Sarawut “Aon” Martthong His name may be one of Thailand’s most googled words this year. After the video clip scandal, the actor seeks solace in work, gardening and Bollywood dreams.

I was miserable about the you-know-what incident. After the clip was leaked, everything came crashing down on me. I messed up everything I had worked hard for and, more importantly, I felt like I awfully disappointed my fans.

Now I’m feeling better. From the incident, I’ve learned to let go and not care too much about what other people think. I’m grateful that I am surrounded by those who understand and support me. My work also helps keep me sane and motivated. I’m putting myself back together and hopefully I’ve become stronger than ever.

It’s difficult to keep my private life private. I realize that it is a sacrifice to make in order to do what I love, which is acting. But it shouldn’t mean I need to share 100% of my life to the public. I do think that everyone deserves some privacy.

To become a dancer was my childhood dream. I grew up watching music videos of singers like J Jetrin and Touch Na Takuathung. I even auditioned to be a dancer but I showed up on the wrong day. But a talent scout spotted me and asked me to try out acting instead. So here I am.

Starring in a TV series can become tedious after a while. There aren’t enough good roles for TV actors here. It’s like you get to eat the same old food every day.

I want to play a person with a split personality. Thai TV series tend to cast characters as either black or white, but that’s not how real people are. I remember watching Primal Fear and was left stunned at the end of the movie by Edward Norton’s stellar performance. He’s my all-time favorite actor.

I envy Bollywood actors. They get to act, sing and dance. Thai pra-eks [leading actors], on the other hand, are supposed to be poised and composed, which at times can be unchallenging, if not boring.

Broadway is my dream. I am thinking about taking a couple of years off to go get experience there. A set decorator, a stand-in, an assistant prop master, a slave—I’m willing to do anything and everything to get in [laughs].

You don’t just star in a play, you live it. It’s as real and exhilarating as things get.

A good actor needs to keep learning.

Of course, I have to sell my look. But I want to be an actor who creates a masterpiece with my acting, not only with my appearance.

In order to do well in the entertainment business, you have to have talent, respect for others and a bit of luck.

My proudest achievement was when I performed in the play Eclipse at Patravadi Theater. I had to practice both traditional and contemporary dance. I was covered with bruises. I got blistered feet and a dislocated shoulder. I cried almost every night. I didn’t want just a big clap at the end of the play. I wanted a standing ovation. In the end, it paid off nicely.

What makes me happy is getting to spend time at home. I am a homebody. I like to stay in, rent some DVDs and take care of my plants.

I love solitude. Sometimes I meet a tad too many people because of my job. So I am very happy if I get to enjoy my “me” time. I like to go to the temple when I have some free time. Not to practice meditation or anything, though. I simply sit, linger and enjoy the peace and quiet there.

OK is not ok with me. Whenever I do something, I strive only for the best. Sometimes it’s hard to live up to. But hey, no pain, no gain.

I’m just a human. I make mistakes. I have my ups and downs. But life’s like that. As long as you are still alive, you are going to go trough a lot of that and you have to learn to deal with it.