Yuranan ready to step onto a new stage

“Everyone loves me as an actor, but being a politician scares me a bit because there is a risk of being hated by the public.”



Actor Yuranan Pharmornmontree has decided to risk being unpopular with his fans by running on the ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party’s ticket.

Yuranan, 41, was promoted to deputy government spokesperson thanks to his outstanding performance as a host at the government’s Suffering Day last month.

The party has picked the handsome former actor to run for Bangkok’s Din Daeng constituency in the upcoming election. Din Daeng is a stronghold for Democrat MP Peerapan Sareeratthawipak.

But a source from TRT said the party might pick him to run in a different constituency as a poll showed Yuranan has less support than the opposition’s contender.

Yuranan is the youngest son of General Prayoon, a minister for 20 years and a key player in the change from absolute monarchy to democracy in 1932. His mother is Raynu, a former Miss Thailand.

He was educated at Phra Nakhon Commercial School and studied in Ramkhamhaeng University’s special BA programme. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in political science from Thammasat University.

Yuranan has taken part in political activities since he was a young boy, following his father around on the stump and distributing pamphlets. He was even secretarygeneral of his primary school’s political party.

But when Yuranan saw his father cry after losing an election, he drifted away from politics, shifting his interest to the entertainment industry. At the age of 16, he left home to pursue an entertainment career and has been a successful actor for nearly 25 years.

Yuranan has a healthy belief in his ability and thinks he and the TRT are a good fit.

“Thai Rak Thai is a big party that always picks the best member,” Yuranan said. “The party chose me believing it had picked the best for itself and I picked the best party for myself, too,” he said.

Yuranan said the ruling party’s agenda attracted him and its strong position made it easier to implement policies.

“The party didn’t pick me because of my good looks,” he said, adding that his healthy family life made the party trust in his administrative ability to take care of the people.

“It’s okay if I’m not elected. I will continue my political career anyway. If I were an actor, people would forget me when I stopped acting. But if I’m a good politician, I will be in people’s hearts forever.”