Translated interview from Sanook: http://news.sanook.com/1810018/
Legendary Actress Namngern Boonak Speaks About "Krasue Yai Saai" Legend
With over 60 years of experience in the entertainment industry, many people including your grandparents are sure to recognize the name of legendary actress Namngern Boonak, or as people in the ET would call her, Khun Mae Namngern. She became famous after her role in the terrifying lakorn called Krasue that aired in 1994 (a type of filth eating spirit from Thai legends that is human by day but detaches its head from its body at night to prey on human flesh and animals). During that time, all the young children and toddlers would be afraid of Krasue Yai Saai (Krasue Grandma Saai) because they thought she was real. (I WAS ONE OF THEM LOL.)
Recently, Dao Nai Dua Jai from Channel 10 had the opportunity to interview her about her role for lakorn Krasue. Many people might not know of Khun Mae Namngern's current lifestyle. She still drives herself to lakorn sets to film lakorns.
How do you feel about the memorable role of Krasue Yai Saai?
During the time I played the role, I was very tired. Krasue is a filth eating spirit that goes out at night. We would have to film all night. It was extremely tiring. It's tiring when they had to use the technique of having my head detach from my body. Before my head becomes detached, I'd have to act as the spirit as well. It's not a normal kind of acting. My mouth had to have blood on it too. My head had to move like a krasue as accurate as possible. My head, my face, and my body were all soiled and messy.
Do you still remember the acting technique you used for when you detached your head?
I did it from evening until very late into the night (laughs). My bladder was detached and floating. Sometimes, they took pig intestines and had to blow into them so they'd expand. They didn't die yet (jokes). Sometimes, they'd blow into it until it becomes pregnant (talking about how it expands) (laughs). The police likes to come search our cars at night. At the time, we went to shoot at Lat Lum Kaew. I'd tap on the car windows. My hair was pretty messy. The police was startled when he saw me (laughs). When he realized it was me, he was like, "Oh, it's you auntie." (laughs).
This lakorn was very famous at that time.
When I went to Sing Buri Province, there was a child who saw me and cried. He hugged his father's neck tightly. His mother told the child to not be afraid of grandma. Another incident was when I went to eat noodles at Lat Praao. There was a small young boy who snuck to look at me by the door (laughs). The child's mother told me how he liked to watch the lakorn. However, before the krasue comes out on tv, he'd run to the prayer room to grab a holy bead necklace to wear. He's scared but still wants to watch (laugh). One time, I went to make merit with my friend. We were trying to raise money for the temple, so I'd go on stage with my friend. The children there recognized me and started crying in fear.
Presently, do you still receive continuous work?
I still receive work because the people during my generation are decreasng (laughs). They give roles they see fitting for me. Right now, I'm filming lakorn Prissana. I play as Prissana's grandmother. Filming is completed.
Until now, you still drive yourself to places no matter the distance?
I drive myself because I've been driving since I was younger. I go by myself. No matter the distance, I still go by myself.
Don't you become tired from driving yourself to the lakorn set?
It's not tiring to drive out of town. It's more tiring to drive in Bangkok (laughs). There's so much traffic.
What do you want to say to people who follow your work until this day?
I want to tell those from my generation that are remaining fewer and fewer each day (laughs), we have to follow and cheer for each other na ka (smiles). I want to wish everyone good health. Whatever you set your mind on doing may you become successful as you desire. As for children of our future generation, please set your mind on school and education. Pass all your exams and become number one all the time. May you progress forward and achieve success in the future. May God bless you all every day.
I don't know if you guys have ever watched Krasue of 1994 but it's one of the best horror lakorns in Thai history EVER! This lakorn scared me since I was little until now. Lol. I thought it was real also. Considering the lack of technology back then, it looked so realistic. I remember my cousin using it to scare me to go to bed since I wanted to stay up. Lol. Every time I saw it onscreen, me and my nephews would run into the other room screaming if we were alone. Lol. It's such a classic. Khun Mae Namngern is legendary all right. She has played in all kinds of impressive roles. Ones that had me scared and in tears due her sad characters. She's an amazing actress. She was also Klaao's mother in Mon Ruk Look Toong 1995. She also played p'ek's crazy mother in Nampeung Satan. I love this lady! Here's the opening to Krasue if you guys are interested. Lol. It's scary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcOhhuJ9NsQ
Beautiful OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gbP6YUSa0s
Legendary Actress Namngern Boonak Speaks About "Krasue Yai Saai" Legend
With over 60 years of experience in the entertainment industry, many people including your grandparents are sure to recognize the name of legendary actress Namngern Boonak, or as people in the ET would call her, Khun Mae Namngern. She became famous after her role in the terrifying lakorn called Krasue that aired in 1994 (a type of filth eating spirit from Thai legends that is human by day but detaches its head from its body at night to prey on human flesh and animals). During that time, all the young children and toddlers would be afraid of Krasue Yai Saai (Krasue Grandma Saai) because they thought she was real. (I WAS ONE OF THEM LOL.)
