Rachata “Jam” Hampanont on Chasing Dreams, Overcoming Fears, and Finding His Place in the Spotlight
Author: Phuriwat Hirunrangsee and Kantinan Srisan | Photographer: Somkiat Kangsdalwirun
Apr 13, 2025
"...Jam-Rachata Hampanont, the talented young actor with a striking presence, has already proven his acting prowess through numerous works on One31. The turning point in his journey to becoming an actor began when he broadened his horizons by participating in an international competition, coupled with the courage to start something new in his life..."
"I've done a lot, starting from competing in university pageants to participating in various competitions. The last competition I entered as a serious model was Mr. International, which took place in the Philippines. When I competed internationally, I was able to see the world in a broader way. At that point, I realised that the career path I wanted to pursue was acting. It became a turning point in my life, a chance to try something new. I wanted to see what would happen if I pursued this path to the fullest. I think it’s about overcoming the fear inside of us, whether or not we dare to step out of our comfort zone. For example, if I had stayed as a model, I could have sustained myself at a certain level, but if I didn't try something new, I would have remained stuck there. It was the ultimate challenge to see if I could break out of that mold. If it didn't work, I could always go back to where I was or try other new paths. At the time, I was still young, only in my early 20s. After giving it a try and going through everything, it became a life experience that was a lot of fun. I think it was worth it. Even if there were no Jam-Rachata today, I would have tried another path that I wanted to pursue."
The journey of this young actor to prove himself has been filled with numerous obstacles. However, he has come to realise that, no matter what problems or challenges arise, the best approach is to face them head-on and give it a try.
"Go for it. Just try it. Nowadays, there are so many more opportunities to explore than when I was a kid. I’m from a new generation too, but things move so fast now, and there are so many ways to discover yourself. You can be an influencer, a model, or an actor, just give it a go. There are so many young people coming into the industry now. When I was 15, I was still playing marbles. But now, these younger generations are already acting, casting, and becoming artists. Don’t wait for someone to invite you. These days, there are so many options, and we have to take the initiative ourselves. I’d encourage you to try and see if you truly enjoy it. If not, then just look for a new path. That’s all."
One of the works that made him well-known was his collaboration with Film-Thanapat in a boy love series. This valuable experience helped him gain more confidence in pursuing his solo projects.
"The drama 'To Sir, With Love' was a project where I had the chance to work with Film. At that time, it was something completely new for me, and I was really excited to be part of such a big project. Working with him was a lot of fun. He’s someone with a lot of experience, so he would always guide me, saying things like, 'Hey, you can’t do it this way,' or 'This way works better,' or even, 'Why don’t you try practicing this?' He would always offer helpful advice. Every time we stood on stage together for a fan meeting, when we looked at each other, we could instantly tell what was going on. It felt like, 'Hey, you're doing it this way, can you help me with this?' There was this connection on stage that made working together so much fun. I gained so much experience from being on set with him, and when I started working on my solo projects, I applied a lot of that experience."
Jam's ultimate goal doesn't have to be one big milestone. Instead, he sets small goals for himself and gradually works towards achieving them, one step at a time.
"Success isn’t just one big goal for me. My ultimate goal is to be able to work, buy whatever I want, take care of my parents, and take care of myself. But I always set small flags along the way. When I competed and went abroad, I became a runner-up, and that felt like success to me. I thought, 'This is already great.' As for the moment when I felt like an artist or actor, it was probably when I first went to an event and saw all the fans showing up. Then, when I got a challenging role in a drama, and the seniors trusted me to play it, I felt that was a big achievement. But I keep setting goals, step by step. I don’t have one specific spot where I say, 'Okay, this is the end.' It’s never like that."
Read the full article in the April 2025 issue of Hashtag Legend Thailand.
Also See: Cover Story: Baifern Pimchanok and her journey of acting, love, and success
