Tayme Thapthimthong

{{Infobox person

| name = Tayme Thapthimthong

| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|th|เมธี ทับทิมทอง}}}}

| caption = Thapthimthong in 2015

| other_names = Maethi Thapthimthong

| image = Tayme Thapthimthong 2015 (cropped further).jpg

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|35|2025|02|25}}

| birth_place = London, England, United Kingdom

| alma_mater = Kingston University

| occupation = Actor

| notable_works = The White Lotus

| television =

| children = 1

| module = {{Infobox military person

|embed = yes

| allegiance = Thailand

| branch = Royal Thai Army}}

}}

Tayme Thapthimthong (born {{Birth year based on age as of date|35|2025|02|25|noage=yes}}),{{Cite magazine |last=Roberson |first=Matthew |date=2025-02-25 |title=The Real Life Diet of Tayme Thapthimthong, Who Was Told Not to Get Too Jacked for 'The White Lotus'|url=https://www.gq.com/story/tayme-thapthimthong-real-life-diet |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=GQ |language=en-US}} also known as Maethi Thapthimthong ({{langx|th|เมธี ทับทิมทอง}}),{{Cite web |last=Chaiyong |first=Suwitcha |date=2013-10-28 |title=Tayme time: Rising star acts up |url=https://student-weekly.com/281013/281013-entertain05.html |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Student Weekly}} 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).

Early life and education

Thapthimthong was born in West London, England,{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/7208849/the-white-lotus-season-3-mike-white-cast-interview/|title=Behind the Scenes of The White Lotus' Bigger, Wilder, Darker Third Season|magazine=Time|first=Judy|last=Berman|date=24 January 2025|accessdate=3 March 2025}} to parents from Thailand.{{Cite magazine |last=Campbell |first=Charlie |date=2025-02-15 |title=Meet Tayme, Who Romances Lisa in The White Lotus Season 3 |url=https://time.com/7221610/the-white-lotus-season-3-tayme-thapthimthong-profile/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |magazine=Time |language=en}} He has a brother.{{Cite magazine |last=Roberson |first=Matthew |date=2025-02-25 |title=The Real Life Diet of Tayme Thapthimthong, Who Was Told Not to Get Too Jacked for 'The White Lotus'|url=https://www.gq.com/story/tayme-thapthimthong-real-life-diet |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}

At 13, Thapthimthong joined Combined Cadet Force, a youth training program run by the British Armed Forces.{{Cite web |last=Kandangwa |first=Sumnima |date=2025-02-24 |title=Who is Tayme Thapthimthong, the actor behind Gaitok in The White Lotus season 3? |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3299853/who-actor-behind-gaitok-white-lotus-born-london-thai-parents-tayme-thapthimthong-was-private |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=South China Morning Post}} He became interested in joining the military, but his parents wanted him to get a university degree, so he studied dance at Kingston University.

Career

While at university, Thapthimthong worked as a nightclub bouncer.{{Cite web |last=Chandarasrivongs |first=Tipapa |date=2024-01-25 |title=Get to know Tayme Thapthimthong, Thai cast member of 'The White Lotus' season 3 |url=https://www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/entertainment/celebrities/interview-with-maethi-tayme-thapthimthong-cast-member-the-white-lotus-season-3-thailand/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Lifestyle Asia Bangkok |language=en-TH}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Craig |first=David |date=2025-02-17 |title=Who is Tayme Thapthimthong? Meet The White Lotus actor |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/tayme-thapthimthong-white-lotus-gaitok-actor/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}

After this disappointment, his parents encouraged him to move to Thailand to live with his aunt and uncle. There, Thapthimthong worked briefly for two months as a hotel service manager.{{cite news |title=เทม-เมธี ทับทิมทอง ไฮโซหนุ่มนักเรียนนอก 1 ในนักล่าฝัน AF10 |trans-title=Tayme Maethi Thapthimthong, hi-so overseas student, 1 of the AF10 dream hunters |url=https://mgronline.com/celebonline/detail/9560000077556 |access-date=10 May 2025 |work=Manager Online |date=27 June 2013 |language=th}} 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. Within a month, he landed his first acting role as Nung in the film Skin Trade (2014).

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. He served for six months as a conscript, being assigned to the Counter Terrorist Operations Center, before joining as an officer.{{Cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbsUPt3TeKM |title=เทม-ทับทิมทอง จากหนุ่มนายทหาร สู่นักแสดงไทยในซีรีส์ The White Lotus ซีซั่น 3 |trans-title=Tayme Thapthimthong, from military man to actor in The White Lotus season 3|series=GQ Talk |number=36 |via=YouTube |date=18 February 2025 |publisher=GQ Thailand |lang=th |access-date=11 May 2025 |minutes=20}} 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.

Three years later, Thapthimthong left the military for more lucrative work at private security companies. {{As of|2024|January|alt=As recently as January 2024}}, he did security for Thai-American hip-hop group Thaitanium.

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.{{Cite web |last=Alcantara |first=Carissa |date=2025-02-27 |title=Getting to know Tayme Thapthimthong of 'White Lotus' |url=https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/27/getting-to-know-tayme-thapthimthong-of-white-lotus#google_vignette |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Manila Bulletin}} He credits castmate Lisa with helping him improve his Thai accent.{{Cite web |last=Sukri |first=Hazeeq |date=2025-02-25 |title=Blackpink's Lisa tells us how she overcame her nervousness in her The White Lotus acting debut |url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/white-lotus-season-3-interview-lisa-parker-posey-natasha-rothwell-tayme-thapthimthong-460631 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=CNA Lifestyle |language=en}}

Personal life

Thapthimthong has a daughter.{{Cite web |last=Alter |first=Rebecca |date=2025-02-24 |title=Tayme Thapthimthong Needs You to Feel How Much Gaitok Loves Mook |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/tayme-thapthimthong-white-lotus-episode-2-lisa-mook-romance.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Vulture |language=en}}