Achiraya Nitibhon, better known as Ally, was not among the believers when she first laid eyes on the script of the Thai Netflix series The Believers.
"My first impression was that I didn't really want to take the role," Ally said, laughing, seemingly amused by her initial hesitation.
However, The Believers went on to become a success, garnering critical acclaim as it rose to the top spot on Netflix.
Ally, who has also won praise for her role as one of the leads, was born into the limelight. Her father, Amarin Nitibhon, is a singer, actor and emcee, while her mother, Achariya or Joy, is Thai-American. Additionally, her aunt, Apasiri Nitibhon, is a well-known model and actress.
At 15, Ally passed an audition to undergo a rigorous training programme in South Korea in preparation to debut as the first musical artist under new label 411 Music.
In 2020, Ally claimed the spotlight when she released the single How To Love, featuring Korean rapper Gray. The song quickly soared to the No.1 spot on all streaming platforms, amassing millions of views within hours of its release.
Three years later, she released Passcode. Her latest offering is Make It Hot, featuring Pink Sweat$, released earlier this year.
Ally's portrayal of Dear in the series marks a radical departure from her usual persona as a lively teen idol. Dear, a determined graphic designer and go-getting entrepreneur, is thrust into the murky world of swindling money from people of faith after her start-up collapses and leaves her drowning in debt.
For Ally, describing the decision to take on the role as a step out of her comfort zone seems an understatement.
"I was super scared of what people would think because this is quite a sensitive topic in Thailand. There are a lot of Buddhists who may not open up to the fact that things being said in the series are real," Ally said.
Achiraya 'Ally' Nitibhon in The Believers. YUPANAKORN BOONPREM/NETFLIX
She was also sceptical of her acting abilities. The character, a loner who is not well-versed in Buddhist practices or protocols, shares some similarities to her personality, but there are more differences.
Ally admitted that compared to her co-stars, particularly Pachara "Peach" Chirathivat and Teeradon "James" Supapunpinyo, who play her best friends and literal partners in crime, she felt like a newcomer.
Her only prior experience was portraying the younger version of superstar Urassaya Sperbund's character in the 2018 film Brother Of The Year.
"What if I were the black hole in the middle of it? If I messed it up, everyone would just point the finger at me and say, 'Why did you cast this girl?', " Ally said.
Despite these fears, her company and family were supportive and encouraged Ally to embrace a new challenge. She became convinced after seeing they understood the show's message.
When The Believers came out and received positive feedback, Ally was beyond relieved.
"I was very satisfied and I was, like, okay, so what I initially thought wasn't correct. I am glad I finally stepped out of my comfort zone to do something that I didn't think would be totally my forte," she remarked.
Ally is also delighted that despite the series skirting sensitive subjects, people seem to understand what the director and the cast are conveying.
"We are not saying that religion is bad because every religion wants people to be good and become successful in life. But it is a fact that there are people who use religion as a way to benefit. So, The Believers talks about these people and how desperate they can be in situations like these," Ally noted.
While Dear carries a "masculine" vibe about her, with her pants-and-T-shirt look, focused work ethic and carefree independence, Ally admits she leans more towards femininity and relies on others for reassurance.
"I don't really go around without asking other people if I look okay or if I'm doing the right thing," Ally reflects.
Even after filming concluded, the bond between the three main leads remains strong. Ally revealed she still meets up with Peach and James quite often.
"We want the friendship to be stronger than ever in case there's a Season 2," she quipped.
Regarding the on-screen chemistry between her character and Monk Dol, played by the popular lead singer of the band Potato, Patchai "Pup" Pakdeesusuk, Ally confessed she couldn't envision the rock singer as a monk when she first met him wearing normal clothes with blue hair.
However, upon arriving on set and witnessing the rock singer with a shaved head, donning the saffron robe, Ally was struck by his serene and composed demeanour. She recalls feeling hesitant to approach him, even after the director called cut.
Ally said she learned from the series that these seemingly desperate and "sinful" characters are real people whom we just may not yet have met. In learning to become Dear, Ally learned new perspectives -- new ways of life and problem-solving that are completely different from her own.
"I wouldn't be doing the things she was doing. I would be too scared. But as Dear, I learned that there are people who really value friendship over everything and are willing to sacrifice everything for friends," Ally observes.
In real life, the pop idol admitted to having a somewhat dual personality. Off stage, she is not a dancing diva, but rather a shy girl.
After the back-to-back launch of the Make It Hot album and The Believers, Ally revealed that she has nothing on her calendar at the minute. She acknowledged the challenge of finding a new and unique song amidst a vast arrays of offerings. Still, she remains hopeful for the possibility of releasing a festive number for Christmas.
As a Thai artist who has been exposed to the international entertainment industry, Ally recognises the vast potential of Thai soft power. She sees an abundance of talent, coupled with passion and a willingness to collaborate across cultural fields.
However, Ally also acknowledged the challenges, among them the issue of Thais doubting their fellow artists and the apparent lack of space and opportunity for talent to showcase their creativity.
Ally's ultimate goal is to go at her own pace and she understands that when the timing is right, life will bring the perfect opportunity.
"I get caught up in moments where I have to go faster -- to release more songs or to grow my fanbase. Sometimes people expect artists to release many songs a year, and it gets really stressful for me because I am a perfectionist and I don't want to release something I don't believe in," she said.
