: For example, people are sometimes surprised when I tell them I don’t really go to pubs. I was never particularly interested in going out for a pint of beer. That part of British culture just wasn’t really me.
Yasmina: What did you miss most about Thailand when you were living in England?
Pao: Definitely the food.
Yasmina: I completely understand. Once you’ve eaten Thai food in Thailand, it becomes difficult to find the same thing elsewhere. I’m sure there are excellent Thai restaurants in Paris, but sometimes the taste just isn’t the same.
Pao: Exactly. It’s difficult to find all the ingredients abroad. So restaurants have to substitute certain things, and the flavour changes. But I had a favourite restaurant in England.
Yasmina: Which one?
Pao: Nando’s. I love Nando’s. It’s grilled chicken with Portuguese-inspired flavours and spicy sauces. I really like it.
There’s also a restaurant in Paris that I recommend. It’s called Malibu. They do grilled chicken with African-inspired flavours and different sauces. It’s really good.
Yasmina: I’m definitely adding that to our address book. That’s actually one of the things I want to develop with Palomita Office. A collection of recommendations from everyone I interview. Because sometimes you want to go somewhere and you don’t want to spend an hour searching through Google Maps.
I’d much rather go somewhere recommended by someone whose taste I trust.
THE HUNGER TO BECOME SOMEONE
Yasmina: I watched one of the films you appeared in. It was on Netflix, and it was about a chef and a restaurant.
Pao: Hunger.
Yasmina: Yes, Hunger. I watched it with some friends when we were in Thailand. What interested me is how you decide whether you want to take part in a project. Is it the people involved? The director? The story?
Pao: For that particular film, it was definitely the story. When I read the script, I found it very touching. It’s about the chef, his team, and society. But the word hunger has another meaning.
It’s about how hungry you are to succeed. How much you want to become someone, or reach a certain level. And sometimes people want success so badly that it changes the way they treat others.
The film is quite dark. But that’s what interested me. It has a lot of meaning.
Yasmina: And what was the experience of filming it like?
Pao: I remember feeling the energy of everyone on set. When you’re surrounded by people who are truly committed to what they’re doing, it helps you perform better. You feel their energy. And you want to give the same commitment back.
I think that’s incredibly important.
Yasmina: Was acting something you always wanted to do? Or did it happen spontaneously?
Pao: It happened quite naturally. I started doing photoshoots and some fashion work when I was around fifteen or sixteen.
I did that for several years. Then, after university, I met someone who owned an entertainment company in Thailand. It happened through a friend while I was in London.
We started talking, and she asked whether I wanted to try acting. I’d never acted before. I didn’t have the training. But the opportunity was there, so I said yes.
Yasmina: That’s quite brave.
Pao: I actually started taking acting classes while I was shooting my first television series. So I was learning while I was doing it. At first, I wasn’t sure I could manage, but once you’re in front of the camera, something happens. You realise there are all these people working around you. You can’t waste their time. You just have to do it. And I found that really exciting.
Yasmina: I love that attitude. Was there a moment when you realised you genuinely enjoyed acting?
Pao: I think the experience of doing it gave me confidence. Especially when I started doing more physical scenes. I really enjoyed action sequences. Running, fighting, moving around. It’s exhausting, but it’s exciting.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
Yasmina: How would you describe the Thai cinema industry? I know a little about it, but not nearly enough.
Pao: Thai audiences really love horror films. Especially ghost films.
Yasmina: I’ve noticed. Whenever I’m in Thailand, my Netflix changes, and suddenly there are all these Thai horror films. Some of them are terrifying. Especially the ones set in forests.
Pao: Thailand is very good at making ghost films. They usually do very well. And comedies too. Horror and comedy are very popular.
Yasmina: Is there a film you wish you could have acted in?
Any film in the world.
Pao: Mission: Impossible.
Yasmina: Really?
Pao: I love action films. I love the physical side of them. Jumping out of planes, helicopters, fighting scenes.
