Who Plays Chef Paul In Netflix's Hunger?

Food and critiques of income inequality go together hand-in-hand, as demonstrated by 2022's "The Menu." Netflix appears to be following that trend with the recent release of its foodie flick, "Hunger." The Thai film follows a young woman, Aoy (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukyingsoon), who's brought into the world of fine dining to learn the art of cutting wagyu beef from the elite Chef Paul (Nopachai Chaiyanam).

The trailer depicts Chef Paul as one of the best who demands perfection from his trainees. But there's a darkness lurking within him and the guests he serves meals to at his restaurant. "Hunger" came out on Netflix on April 8, and while Aoy may be the main character, it's safe to say Chef Paul more than makes an impact. That's due in no small part to Chaiyanam's performance, who brings a hostile intensity to the role, becoming a stellar antagonistic force. And as one watches "Hunger," they may feel they've seen Chaiyanam's talents before, provided they're familiar with Thai movies.

Nopachai Chaiyanam's earliest credits go back to the 1990s. Throughout the past couple of decades, he's starred in a wide array of films and television series, including 2009's "Nymph" and the "King Naresuan" series. However, one of his most popular films known worldwide is 2011's "Headshot." Chaiyanam plays the lead role of Tul, a cop-turned-hitman who suffers a bullet wound to the head, thereby inverting his vision so that he sees everything upside-down. The film became Thailand's submission for best foreign language film at that year's Oscars, but it failed to make the shortlist.

Numerous other credits have materialized for Chaiyanam over the years. Some of his most recent roles include the TV movie "Still Missing," the movie "Anatomy of Time," and the miniseries "Hurts Like Hell." In addition to a couple of dozen acting credits, Chaiyanam also has experience behind the camera as a director, such as the 2021 action movie "The Secret Weapon."

With "Hunger" now on Netflix, Chaiyanam's talents can be introduced to a whole new audience, who may be enticed to see what else he's done before.