Recently, Dao Nai Dua Jai from Channel 10 had the opportunity to interview her about her role for lakorn Krasue. Many people might not know of Khun Mae Namngern's current lifestyle. She still drives herself to lakorn sets to film lakorns.
How do you feel about the memorable role of Krasue Yai Saai?
During the time I played the role, I was very tired. Krasue is a filth eating spirit that goes out at night. We would have to film all night. It was extremely tiring. It's tiring when they had to use the technique of having my head detach from my body. Before my head becomes detached, I'd have to act as the spirit as well. It's not a normal kind of acting. My mouth had to have blood on it too. My head had to move like a krasue as accurate as possible. My head, my face, and my body were all soiled and messy.
Do you still remember the acting technique you used for when you detached your head?
I did it from evening until very late into the night (laughs). My bladder was detached and floating. Sometimes, they took pig intestines and had to blow into them so they'd expand. They didn't die yet (jokes). Sometimes, they'd blow into it until it becomes pregnant (talking about how it expands) (laughs). The police likes to come search our cars at night. At the time, we went to shoot at Lat Lum Kaew. I'd tap on the car windows. My hair was pretty messy. The police was startled when he saw me (laughs). When he realized it was me, he was like, "Oh, it's you auntie." (laughs).
This lakorn was very famous at that time.
When I went to Sing Buri Province, there was a child who saw me and cried. He hugged his father's neck tightly. His mother told the child to not be afraid of grandma. Another incident was when I went to eat noodles at Lat Praao. There was a small young boy who snuck to look at me by the door (laughs). The child's mother told me how he liked to watch the lakorn. However, before the krasue comes out on tv, he'd run to the prayer room to grab a holy bead necklace to wear. He's scared but still wants to watch (laugh). One time, I went to make merit with my friend. We were trying to raise money for the temple, so I'd go on stage with my friend. The children there recognized me and started crying in fear.
Presently, do you still receive continuous work?
I still receive work because the people during my generation are decreasng (laughs). They give roles they see fitting for me. Right now, I'm filming lakorn Prissana. I play as Prissana's grandmother. Filming is completed.
Until now, you still drive yourself to places no matter the distance?
I drive myself because I've been driving since I was younger. I go by myself. No matter the distance, I still go by myself.
Don't you become tired from driving yourself to the lakorn set?
It's not tiring to drive out of town. It's more tiring to drive in Bangkok (laughs). There's so much traffic.
What do you want to say to people who follow your work until this day?
I want to tell those from my generation that are remaining fewer and fewer each day (laughs), we have to follow and cheer for each other na ka (smiles). I want to wish everyone good health. Whatever you set your mind on doing may you become successful as you desire. As for children of our future generation, please set your mind on school and education. Pass all your exams and become number one all the time. May you progress forward and achieve success in the future. May God bless you all every day.
I don't know if you guys have ever watched Krasue of 1994 but it's one of the best horror lakorns in Thai history EVER! This lakorn scared me since I was little until now. Lol. I thought it was real also. Considering the lack of technology back then, it looked so realistic. I remember my cousin using it to scare me to go to bed since I wanted to stay up. Lol. Every time I saw it onscreen, me and my nephews would run into the other room screaming if we were alone. Lol. It's such a classic. Khun Mae Namngern is legendary all right. She has played in all kinds of impressive roles. Ones that had me scared and in tears due her sad characters. She's an amazing actress. She was also Klaao's mother in Mon Ruk Look Toong 1995. She also played p'ek's crazy mother in Nampeung Satan. I love this lady! Here's the opening to Krasue if you guys are interested. Lol. It's scary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcOhhuJ9NsQ
Beautiful OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gbP6YUSa0s
Nattaraht Maurice & Ploy P. were rececently in an evening lakorn that dealt with Krasue too.