Thai actress Chutimon “Aokbab” Chuengcharoensukying has made history by winning the Best Performance by an Actress award at the 52nd International Emmy Awards for her role in Netflix's “Hunger”. This latest global triumph further cements “Hunger’s” legacy, elevating Thai cinema on the world stage and bringing immense pride to Thai film enthusiasts worldwide.


“I've always believed that Thais have great talent and a high level of creativity that is truly universal,” said Yongyoot Thongkongtoon, Netflix’s Director of Content - Thailand, on hearing the news.


“When given the right support and reasonable resources, their work can truly shine,” he told Thai PBS World.

“I must thank all the team members and the cast of Hunger, along with the Netflix Thailand team, for coming together to drive this historic milestone forward. I'm so happy for Aokbab and confident that this success will help Thai content gain even more spotlight on the global stage.”


Aokbab’s portrayal of a young chef who rises from humble beginnings to culinary stardom captivated audiences worldwide and earned her international recognition. The film itself was a global sensation, topping Netflix's charts in numerous countries.


Upon receiving the award in New York, Aokbab expressed her gratitude, thanking her team, cast, and crew for their support. She also acknowledged the role of Netflix Thailand in providing her with this opportunity.


“Thank you so much; this means a lot to me. I would like to thank the Academy for giving me this recognition. Thank you to my team. Thank you to my showrunner, Kongdej Jaturanrasmee, my producer, Soros Sukhum, and my director, Sitisiri Mongkolsiri. Thank you for believing in me. And to all the cast and crew, as well as all the chefs—if you’re watching… your support brought my character to life. Special thanks to Netflix Thailand for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.”


This historic win marks a significant milestone for the Thai film industry, highlighting the growing global recognition of Thai talent. Aokbab’s achievement is a testament to her exceptional performance and the power of storytelling.

“This latest global triumph further cements Hunger's legacy, elevating Thai cinema on the world stage and bringing immense pride to Thai film enthusiasts worldwide,” Netflix said in its statement.


Thai model and actress Aokbab, 28, started modeling when she was 15. Prior to her critically acclaimed performance in “Hunger”, she was best known for her role as Lynn in the 2017 blockbuster film “Bad Genius”, which follows a genius high school student who takes advantage of her abilities to devise elaborate methods to help other students cheat.


The film swept numerous awards domestically and internationally, including the Rising Star Asia Award.


Aokbab is also the first Thai actress to win the Screen International Rising Star Asia Award at the New York Asian Film Festival in 2017 for her role in “Bad Genius”.

A historic win for Thai cinema: Aokbab claims International