If you’ve been watching Thai dramas in the last decade, chances are, you’ve seen her. Expressive eyes, high cheekbones, and a presence that draws you in without trying too hard. But Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich, or better known to fans simply as Nychaa, isn’t just another pretty face. Since making her acting debut at 17, she has steadily carved out her place in the Thai entertainment industry, growing from teen sweetheart roles to more complex and layered characters. Today, she’s part of a new wave of Southeast Asian talent shaping their own path in and beyond the region.

“I never dreamed of becoming an actress,” she tells us. “I wanted to be an architect. Or maybe a painter. I loved drawing and colouring when I was a kid.” Life, however, had different plans. “Once I started acting, I realised I really liked it. It’s a kind of art, too.”

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For Nychaa, acting is a craft that is full of discovery, as it allows her to try different things and understand people more deeply. “There were two dramas that really changed things for me. I started to enjoy acting more, and that’s when I knew—this is something I could do for the long haul,” she says of her experiences on the sets of drama series Sapai Jao (2015) and high school romcom series Nang Ai (2016).

When we meet Nychaa on set for this cover shoot, that easy confidence is obvious. We’re shooting in an abandoned pharmaceutical lab—hot, dusty, a little chaotic—but she’s unfazed. Calm, game for anything, and easy to direct, she slips into each frame naturally, building an effortless rhythm with the photographer that shows immediately on the images framed on the screen.

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At one point, we ask if she’s willing to drench herself with water for a shot. She replies without any hesitation. “Let’s do it,” she laughs, tossing her hair back before stepping into position. It’s the kind of easy-going professionalism that speaks louder than any performance. So it’s no surprise that she gravitates toward roles that also stretch her ability and talent. Her most demanding role so far? Playing Bongkot (or Bua), a Chinese opera performer who falls in love with the son of a rich family (and him with her) in the Romeo and Juliet-esque series, Sanae Nang Ngiew (2018).

“I had to sing, dance, and act. And I had to do them all in a style I had never done before,” she shares about the challenging role. “The character went through so much but kept it all inside. To me, that was the hardest part: Trying to feel everything deeply without showing it.”

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That tension between vulnerability and control is something she seems to understand instinctively. It’s there in her career choices, too, like her recent decision to go freelance after years under the same agency, Channel 3, Thailand and Bangkok’s first commercial free-to-air television network. “I just wanted to try something new, to step outside certain boundaries,” she explains about the decision to end her contract. “I didn’t want to look back one day and feel like I hadn’t challenged myself.” And the gamble paid off. “I feel like I’m running free now,” she says. “Trying new things, making mistakes, learning along the way. That’s what excites me.”

One of those experiments was this year’s Halabala. The film, a supernatural horror-comedy which follows the strange happenings in a quiet town, began screening in Singapore cinemas in April. Being part of the film gave her the chance to step outside her comfort zone. “The script was so fun. It felt mature, totally different from my life. I’d never done anything like it—it really pushed me as an actor,” she says of her role. She plays Vi, the heavily pregnant wife of the film’s protagonist, played by Chantavit “Ter” Dhanasevi. “Also, I love horror movies. But no way I’d ever watch one alone!” she adds with a grin.

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Having dedicated the past 12 years to her craft, Nychaa is as candid as she is honest about the more challenging aspects of the industry, such as dealing with criticism and public opinion. “I’ve learnt to separate what’s useful for my growth and what’s not. There are things that we simply cannot control or fix and so I let go of those; and I talk to myself a lot more now. That’s how I’ve gotten to know and trust myself more; I’m more confident.”

That inner clarity also spills over into her personal style. “I’ve always dressed in different ways depending on how I feel,” she says. “But now, I prefer things simpler and more modern.” Her go-to everyday outfit these days comprise oversized sweaters, loose pants, and a great bag to pull everything together—much like the Polo Ralph Lauren looks she wears in the photoshoot. “Even if I’m dressed casually, a good bag and lipstick can change the whole look. It shows a little of who you are,” she quips.

To her, fashion has always been an emotional and intuitive experience. She’s especially fascinated by designers who blur the lines between fashion and art. In particular, she is a big fan of Jonathan Anderson. “I love everything he creates because his clothes bring art and craft into fashion,” she says.

So it feels only natural that Nychaa has been stepping further into the fashion world herself. Earlier this year, she attended Paris Fashion Week, taking in the Loewe and Balenciaga shows with her signature easy-going style. One of her favourite moments, she shares, is the seconds just before a fashion show is about to start. “It always feels like you’re about to step into another world—a world with its own story, its own emotions. I never forget that feeling.”

For all her fame, Nychaa keeps her goals refreshingly grounded. “Finding balance every day—that’s really my main focus,” she says. That could mean treating herself to a great meal after a long day on set, spending time with family, or simply taking some much-needed alone time. “Sometimes, I just turn off my phone, go for a massage, or stay home and watch a movie. It’s important to find those moments for yourself.”

Even as she gears up for a packed year ahead—with her Netflix project Ziam launching soon, alongside several fashion collaborations—she’s in no rush. For someone who never set out to be famous, Nychaa is proving that success doesn’t have to come with noise. “I focus on what’s in front of me,” she says simply. “I know my limits. I know when to hold my ground.”

Photographed by ATHIBODEE SUWANNACHOT
Styled by JEFFREY YAN
Make-up Artist HIRUN BOONKARNWANIT
Hairstylist HARIT PUNYAAIY
Producer VORRAKAMON TECHASARATHUN
Set Designer THANAWAT SAETAN
Photographer’s Assistants KANAPATR TANTIWORAWONG; PIRASAK CHITSOM; ASAWIN ROOPNGAM
Stylist’s Assistant RATCHAPHON CHAROENKUSOL
Production Assistant PRIMPRAEW CHAOTANAPONNON
Set Design Assistant JARUNIPA KEERATIJEERANAN
Lighting Technicians TEAM FIRE
Location Scout CHATRAWAT ASSAWASOPHONKUL