Key Information
- Name: Bhumibhat Thavornsiri
- Nickname: Aelm
- Birth date: September 14, 1992
- Height: 170 cm
- Known for: Actor
- Instagram: @aelmsleep
“I just want to be a stupid side character, like some Asian pizza boy who gets shot to death by a shotgun in a Tarantino film,” says Aelm Thavornsiri, only half-joking, when asked about his acting goals.
If his name—"Aelm" Bhumibhat Thavornsiri—isn’t immediately familiar, his face likely is. Aelm has made his mark through memorable supporting roles in a range of Thai films and series, including In Youth We Trust (2024), Spare Me Your Mercy (2024), Tomorrow and I (2024), and Girl from Nowhere Season 2 (2021), where he consistently elevates every scene he inhabits.
An Introspective Boy
From a young age, Aelm’s introspective nature set him apart. He spent hours questioning the world around him—why the moon seemed to follow him in the car, or what might happen if he jumped through a hole to the other side of the Earth. Often met with dismissive answers, he found comfort in cartoons, books, and long hours alone with the TV.
Although he began his university studies in Communication Design at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, his interests soon shifted to photography. It was through helping friends with film and photo projects that his fascination with the filmmaking process took root.
A Life-Altering Moment
Despite that growing passion, Aelm initially pursued copywriting. Yet, the marketing demands of the role overshadowed his creative aspirations. As he shared in an interview with The Cloud, the pressure to sell—combined with his own self-doubt—left him feeling increasingly isolated. Then came the turning point. One day, while crossing the street, Aelm was struck by a motorcycle and suffered internal injuries. "On my way to the hospital, the company logo flashed before me," he told The Standard Pop. "I told myself, I’m not going to die doing this."
A Prolific Actor
That near-death moment propelled him to follow his true passion. He soon made his acting debut in Nakorn-Sawan (2018), a modest but meaningful role that remains one of his personal favourites. From there, his performances steadily gained recognition. In 2023 alone, he appeared in a remarkable run of high-profile films, including Happy Old Year (2019), One for the Road (2021), The Up Rank (2022), Khun Phan 3 (2023), 4 Kings 2 (2023), and Netflix originals Hunger and Doi Boy (2023).
In television, Aelm first appeared in Sleepless Society: Two Pillows (2020), but it was his unsettling portrayal of an abusive senior student in Girl from Nowhere Season 2 that captured widespread attention. Even in Tomorrow and I (2024), where his screen time was brief, his performance left a lasting impression.
Still Aims For the Best
Yet Aelm’s ambitions extend beyond acting. In a notoriously unstable industry, he’s become a vocal advocate for change. In 2024, he co-founded the Thai On-Screen Actor Association (TOSAA) and now serves as its secretary. The organisation fights for better working conditions, fair pay, and sustainability in the Thai entertainment industry.
Speaking to The MATTER, Aelm compared his acting journey to Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. “Sometimes, I feel like I’ll end up with just the fish bones,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t fight. My goal isn’t the fish. It’s knowing I risked my life to fight in this sea.”
That quiet conviction defines Aelm Thavornsiri. His ‘Tarantino side character’ dream may be self-effacing, but it masks a deeper, enduring purpose. His fight is not just for the roles he plays, but for a better future—for himself, for fellow actors, and for the future of Thai cinema.
