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Princess Ubolratana has taken on a new role as an actress in the feature film “Neung Jai Diaw Kan”
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PROFILE
Echoes of a royal life
Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra
Sunday Nation
Published on August 3, 2008
The movie 'Where the Miracle Happens' forces Princess Ubolratana to set free some difficult emotions
Long admired for her "To Be Number One" anti-drug campaign, Princess Ubolratana has taken on a new role as an actress in the feature film "Neung Jai Diaw Kan" ("Where the Miracle Happens") - but the theme remains the same: inspiring people to find a better way. The movie is based on her book "Rueng San Thee Chan Kid" ("My Short Story") and ties in with another of her charitable projects called Miracle of Life. Unconvinced of her acting talents, the Princess only agreed to take on the lead role in the film at director Sripakorn Wongchariyawat's insistence. She is, she says, open to con¬structive criticism. "If I don't hear anything I won't know what people think! And if the criticism is creative I can improve," she says. She can't resist adding with a laugh, "But if it's not constructive, it will probably bounce back at the speaker!" Seeing royal emotion is a rare thing, which is what makes this movie even more compelling. Princess Ubolratana plays Pimdao, a successful businesswoman who's come to realise that there's more to life than money and fame. The course of her life shifts abruptly after she sees the hardships that upcountry kids endure every day. Yes, there are tears, but crying isn't something that comes easily to the Princess. "I've had so much sadness in my life that I tend to block the tears," she says. But the film script couldn't fail to breach the dam. Among other similari¬ties, Pimdao has lost a daughter, just as the Princess lost her only son, Khun Bhumi Jensen, in the tsunami. She took her role seriously and earned the admiration of her fellow cast members. The Princess worked hard and never complained about the sometimesdifficult conditions in remote shooting locations. The reward Princess Ubolratana is hoping for in return for her determination is that the movie's message gets through - that underprivileged kids deserve understanding a helping hand.
XTRA How you can help >> While the Princess' To Be Number One campaign addresses drug abuse among young people, her Miracle of Life project promotes organ donation and builds schools in poor districts. >> Donations are welcome. Address them to Miracle of Life, Bangkok Bank Soi Aree branch, account number 1274784311.
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