Blue Pongtiwat and Jaeger-LeCoultre on embracing speeds of time

In an exclusive interview with Men’s Folio, Thai actor “Blue” Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen dons the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso and speaks about the concept of time […]

By Asaph Low

October 22, 2024

In an exclusive interview with Men’s Folio, Thai actor “Blue” Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen dons the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso and speaks about the concept of time as well as his latest endeavours.

Hi Blue, 2024 began on a high note for you with the premiering of two of your dramas — Intern In My Heart and Ready, Set, Love. Is the year ending on an even higher note for you?
There haven’t been any new acting projects this year because I’m very interested in and enjoying fashion right now. So, this year, I’ve focused mainly on fashion. Most people will see me involved with fashion work this year.

While you are between production schedules, do you prefer to take a break to disconnect, or do you prefer to go straight into preparation to maintain momentum?
I’m a very laid-back person. I don’t rush or pressure myself when working. When I take on a project, I choose the ones I feel like are right for me to have time to rest, live life, and maintain a good work-life balance.

Reverso Tribute Monoface Midsize, Jaeger-LeCoultre

Whenever you are presented with a new project, is the overall script or the character more important?
Both are important but I start by reading the storyline and script to understand the story and character. When I’m done, I’ll be naturally drawn in by the story and characters; that’s when I’ll know whether I want to take on the project or not.

Are there any character roles you have wanted to portray, such as the funny guy or the antagonist?
I want to try playing a villain because my acting coach once told me I’d probably be good at it. I feel it would be a good challenge since I’ve always played good characters so far. I want to try playing a bad character.

Are there any upcoming projects you are working on that you can share?
Right now, they’re still being discussed. I hope there will be some acting work for everyone to follow next year. Most of my work is focused on fashion and modelling for now.

Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon, Jaeger-LeCoultre

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is one of the icons in the horology universe. Who are some of the icons of acting that you look up to?
The latest show I watched was Queen of Tears. I really like Kim Ji-won’s performance. She is very talented, plays her role perfectly, and really connects with the character. It made me feel immersed in the story as well.

What are some qualities you feel that make an icon?
The key quality to becoming an icon is having a good personality. In this line of work, we have to collaborate with many people. Personality is important; it makes working with others much easier if we have a good personality.

Much like the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso — which allows you to switch between two dials — is it challenging to switch characters while on set?
For me, changing characters is very challenging because I have very little life experience. When I have to take on a different character, it requires a lot of preparation and studying to understand that character truly. I need to focus and concentrate a lot when on set to get into character.

Reverso Tribute Chronograph, Jaeger-LeCoultre

Which of the characters you have portrayed so far is the closest to your heart?
I like the character Son in Ready, Set, Love because he faced difficult childhood experiences, leading to bad memories. He had a lot of pressure in life, which is very different from my experiences. That’s why I felt it was a challenge when I was chosen to play this role.

How important is the concept of time in your profession?
For me, as an actor, I place the utmost importance on punctuality because we don’t work alone. We collaborate with many others, and that’s why we must prioritise being on time.

What was your fondest memory growing up?
My favourite childhood memories are the times when my parents bought toys for me.

Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds, Jaeger-LeCoultre

If you could spend an hour with anyone — dead or alive — who would it be? What would you do together, and why?
I wish I could watch Ready, Set, Love with my grandfather and grandmother, who have passed away. When I started as a new actor, my grandfather and grandmother loved to watch my shows and felt happy about my performances even though my roles were still very small. I told them I would become a lead actor for them one day. Unfortunately, both of them passed away before that could happen. If I had the chance, I would want them to see my performances as a lead actor.

Although we all have 24 hours a day, do you often feel there is not enough time, and you are always chasing time?
Sometimes I felt like this when I just started as a new actor. I had to study while working, and there was a time when I had to shoot two series simultaneously. I tried doing many things at once, which ended up being a challenging time for me. I hardly got to see my family at all. After getting through that period, I’ve been trying to balance my work schedule better. I try not to take on more than one project in a day these days because I want to spend time with my family, too.

How do you juggle and ensure enough time for work, family, friends and yourself?
I prioritise work as the main focus, but whenever I have free time, I enjoy going out to eat, watching movies with my family, and sitting around while waiting for my mom to shop. Sometimes, I also go out to eat with friends.

Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon, Jaeger-LeCoultre

Considering your schedule is always full, what do you enjoy doing when you have pockets of free time?
In my free time, I enjoy exercising because I feel that as an actor and model, I need to take care of my physique for work. Now, I’ve been exercising regularly, which has become a hobby.

Lastly, what words of advice would you give your younger self from 10 years ago?
I would tell myself to drink more milk to grow taller.