We can count on Aof |for a poke in the eye

You’ll probably never forget his last acceptance speech, delivered amid the Bangkok political mayhem of 2010. Holding the trophy for best actor that time, Aof earned a standing ovation for his proud evocation of King and country. We’re one big family in Thailand, he said, so “if you hate Father, if you no longer love Father, just get out, because this is Father’s house.” 

This time around, Aof kept his remarks short and far less emotional, though no less political. After saying simply that he’s delighted every time he receives an award, he also expressed “Thanks for returning happiness to Thai people. I hope it will last a long time.” Then he raised three fingers – but not the “Hunger Games salute” adopted by anti-coup demonstrators. 

Another acceptance speech, another uproar on the social networks: Many viewers found his appearance unduly provocative, while others were full of admiration and thought he was mocking the anti-coup protesters. 

Someday somebody will make a “best of” video of Aof’s memorable public pronouncements.

Ploy gets displaced

Actress Chermarn “Ploy” Boonyasak doesn’t mind losing out on a role in an upcoming TV series to Woranuch “Noon” Bhirombakdi (who’s just won a Nataraja Award of her own). She’s just puzzled by the way Channel 3 handled the casting. 

Ploy says PolyPlus chief Oraphan “Nid” Wacharaphol approached her about starring in the series, but then her mother got a call from Channel 3 saying Ploy was no longer needed for the role. “I’m sorry about missing out,” Ploy says, “but I can’t care too much. I’m getting a new project anyway, a period drama.”

Not only that, she’s got another gig doing to same work as Hollywood star Angelina Jolie – promoting the United Nations’ World Refugees Day on June 20. 

Ploy, Jolie and fellow actresses Kat Graham (“The Vampire Diaries”) and Diane Kruger (“The Bridge”), best-selling novelist Khaled Hosseini and Colombian pop singer Juanes are all releasing 30-second videos about the plight of displaced people. “A refugee experiences the universal emotions that each and every one of us would feel if we were faced with the prospect of losing everything, starting from scratch or safeguarding our family from violence,” Ploy says.

Surely Ploy and Angelina face no such perils? “The celebrities can tell the story of those refugees,” Ploy explains. “We’re needed nowadays to convey messages to the public so they know there are people in need and what help we can provide.”

Though a show-business veteran, Ploy admits she’s rather new to social work. “This project is only in the beginning stages, but in the long run I might have to visit refugee camps to learn about conditions on the ground. I might have to ask my TV producers to give me some time off.”