“…Every time we meet Chayanit “Pat” Chansangavej, she radiates a kind of natural energy that instantly draws people in. The first feeling she evokes is curiosity, a desire to know her more deeply, to understand what has shaped this woman into someone so full of charm, wit, and seemingly endless energy.
Conversation with #legend_th began casually, before quickly coming alive the moment Pat let out a soft laugh. From there, the rhythm of the exchange gently carried us into the deeper layers of her thoughts and the sincerity of her perspective without us even realising it…”
This gifted actress, widely recognised for her acclaimed performances, has only just wrapped filming her latest project. At the same time, she has taken on another role as a businesswoman, fully driving the Thai herbal beverage brand, Chum Chum, alongside her path in the entertainment industry.
“I’ve just finished filming a movie with BrandThink called TAME, which should be released sometime this year. I’ve also got a new project coming up soon, so there should be more to see from me this year. Aside from my work in the industry, I also have Chum Chum, a Thai-style drinks business, a modern herbal beverage concept (Apothecary Brew & Tea Bar) that I run with my family.
We celebrated our first anniversary two months ago. I grew up with these kinds of drinks, so it felt like something I could genuinely do well. I wanted to sell the sincerity of a new generation, and let our drinks represent the care and concern of a new generation. Every time someone tags us in their story saying they bought it for someone who was unwell, or as a gesture of support on a tiring day, it makes me feel that we’re finally getting close to the intention we had from the very beginning.”
When we asked which character she loved the most, what seemed like a simple question gave Pat pause for a moment. She then answered with quiet honesty that what holds more meaning than the character itself is the feeling that remains long after the work has come to an end.
“That’s a difficult question. It’s like asking what food I like, I like everything. I choose based on the feeling I’m left with after seeing my own work. Some projects I go back to watch and think, God, I really love this film.
I had the chance to be part of an indie film called Someone from Nowhere, directed by Prabda Yoon, which I loved very much. There was also Supposed, directed by Thanakorn Pongsuwan, who has since passed away. He was such a wonderful director. He once told me that film would be the only one to preserve the look in my eyes at eighteen, because after that, even if I played a younger role again, it would never be the same. When I watched it again later, he was right, that look had truly disappeared. I can never become that person again, because time has already carried me somewhere else.
Another work I loved was Daughters, directed by M.R. Srikhumrung Yukol Rattakul, known as Khunying Mangmoom. I felt everything about it was brilliant. It was so real, I don’t even know how it could have been any more real. Full credit to her, she was incredibly talented to make everything feel that perfect. And the series P.S. I Hate You the Series by GMMTV, I felt the script was immensely satisfying, and the scene partner I worked with was so much fun. It became one of those roles that left a lasting impression every single day I went to set.”
Although in everyday life she seems to move at full speed, throwing herself wholeheartedly into every experience, another side of Pat is surprisingly calm and serene. Once a year, she retreats for meditation practice, a time when she chooses to step away from the noise of the outside world, return fully to herself, and listen deeply to the voice within.
“It feels like refreshing everything, detoxing everything once a year. I love simplicity when it comes from genuine happiness. I’ve been fortunate enough to always question my own idea of happiness, because an older friend once asked me, ‘Are you happy these days?’ We ended up sitting there talking about happiness, asking what true happiness really is. At the time, it felt like such a profound question. I’d never thought to ask myself before what real happiness actually meant. It took me about five years of asking myself that question over and over. Once you’ve got the things you wanted and it’s all over, then what? I eventually had the chance to try meditation practice. The first time was agony. It felt as though I was dying, not physically, but something inside me was dying. I went to bed crying for three nights.
I realised that being with yourself is not just thinking you are with yourself, but having your heart truly present with you. That is the smallest yet most difficult kind of happiness. It’s the feeling of no longer wanting anything else. I loved that feeling so much that I told myself I would go back every year. And I always say this to myself, I’ve never been afraid of growing old. I’m afraid of not getting the chance to grow old at all, because some people never make it that far.”
Read the full article in the May 2026 issue of #legend_th