BANGKOK — Thai actor Naphat Siangsomboon has spoken about his experience portraying Mingyi Swa, the crown prince of Hongsawadi, in the major historical drama series Hongsawadi (The Last Duel), calling the role the greatest honour of his acting career.
Naphat said he approached the role with his whole heart, dedicating himself to studying the history and travelling to Bago, the ancient city of Hongsawadi in Myanmar, to absorb the atmosphere of the place.
“I wanted to understand what Mingyi Swa felt — because in Thailand, no one has ever really told the story of what happened to the people of Hongsawadi, Ayutthaya, or Phitsanulok,” he said. “This story focuses on humanity — ordinary human feelings — but set within a royal family that had to carry the burden of an entire people.”
Naphat said the response from Myanmar audiences had moved him deeply. He recalled a woman approaching him at a Channel 3 event who turned out to be Burmese.
“She said to me, ‘My deep appreciation to you.’ I was shaking inside — I could feel he meant it genuinely,” Naphat said. He added that his message inbox had since been filled with messages from Myanmar fans writing carefully in Thai.
Naphat said he was grateful for the warm welcome he received during his time in Myanmar, where locals — including guides and villagers — went out of their way to help him despite the language barrier.
“I feel deeply honoured to have played Prince Mingyi Swa,” he said.