At the age of 14, the Australian-Lao Ananda Everingham leapt into the limelight starring in the film Anda Gub Fahsai. Since then, aside from modeling and appearing in music videos for Peacemaker and Inca, he has played in films like Shutter, Me…Myself, Talay Rua Im and Khon Ruerng Muang. His latest performance is in Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s film Ploy, which will hit theaters in June.

Choosing to play only leading roles is unintelligent in my opinion, as you limit your career potential.

In Thailand, I think people still look at acting as a lifestyle rather than a career. I don’t agree with that.

Of all the parts I’ve ever played, I love Tan in Me…Myself the best. I feel he’s cute though he’s not like me at all. My character in Ploy is very interesting, too. It’s one of the best scripts I’ve read in recent years.

My favorite actor is Geoffrey Rush. He has played so many roles in numerous films but most of us don’t recognize his name. I like Gary Oldman and Johnny Depp, too.

I’m now trying to eat better, sleep more and systematize my life. I work hard and I have an insomnia problem, so I want to bring my daily life back to a normal state. I must admit that—in part—I hurt myself; I take on too many burdens, work too much.

I travel a lot. In the past, I worked to save money for trips. I would travel until my money ran out, then come back to work again.

When we travel, we see how big the world really is. It broadens our perspectives and is also reenergizing. When I see other places, I realize that my problems are not that huge. I’ve been to India and Nepal often. It was lots of fun.

When I was young, I wanted to be a marine biologist. I like diving and I grew up by the sea; I wanted to spend my life with things I like.

I’m thinking about directing a film. I’ve lived with films for half of my life, so why not direct one? Being an actor may help if I am a director one day.

If I have a chance to produce my own film, I want it to be about relationships, past and present. And about moving on in life.

Moving on is a universal theme. Everybody needs to heal the past before moving on. It’s like when we want to love somebody: first we have to let go.

Working with Pen-ek is fun. He’s a bit eccentric, almost perverse. I mean, he likes strange situations, and weird moments in ordinary people’s lives.

Pen-ek’s tastes are similar to mine, so I understand when he asks me to do something that seems unreasonable. I know there is always some reason behind his requests.

To me, the meaning of life changes everyday. Yesterday, I talked to my friend about the issue of suicide. If we all are born with sin, why don’t we just kill ourselves? It’s an interesting idea. Though suicide may set us free from sin, it doesn’t help us to understand life.

I’m not an atheist, but I’m neutral to religion. I have my own philosophy. Let’s just say I’m only human.