Role Call

Fresh off the series 4Minutes, Jes Jespipat Tilapornputt chats with Men’s Folio about what it takes to get into character, manage expectations, and what makes him the sexiest besides being in his Calvin Kleins.

- Tuang Ling Jie

The human experience binds us to the limitations of time. While opportunities may appear abundant in the grand scheme of things, the shape and form they inhabit may not always be equal - especially for an actor. At 32 years of age, Jes Jespipat Tilapornputt now takes on every opportunity with an air of gratitude and self-awareness.

"As a child who excelled at everything, I had thought my acting was great at the start of my career, even when it was not," he confesses. During his early years, he thought of becoming a soccer player and a musician. And if he did not choose acting, he saw himself working in finance instead.

In the same way that restrain delivers nuance, the tension between fantasy and reality is Jes' recipe for theatrical performance. But how does Jes make sense of the already-fantastical elements of his latest series, 4Minutes? He seeks out a common ground between himself and the characters he plays to humanise them. "My character Tyme is a reserved person just like myself. We tend to keep things to ourselves and overthink quite a bit."

Jes does not overthink his wardrobe, however. Apparent in the way he performs and dresses, timelessness is a quality he possesses. Rather than picking out the baggiest of jeans or the tightest quad-hugging silhouette that reads overtly trendy, he goes for the Calvin Klein Straight Jeans - from the Authentic Straight, the 90's Straight, and the Standard Straight - that convey a deliberate nod to the classics. From its humble workwear origins to its iconoclastic status imbued by Calvin Klein, Denim is a wardrobe staple that only gets better with time.

In an industry where sex appeal is paramount, Calvin Klein Underwear has become the undergarment du jour for leading men like Jes. Even when worn in ways that are not visible to the camera, he expresses a sense of ease.