Lingling Kwong Is Ready For The Spotlight

Lingling Sirilak Kwong photographs like she’s just stepped out of a fairy tale with her large doe-eyes and porcelain-like features. At the specially created set, she brings to life the world of Alice in Wonderland as she poses with the miniature furniture. Belying her feminine and soft appearance, she is anything but a Disney leading lady. “One turd incoming,” she deadpans in between shots, as the redfaced Gouldian finch she is sharing the frame with does the deed. 

“I’m not a girly girl at all,” the actress reveals. “I’ve watched the animations, but I’m not a Disney girl. I actually haven’t been in many fantasy-themed photoshoots, so I thought today’s shoot was super cute and fun to do.”

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Her ads are plastered all over Bangkok’s billboards and train stations, and she has countless collaborations with high-end brands. Most recently, she was one of the top trending celebrities to attend Paris fashion week, showing just how influential she has grown on the global stage. But it was her leading role in the series The Secret of Us last summer that first led to her meteoric rise outside of Thailand. Hyped for being the very first GL (girls’ love) series that Channel 3, the Thai national broadcaster had produced, the drama was also the 30-year-old’s first starring role in a sapphic drama. She plays Dr Fahlada, a jilted dermatologist who puts up a stoic front when a former lover re-enters her life.

“I did feel pressured, but also excited since it was Channel 3’s first GL series,” Lingling recalls. “You really have no idea how things will turn out. I was astonished to suddenly have so many fans because I never expected that day would ever come. But after a few more episodes aired, a lot more work started coming in for me and I didn’t have time to be astonished anymore. I had to get to work and focus on what was in front of me.”

Following the success of The Secret of Us, which transformed Lingling and her co-star Orm Kornnaphat Sethratanapong into household names and hot property on the GL circuit around the world, the pair returned in July with another series, Only You. Looking macho and kicking butt in stilettos, Lingling stars as Tawan, a bodyguard hired to protect Orm’s Ira, a superstar performer. To train for her very first action role, Lingling took up kendo and shooting—all of which garnered her much online fanfare for looking so effortlessly cool. “I had to be extremely focused in order to remember the action sequences which were very demanding; but it was so much fun,” she says. “I got lots of bruises, but I’m used to them. I’m not afraid of getting hurt.”

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This dedication to the role explains the series’ popularity, but the fact that Lingling’s off-screen personality seemed to be written into her GL characters also plays a part. Cool and composed, the divide between Dr Fahlada, Tawan and Lingling dims as she exudes grounding, big sister energy in real and reel life. Her gentle tone and tender glances are all it takes to soothe even the most frazzled nerves. “When in a conversation, I’m ready to understand [others] and I prefer to listen,” she explains. “My characters are not too far off from me; I’m quite a collected person.”

The multilingual Lingling juggles speaking in Thai, Cantonese, Mandarin and English. “It does feel like a load sometimes, but I can generally speak them all,” she smiles. Born and raised in Hong Kong to a Hong Konger father and a Thai mother, she moved back to Thailand when she was 17. While studying tourism management at Khon Kaen University, she took part in beauty pageants and won the Miss Khao Suan Kwang in 2018. She caught the attention of executives in Channel 3 and signed with them as an artist, playing supporting roles in period romantic-comedies, before scoring the lead in Makkali The Love Tree (2022).

But it was her turn in The Secret of Us that completely changed her trajectory. The transition into the role was smooth, which she acknowledges is due to her co-star, Orm. “I think it was because I was working with Orm, who put me at ease. She’s the best partner and we’re close. We’re each other’s safe haven, and I’m willing to keep my secrets with her. I’ve worked with her for two years now and have lots of good memories with her, especially when we travel abroad together for work.”

In November, the pair will be busy with fan-meet concerts in Macau, Vietnam, and Bangkok’s 12,000-seater Impact Arena. When she isn’t working on improving her singing, she’s “looking at the Panthère de Cartier watch. Daily,” she grins. “I look at it online every day but haven’t bought it yet,” the actress giggles about her latest obsession. “I already have a full diamond one for events, but am looking at the rose gold one [for casual wear]. I usually like white gold or rose gold jewellery. I liked the new Cartier Love Unlimited bracelets I wore on the shoot today, because you can connect and combine different pieces, or wear them separately.”

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Besides the versatile jewellery and timepieces, Lingling has another joy. “On my days off, I like to read the handwritten letters from fans,” she muses. “It may seem old-fashioned, but it is meaningful to me. Please feel free to send me letters—I’m very happy to read them.” 

So what’s next for the rising star? She reveals that she is working on her own lifestyle brand, Always Wonder, and learning how to run the business. She says, “I want to make my brand more well known; and I am also working on adding more purchasing channels so it will be easier for fans to access the stuff.” But what about her acting and future roles? “I want to be a cop,” she answers with a smile. “I’d love to be in a Hong Kong cop movie like the ones I watched growing up.”

Editor-in-Chief: Kenneth Goh
Photography: John Tods
Creative direction: Windy Aulia
Makeup: Thoedsak Bandasak
Hair: Akkapol Giersub
Producer: Nina Simpson
Production manager: Sudarat Sa-Ardkhaw
Set stylist: Anakpong Suwannaput
Photographer’s assistants: Wanlop Banchuen, Audomsak Aemausin, Narong Tharveeyart
Stylist’s assistants: Phi Ritwiwat, Patipan Limsuwash
Cover look: Cartier