Tayme Thapthimthong
Tayme Thapthimthong | |
|---|---|
| เมธี ทับทิมทอง | |
Thapthimthong in 2015 | |
| Born | 1989 or 1990 (age 35–36) London, England, United Kingdom |
| Other names | Maethi Thapthimthong |
| Alma mater | Kingston University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Notable work | The White Lotus |
| Children | 1 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Thailand |
| Branch | Royal Thai Army |
Tayme Thapthimthong (born 1989 or 1990),[1] also known as Maethi Thapthimthong (Thai: เมธี ทับทิมทอง),[2][3] is an English-Thai actor. He is best known for his role as Gaitok in the third season of HBO series The White Lotus (2025).[4]
Early life and education
Thapthimthong was born in West London, England,[3][5] to parents from Thailand.[6] He has a brother.[1]
At 13, Thapthimthong joined Combined Cadet Force, a youth training program run by the British Armed Forces.[6][7] He became interested in joining the military, but his parents wanted him to get a university degree, so he studied dance at Kingston University.[6]
Career
While at university, Thapthimthong worked as a nightclub bouncer.[3] Still determined to join the military as a Royal Marine, he trained with a family friend who had been in the Special Air Service, but did not qualify for medical reasons.[3][8]
After this disappointment, his parents encouraged him to move to Thailand to live with his aunt and uncle.[6] There, Thapthimthong worked briefly for two months as a hotel service manager.[9] He then auditioned and was cast in the reality show and singing contest Academy Fantasia (2013), finishing as runner-up and landing a record deal.[6][3] Within a month, he landed his first acting role as Nung in the film Skin Trade (2014).[6][3]
After five years of minor roles in productions such as Farang (2017) and the Netflix series Thai Cave Rescue (2022), Thapthimthong reevaluated his career choices. Around the same time, he received his Thai military conscription papers, and decided to join the Royal Thai Army.[6][1] He served for six months as a conscript, being assigned to the Counter Terrorist Operations Center, before joining as an officer.[10] He worked for the army's counter-terrorism team and spent time with the Armed Forces Security Centre, the Thai counterpart of MI6 or the CIA.[1]
Three years later, Thapthimthong left the military for more lucrative work at private security companies.[6] As recently as January 2024, he did security for Thai-American hip-hop group Thaitanium.[3]
Thapthimthong was still working security when he was cast as Gaitok in season three of the HBO series The White Lotus, which is set in Thailand.[6][11] He credits castmate Lisa with helping him improve his Thai accent.[6][12]
Personal life
Thapthimthong has a daughter.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Skin Trade | Nung | Credited as Tayme | [3] |
| 2016 | Mechanic: Resurrection | Young Construction Worker | Credited as Maethi Thapthimthong | |
| 2017 | Paradox | Thai Police | ||
| 2019 | The White Storm 2: Drug Lords | Indonesian Police Chief | ||
| 2026 | Mutiny | TBA | Post-production | [6] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Academy Fantasia | Himself | 12 episodes | [3] |
| 2017 | Farang | Pao | 7 episodes | |
| 2018 | Hooked | Lamon | 2 episodes | [8] |
| 2020 | Bäckström | Prasong | Episode: “Avsnitt 3” | |
| 2022 | Thai Cave Rescue | Abbot | Episode: “To Not Offend the Gods” | [3] |
| 2025 | The White Lotus | Gaitok | Main role; Season 3 | |
| Alien: Earth | TBA | Post-production | [6] |
References
- ^ a b c d Roberson, Matthew (25 February 2025). "The Real Life Diet of Tayme Thapthimthong, Who Was Told Not to Get Too Jacked for 'The White Lotus'". GQ. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Chaiyong, Suwitcha (28 October 2013). "Tayme time: Rising star acts up". Student Weekly. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Chandarasrivongs, Tipapa (25 January 2024). "Get to know Tayme Thapthimthong, Thai cast member of 'The White Lotus' season 3". Lifestyle Asia Bangkok. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ a b Alter, Rebecca (24 February 2025). "Tayme Thapthimthong Needs You to Feel How Much Gaitok Loves Mook". Vulture. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Berman, Judy (24 January 2025). "Behind the Scenes of The White Lotus' Bigger, Wilder, Darker Third Season". Time. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Campbell, Charlie (15 February 2025). "Meet Tayme, Who Romances Lisa in The White Lotus Season 3". Time. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Kandangwa, Sumnima (24 February 2025). "Who is Tayme Thapthimthong, the actor behind Gaitok in The White Lotus season 3?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ a b Craig, David (17 February 2025). "Who is Tayme Thapthimthong? Meet The White Lotus actor". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ "เทม-เมธี ทับทิมทอง ไฮโซหนุ่มนักเรียนนอก 1 ในนักล่าฝัน AF10" [Tayme Maethi Thapthimthong, hi-so overseas student, 1 of the AF10 dream hunters]. Manager Online (in Thai). 27 June 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "เทม-ทับทิมทอง จากหนุ่มนายทหาร สู่นักแสดงไทยในซีรีส์ The White Lotus ซีซั่น 3" [Tayme Thapthimthong, from military man to actor in The White Lotus season 3]. GQ Talk. Episode 36 (in Thai). GQ Thailand. 18 February 2025. 20 minutes in. Retrieved 11 May 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Alcantara, Carissa (27 February 2025). "Getting to know Tayme Thapthimthong of 'White Lotus'". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Sukri, Hazeeq (25 February 2025). "Blackpink's Lisa tells us how she overcame her nervousness in her The White Lotus acting debut". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 22 March 2025.