Going the rounds with Opal

An accomplished actress, DJ, TV host and model, Panisara “Opal” Phimpru makes her debut in stage variety next month, putting on a full-scale, three-hour concert that will see her combine dancing and singing with a talk show.

Produced by A-Time Media’s CEO Saithip “Chod” Montrikul, the show at Thammasat University’s auditorium will have Opal wearing several sexy costumes, telling jokes and performing alongside a range of handsome guests.

The talented 30 year-old, who has been in the spotlight for the last eight years, is one of the few Thai female stars to have broken out of the “skinny with fair skin” mould. Recently voted by Praew Magazine as one of 10 most influential people of 2011, she has starred in 15 movies – mostly as a supporting actress, and nine television series. She is currently hosting four TV programmes plus a radio show, which takes up most of her week but insists that she’s not a superwoman.

“I’m very normal, you know. I feel love, greed and anger and I have illusions, just like anyone else,” says Opal, adding that the public assumes she is bursting with self-confidence because they judge her by the way she looks and dresses.

So who is Panisara Phimpru? And does she have a role model?

“I can’t define myself or what am I,” she answers immediately. “I can’t say I have a role model either because I borrow from several people. I don’t like to copy how other people speak or the way they dress.

“And I definitely don’t copy other people’s characters as it wouldn’t be me. I think it’s great that people have role models but they should only be inspired by them, they can’t copy.

She says her family helped shape much of her personality and that she takes after her mother.

“My mum will dance in the department store if she’s in the mood to dance. Sometimes she holds a cooking contest with my dad! My father is also very supportive. He encouraged all of us kids to think for ourselves, to learn how to dress with flair and to respect other people.”

Opal was talent-spotted by GTH while still working for her degree at Chulalongkorn University’s Communication Arts faculty. Her appearance in a faculty stage performance led to the role of Jim Dum (Black Jim) in the 2004 comedy “Jaew”, about a group of secret agents posing as housemaids. A year later, GTH cast her as the sensitive, comic-relief nurse in Komkrit Treewimol’s “Peun Sanit” (“Dear Dakanda”), which won her the Thai Entertainment Reporters Association’s Star Award for best supporting actress in 2005.

Training with GTH followed before A-time persuaded her to join radio station 94 EFM as a DJ.

“I’m so lucky that opportunity has always knocked on my door. If I were more beautiful, there would have been rumours that I was a hidden wife of a Grammy executive. If Phi Chod were a man, I’d have been accused of being a minor wife!

“Even though my chance came before I really wanted it, I’ve learned that whenever a chance comes, I’m ready. I never hesitate nor do I make a big deal about expectations,” she says, adding that too many young generation talents tend to lay down conditions that often cause them to lose out.

But while Opal says she is enjoying life, she admits that she’d like to meet Mr Right.

“I want to marry and have a family, maybe not immediately but one day,” she says.

In the meantime, she’s busy getting ready for her “one-woman” show.

“Phi Chod invited me to do this concert a few years back but I wasn’t ready. Now I have more stories to tell and I feel confident that I can put on a good variety show.

“This may be my first and last concert so everything has to be extreme – my costumes, my hair, my face and especially my guests who I love.”

Yet despite the rehearsals, she insists she’s not feeling any pressure. “There’s no reason for me to put pressure on myself. I can’t carry all the pressures from other people and if I assume the expectations of the audience, I won’t be myself.

“What I’d like to say to fans is this: do make sure you go to the restroom before the show starts. I have lots of costume changes and you are going to see costumes that you just won’t believe!”

 

MAKE ’EM LAUGH

“Opal on Stage” will be in the auditorium of Thammasat University Tha Prachan on March 31 and April 1 at 7pm.

Tickets cost Bt1,000 to Bt2,000. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.