That kind of thing looks like so much fun. My second television series had a lot of shooting and fighting scenes. I was running around, fighting bad guys, doing action sequences.
I fell in love with it. But it was tough.
Yasmina: Did you have stunt doubles?
Pao: Not really. In Thailand, we don’t always have that many stunt doubles for the actors. Usually, the stunt performers are the people playing the bad guys. So you punch someone, and they make it look like you’ve sent them flying five metres.
You barely touch them, and they do all the work. It’s really impressive.
Yasmina: Would you choose Mission: Impossible over James Bond?
Pao: That’s difficult. Very difficult. I love both. Whenever a new film from either franchise comes out, I go to the cinema.
Yasmina: Maybe you should be the next James Bond.
Pao: An Asian James Bond?
Yasmina: Why not?
DRESSED BY HIS MOTHER
Yasmina: Let’s talk about fashion. You’ve worked in fashion for years, and I’m curious about how your personal style developed. I’ve noticed that the brands I’ve worked for have influenced the way I dress. When I was at Saint Laurent, I wore a lot of black, leather, and more classic silhouettes. Then I moved to Balenciaga, and suddenly I was wearing oversized clothes, wider trousers, and more deconstructed pieces.
So I’m interested in how your style has evolved. Who influenced you when you were younger?
Pao: My mother, definitely. She loves fashion and dressing well. When I was young, she would choose a lot of my clothes for me. She’d tell me what kind of haircut I should get, which trainers to wear, which clothes looked good. I think I inherited a lot of my interest in fashion from her.
Then, when I was a little older, I became a huge fan of Paul Smith.
Yasmina: That’s very British.
Pao: Exactly. I loved the colours and the cuts. At the time, the fit was perfect for me. I remember buying my first Paul Smith suits with my own money. The suits, the shoes, the trousers. When I was living in London, I wore a lot of Paul Smith.
Yasmina: I think we’ve just found another British influence you kept.
Pao: You’re right.
Yasmina: Do you think your style has changed a lot over the last ten years?
Pao: Quite a lot. When I was younger, everything had to fit perfectly. My jeans and trousers were always straight-legged and quite fitted. I was very particular about that.
But as I’ve grown older, I’ve become more relaxed. Now I prefer trousers that are a little wider. Not necessarily baggy, but more comfortable.
I still want them to look good, of course. But comfort has become much more important.
I also used to wear jackets constantly. Now I wear them less often. Maybe a light jacket over a T-shirt when it’s cooler, or when I want to make an outfit look a little more put together.
Yasmina: Are you attached to your clothes as objects?
Pao: I used to be much more attached to them than I am now.
When I was younger, I’d watch runway shows and wait for certain pieces to become available. I’d get really excited about specific collections. Now I appreciate fashion differently.
I still love it, but I know how quickly things change. Fashion moves so fast. Still, I think it’s a form of art. The craftsmanship involved in making clothes is extraordinary. Choosing the fabrics, cutting them, stitching different pieces together. There’s so much work behind a single garment. And then you wear something, and it can make you happy. I think that’s important too.
Yasmina: Imagine a terrible scenario. There’s a fire in your house, and you can only save one item from your wardrobe. What would you save?
Pao: Probably the most expensive one.
Yasmina: Fair enough.
Pao: I have this Chanel hoodie. It’s bright yellow. I don’t even know why I bought it.
Yasmina: Sometimes that’s exactly how shopping works.
Pao: It was from the collaboration Pharrell did with Chanel a few years ago. There was this yellow hoodie, and I bought it. I don’t think you can find it easily anymore. So it’s become quite a special piece.
Yasmina: An archive piece. Do you still wear it?
Pao: Not very often. I take good care of it. And it’s so bright. Sometimes I have to wear a leather jacket over it because the colour is so strong.
Yasmina: Yellow is difficult. It’s such a statement colour.
Pao: I’ve always been quite colourful. I remember wearing a completely bright pink outfit in Paris once. Top and trousers. All pink.
Yasmina: For an event?
