Sensational Sara
By Sangeetha Nair
Publisher:The Star - Publication Date: 12-09-2007

Living up to the title of a superstar in a conservative society is no easy task. But with the guidance and support of her family, 24-year-old Thai actress and model Sara Malakul Lane is doing a fine job.

With her lovable personality and Pan Asian looks, this starlet has found her way into the hearts of many Thais through her acting skills.

“I can assure you that it was no easy task. It took me nine years to get to where I am today,” says Sara, born to an English father and a Thai mother who is a descendant of the Thai royal family.

“Although I am half Thai, I live and work in Thailand. And I use the name Malakul, which is synonymous with the Thai royal family.

“Everything I say or do is closely observed by society so I have to be very careful about the manner in which I conduct myself. Whether I like it or not, I have to care about what people think,” says the lanky model who was in Kuala Lumpur for a short modelling stint for a jewellery company recently.

Sara says the name Malakul, which is pronounced by the Thais as Malakun, is an emblem of a hat worn by the Thai kings. The name was given by King Rama II to his son Maha Mala who then passed it on to his grandson.

Sara, who speaks with a British accent, says that Thai culture is deeply rooted in her.

“My mother left Bangkok for England with her family when she was four. But she did not forget where she came from so I have no excuse either. I am very much a Thai girl. Even when I go overseas for work, I will start looking for Thai food after one week. I love my Somtam, green curry and Kaucheh,” says Sara, who speaks Thai at home.

Despite her busy schedule and travels, on any given Sunday that she spends in Bangkok, she would spend it at her family home, making it a point to have a meal with the family and spend time with her two brothers and her father who shares the same interest as her – history.

“My dad and I love history. We would sit together for hours talking and arguing about the subject,” she says.

Sara, who is doing an online degree in history at the University of London, aspires to write a book on Thai history one day.

“I would like to write a whole book in Thai, complete with the explanation of our culture and all,” she says.

Sara’s acting skills have landed her roles in movies such as Belly of the Beast, Nature Unleashed Volcano, Dumber Heroes and Match Point.

However, it was not all smooth sailing when she first started out.

“I faced a lot of problems when I first set foot on the modelling scene. People didn’t understand why I chose to be a model since I didn’t really need the money. They saw me as a threat and blamed me for taking away jobs meant for them. I never aspired to be a model or actress. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” says Sara, who replaced American pop star Britney Spears as the new ambassador for the Toyota Soluna Vios a few years ago.

Sara is also the writer of two pocket-size books on feng shui. She believes that her success has a lot to do with luck and good feng shui.

Sara owns four apartments in Thailand, which she rents out to students. She made sure that the location of each unit is in accordance with feng shui practice.

“I even take the trouble to decorate each unit myself according to the elements of feng shui so that my tenants will have a pleasant living experience,” she says.

Her mother Tuptim Malakul Na Ayuthaya, 54, who is also her manager, says:

“Sara puts her heart and soul into everything she does. No task is too small for her.

“She started modelling and acting when she was 17. After school she would go for her Thai soap opera shoot. While waiting for her scenes, she would sit and do her homework and e-mail it to herself.

“When she reaches home, she will print it out and hand it in the next day. If she can’t make it to school, she would ask her younger brother to take it to her teacher.

“Even in modelling. There is at least one month’s work put into every magazine cover she appears on. She would make sure that her hair, skin, nails and body are in perfect condition before every shoot. That is why clients keep coming back for her.”

Over the years, Sara, who is under the Looque International agency, has graced the covers of countless magazines in Thailand, Europe and other Asian countries, and endorsed luxury cars, timepieces, jewellery and beauty products.

The darling of the Thai media, who was voted the most eligible Bachelorette by the Dara Daily tabloid magazine recently, knows just what she wants in a man.

“He has to be intelligent, older than me, and charming. Looks wise, I am not really bothered. He doesn’t have to be Brad Pitt,” says Sara.

But the man she chooses must definitely dress well enough to be seen with this elegant lass with a great sense of style.

“He must wear a watch because the type of watch a man wears says a lot about his personality. And he must have cuff-links. If he doesn’t wear cuff-links, he is out the door,” she says in jest.

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Wow she looks like Olivia Luftkin the Japanese German singer.