interview by JANA LETONJA

Swedish Thai actress and model Praya Lundberg will star in the hit TV show “The White Lotus” for its third season, which will premiere in early 2025. She will also star in the upcoming sci-film “Eyes in the Trees” alongside Anthony Hopkin, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ashley Greene. A passionate philanthropist, Praya supports causes like Operation Smile, Phrabatnampu and is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

Your acting journey began with “Rak Dai Mai Thar Hua Jai Mai Pean’. Looking back how was your approach to acting evolved over the years?

I started acting at the age of 13 in Thai TV series which would be equivalent to a soap opera in the US. It has evolved from that point on. I used to do a three-camera set up, 20 scenes a day, but it was good learning experience for me. I have worked with multiple different acting coaches and teachers over the years. I especially loved working with John Markland as his approach to acting is very truthful and authentic. I find acting a cathartic focus in my life and I have really grown and evolved working with John.

dress MARIUSZ BRZEZINSKI
tights WOLFORD
shoes JW PEI
jewelry KINRADEN

Soon, we’ll be seeing you in the third season of ‘The White Lotus’. Can you tease what can expect from your character and the third season in general?

I am very excited for this. The third season was shot in Thailand and set in Thailand, so it’s very exciting, but that’s all I can say about my character.

‘The White Lotus’ is known for its social commentary and dynamic characters. What intrigued you most about joining the series?

I am a huge fan of the show, huge fan of Mike White’s work, and I truly feel incredibly honored for this experience. I feel very grateful to be in ‘The White Lotus’ world and just to be a part of it. I am excited for the third season to come out.

dress BUERLANGMA
tights WOLFORD
shoes KAZAR STUDIO
jewelry PASCAL

We’ll also be seeing you alongside Anthony Hopkins in ‘Eyes in the Trees’. What was it like sharing the screen with such an iconic cast, and what can you share with us about this film?

I had an incredible time and worked with such an amazing cast. I am really excited for everyone to see it, it was such an amazing time shooting it.

dress J’AMEMME
necklace SIMON G.

How does working on international productions differ from your earlier acting work?

I think the main difference is obviously productions and acting in general. All the films have evolved in a spam of 20 years, so of course it is different. There are still amazing Thai productions that I’d say are just as good as international productions. We have great crews and sets in Thailand, and I am extremely proud of that.

Starting as the face of LUX at just 15, you’ve graced the covers of major fashion magazines. How has the modeling industry shaped your perspective on beauty and self-confidence?

It was very hard to start. LUX is a huge campaign and growing up I think I was the youngest in my country to shoot for that. In the past, they’ve had celebrities like Scarlett Johanson and huge global superstars shooting for LUX, and also women who are extremely famous in my country have shot that Ad. I felt a little out of place because when you are 15, you’re still a teenager and I wasn’t very confident in my looks. I had just taken my braces off at 14, so it was very interesting to dive from braces to modeling. I feel honored to do what I do.

I wouldn’t say I am a confident person, but I view most of my shoots as a creative outlet. I’m very excited to see what the creative director or the stylist or team have in mind, even hair and makeup. Every time it’s like painting a different story, painting a different picture for the editorial, and for me, that’s very exciting. All the campaigns I have been a part of growing up, whether it’s been Maybelline or Tiffany & Co., are dream brands that I never thought I would get to work with, so I have been so blessed and view it as an exciting journey for me.

My perspective in beauty and self-confidence, I don’t think I see anything as traditional beauty. We are all different and we are all beautiful. I think what changed lately for me for sure is that authentic beauty. Beauty that shines from the inside is the most intriguing type of beauty. I think now in the modeling industry, everyone is being more inclusive, more interested in the model and what they do, their thoughts, feelings, perspective. It is very important for younger people to know these are real people with different backgrounds and values, and different stories to tell.

jacket, corsage, skirt RIGASH
necklace SIMON G.
shoes LUBELLO FIRENZE

The fashion industry is becoming more inclusive and diverse. How do you see yourself contributing to this shift?

I am Swedish/Thai and I feel very proud that we have more women from different backgrounds, different countries, different ethnicities, different body types. I don’t think we have to be a size 0 to be beautiful. I think that is very dated, and a very unhealthy way of looking at things. I love that it’s more diverse, I love seeing women from back home walking in very big shows in Paris. It is so awesome to see beautiful Asian women on runways and in different campaigns. It is important that younger generations get to see that beauty doesn’t just stop with one look. Beauty comes in all forms.

As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, you’ve witnessed the hardship faced by refugees. What was the most impactful experience you had during your visits to refugee camps?

My time with UNHCR was a very special time for me. I think it was one of the most pivotal and important times in my life because the 8 years that I spent working with refugees has made me understand that it is not really a problem that doesn’t affect us all, because there are almost a billion people who are displaced, or unable to return home. That is a huge number and it affects everything, it affects where do a billion people go if they cannot go home.

I think when people know the refugees are in the other side of the world, they think it doesn’t impact them. A refugee is someone who one day had a home, a country that was safe, and because of war and persecution had to flee with nothing, and that is one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen firsthand. I identify myself as Thai and so when I go to my country, the sites, the smell, the food, the energy, the culture, the history, the language, that’s all part of my identity. I cannot imagine that if I was put through a situation where there is a war in my country, everything is taken away from me, and all that is left is just the memory of what makes me Thai. That is incredibly heartbreaking. Most people spend at least 30 years of their life in refugee status, which is majority of their life. One of the most impactful things that I learned during that time, working with Rohingyan, was seeing so much pain, so much loss. Every place I had gone too where humans lost everything, I learned how important things are dignity, integrity and family. Refugees are incredibly resilient people who do not need your help. I believe they should be given more opportunities, and support.

jacket, pants and earrings THE MANNEI
shoes KAZAR STUDIO

How do you balance your advocacy work with the demands of your acting and modeling career?

I don’t see it as a balance. The most important thing is that I enjoy learning about people. A part of being an actor is that you are curious about the human experience. I think that kind of leads into me being a compassionate person. If Covid has taught us something, it’s that we are all interconnected in more ways than we can ever understand. Something can happen on one side of the world, and it would affect the other side of the world. We are born to the human experience, we should be curious about other cultures, situations, and I don’t see it as a balance. The goal is to be more human.

Working with dog rescue foundations is such a compassionate endeavor. What inspired you to start it, and how has the foundation grown since its inception?

I have been working with multiple ones. I’ve worked with the man that rescues dogs in Thailand, and he is a Swedish chef that quit his job as a chef to take in dogs that are disabled and put in little wheelchairs. I do want to start one on my own, it is in my 5-year plan, but to have a functional and successful organization, I need to have the knowledge behind what it entails. I want to make sure that when I start to do that, I can one have long term success with it and be effective with what I do.

As someone so deeply involved in philanthropy, what’s a cause or issue you believe deserves more global attention?

I don’t think there is one issue that deserves more than the other. Find what moves you, what makes you curious, what is your concern, and help. If we all chose a cause and devoted our time and a little of our talents towards this, I believe we would make a huge difference in the world.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent PRAYA LUNDBERG
photography DYLAN PERLOT
styling MADELEINE ZOELLER
makeup LEYLA HAYAURI
hair RUSLAN NUREEV
styling assistance FRANZISKA MARX
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial direction and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN

IN CONVERSATION WITH PRAYA LUNDBERG

IN CONVERSATION WITH MÁRCIA

IN CONVERSATION WITH ELENA SANCHEZ