Pao: No, just on holiday. I saw it and knew I had to buy it.
Yasmina: I love that.
Pao: I can’t wear it anymore, unfortunately. It’s too small now. But I have good memories of it.
Yasmina: And what colours are you wearing now?
Pao: I’ve toned things down quite a lot. I used to have an extremely colourful wardrobe. Now I wear fewer colours. A lot of blue. And some purple.
Yasmina: Purple is a colour I’ve been interested in recently. But I find it difficult to wear sometimes. Maybe a darker purple.
Pao: Mine isn’t particularly dark. You can definitely tell it’s purple.
Yasmina: I like that.
BANGKOK AFTER DARK (AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN)
Before we finish, I ask Pao to take me through Bangkok, the city I know him through and the place he continues to call home. Not the Bangkok of guidebooks, but the one made up of familiar streets, childhood memories, late-night food and places he would rather never see disappear.
Yasmina: What is something about Bangkok that you think people from outside Thailand fundamentally misunderstand? Is there a particular version of the city that you’re tired of seeing represented?
Pao: I think some people still have a very narrow view of Thailand. They associate us mainly with nightlife, Pattaya or certain stereotypes, but Thailand is so much more than that. We have an incredibly rich culture, beautiful traditions, amazing architecture and a very long history. Thailand also has the distinction of never having been formally colonised by a European power, which is something I think is important to understand about our identity. Our monarchy has also played a significant role in shaping the country over generations. I just wish people would look beyond the stereotypes and take the time to understand the country more deeply.
Yasmina: Is there a place in Bangkok that feels almost unchanged to you, even as everything around it develops? Somewhere that still belongs to an earlier version of your life?
Pao: I think Bangkok is a city that will always change, and that’s actually part of what makes it special. Even places that feel familiar are slowly evolving. But I think what stays with me isn’t necessarily a particular place; it’s the memories attached to it. You can return somewhere years later and find that the buildings have changed, but you still remember who you were when you were there. In a way, Bangkok grows alongside you. And perhaps that’s why, even when the city feels completely different, it can still feel like home.
Yasmina: If you could preserve one ordinary thing about Bangkok forever, what would it be? It could be a shop, a street, a particular sound, or even a habit.
Pao: The street food culture. I love that you can walk out at almost any time of day or night and find someone cooking something delicious on the street. It’s such an ordinary part of life here that we sometimes take it for granted. But it brings people together from all walks of life, and I would hate to see Bangkok lose that.
Yasmina: What does Bangkok have that London could never give you, and what does London have that you sometimes find yourself missing in Bangkok?
Pao: Bangkok has incredible food available practically 24 hours a day. You can be hungry at three in the morning and still find something amazing to eat.
London, on the other hand, has that winter atmosphere that I really miss sometimes, especially Winter Wonderland. There’s something magical about being wrapped up in a coat, walking around in the cold with a hot drink. I love the gloomy London weather somehow haha.
Yasmina: Where would you take someone in Bangkok if you wanted them to understand your taste? Not necessarily somewhere fashionable or beautiful, just somewhere that feels unmistakably like you.
Pao: I’d start with the Grand Palace and a couple of temples because I think you need to understand Thailand’s culture and history to really understand Bangkok. Then I’d take them to a local restaurant for proper Thai food, nothing too complicated, and finish with mango sticky rice. For me, that’s a good way to experience Thailand: a little culture, a lot of food!
Yasmina: Is there a particular building, interior, or piece of architecture in Bangkok that you’ve always been fascinated by? Even something other people would consider completely unremarkable?
Pao: I love Baan Trok Tua Ngork in Chinatown. It’s an old family shophouse that has been transformed into a creative space while still retaining so much of its original character. What I love is that they didn’t just make an old building look new; they found a way to give it a new life while preserving its history. They reused original materials and details, and the contrast between the old structure and the contemporary design makes it really interesting.
Yasmina: What’s your relationship with the city's nightlife? Do you think Bangkok becomes a different place after midnight, or does it simply reveal another side of itself?
