The beauty of every woman can be seen and admired whatever their age, according to Sinjai "Nok" Plengpanich, one of Thailand's most admired veteran actresses.

Sinjai is now 42 but she is as beautiful as she was when she first started out in the entertainment business 26 years ago. She married heartthrob actor Chatchai "Nok" Plengpanich, then she became the mother of two boys and a girl.

However, her fans have never felt distant because Sinjai has consistently appeared on television - and she has enjoyed widespread popularity despite the passing of the years.

Today, the roles Sinjai plays in television dramas are likely to be that of the mother figure. In one recent programme, "Talay Rissaya" on Channel Five, she took on the challenging role of the baddie. But despite this, it is hard to dislike Sinjai. She retains all the elegance and beauty usually demanded of the lead actress.

"On the one hand, my love for this career is the reason for my status in show-business. On the other hand, I feel it's my duty to act for the new generation of actors and actresses," says Sinjai. "It's a kind of duty that I've taken on of my own account. I feel like I'm an older sister and an acting coach for them. So I'm very happy every time I go to the shoot."

Last week Sinjai attended the launch of L'Oreal Paris Dermo Expertise, where she was introduced as the brand presenter for L'Oreal Revitalift, an anti-ageing product line. She was the brand presenter for L'Oreal in 1996 and again in 2004. She says that when she was young, she didn't worry much about her looks. But all that changed after she gave birth to her first child at the age of 27.

"Before, I didn't really take care of myself. I just did a few exercises with Chatchai and the children at home. But because of my age, I started doing yoga and going to spas," she explains.

Asked if she is interested in cosmetic surgery, Sinjai says she had a nose job a long time ago when she was new to the business. However, she wouldn't consider going under the knife again.

She believes it's unnecessary to undergo cosmetic surgery just to look younger. Besides, she adds, facelifts and other cosmetic measures only make women - especially older ones - look fake.

"It's unnatural for women to have their skin tightened and then not be able to smile the way they used to. Beauty has a different meaning at different ages, and ultimately all women retain a beauty that suits their age," she says.

When talking about her "inner spirit", Sinjai says she's not the kind of person who goes to the temple often or studies dharma, instead she prefers to do charity work. However, she admits that sometimes she has to deal with the stress of being a public figure in the entertainment business, and that occasionally it's difficult to avoid gossip.

What she does do is learn from and understand such stress - and use these feelings in her acting. "If I feel miserable or sad, I will sink into it. Sometimes I analyse these feelings, these emotions, and the situations that caused them. Then I can use what I've learned in my roles."

Note for Sinjai's fans: This year she will appear in one more television drama, one film, and one theatre performance. She is also taking on a new role as a television soap producer, as well as joining her sister in organising a summer camp for children. 

Kupluthai Pungkanon

 The Nation