Pao: Definitely. Bangkok’s nightlife is second to none. I love that you can have so many different experiences in one city, from a relaxed cocktail bar to somewhere with great music where you end up staying until late. The energy changes as the night goes on, and there’s always somewhere to go, whatever mood you’re in. I think that freedom is part of what makes Bangkok so special.
Yasmina: If you had to make a film about Bangkok without including any of its famous landmarks, what would the opening scene look like?
Pao: A close-up of a young woman eating ice cream in the middle of a rice field. It sounds completely ordinary, but I’d shoot it in a way that makes the scene feel a little surreal and cinematic. I like the idea of finding something unexpected in an everyday moment.
Yasmina: Has your relationship with Bangkok changed as you've grown older? Are there places or aspects of the city that you've only recently learned to appreciate?
Pao: As I get older, I appreciate Bangkok more and more. I love seeing how the city has developed, especially with more art spaces, museums and parks that people can enjoy. We even have a beautiful riverside shopping mall where you can escape the heat, enjoy the architecture, eat well and spend an entire afternoon. How many cities offer that combination? I think when you’re younger, you focus more on what you want to do elsewhere. As you get older, you start noticing and appreciating what you already have at home.
Yasmina: What's the strangest or most unexpectedly beautiful thing you've encountered in Bangkok? Something you still think about, even if it seemed insignificant at the time.
Pao: I think it’s those little moments when you see traditional Thai life happening right next to modern Bangkok. You might be surrounded by traffic and skyscrapers, then turn into a small alley and find an old shrine, a family cooking together or someone quietly making offerings. The contrast is beautiful because it reminds you that beneath all the development, the soul of Bangkok is still there.
Yasmina: If you could spend one entire day in Bangkok without any obligations, where would you go, who would you see, and how late would you stay out?
Pao: I’d start with a slow morning, good coffee and breakfast, then visit a temple or an art gallery for a bit of inspiration. I’d have lunch with friends, spend the afternoon somewhere by the river, grab some street fried chicken and maybe stop by dib Museum. In the evening, I’d have dinner somewhere with great food, then go for drinks with friends and see where the night takes us. I’d probably stay out quite late. The best days are the ones you don’t have to plan too much.
Yasmina: If Bangkok were a person you knew, how would you describe them? And do you think the two of you would get along?
Pao: Bangkok would be that friend who is a little chaotic, always energetic, sometimes unpredictable, but never boring. They can be glamorous one minute and completely down to earth the next. I think we’d get along very well because I like that mix of personalities. There’s always another side to discover, and I don’t think I’d ever get bored of them.
THIRTEEN LITTLE THINGS ABOUT PAO
Yasmina: And before I let you go, thirteen quick questions. Don't think about your answers too much. The first thing that comes to mind is usually the most interesting. Your favourite street in Bangkok?
Pao: Sukhumvit Road.
Yasmina: Bangkok in the rain or Bangkok in the heat?
Pao: In the rain.
Yasmina: A film you could watch thirteen times?
Pao: About Time.
Yasmina: A piece of clothing you'd never give away?
Pao: My Manchester United 2007/2008 home shirt (reminds me of the good old days hahaha).
Yasmina: A Bangkok restaurant you'd defend with your life?
Pao: Charmkrung.
Yasmina: Your favourite thing to do completely alone?
Pao: Cooking.
Yasmina: A fictional character you secretly identify with?
Pao: Spider-Man.
Yasmina: Something you find beautiful that other people find ugly?
Pao: My fashion sense lol.
Yasmina: The most ridiculous thing you've ever purchased?
Pao: Kaws Four Foot Companion.
Yasmina: One place in the world you'd happily disappear to?
Pao: Some island with a lot of whales.
Yasmina: One word to describe yourself?
Pao: Peaceful.
Yasmina: One word to describe me?
Pao: Passionate.
Yasmina: Your favourite word in any language?
Pao: “Lush” means “cool” in English. First slang I learnt.
THANK YOU, PAO