Young Thai Actor Mario Maurer is taking the world by storm as his award-winning movie “The Love of Siam” is being screened in various international film festivals. UPDATE: Mario wins Best Actor in the recently concluded Cinemanila Film Festival!!!

Mario Maurer, (Thai: มาริโอ้ เมาเร่อ) born December 4, 1988, is a model and actor of German, Chinese and Thai descent. He is best known for his lead role in the 2007 film, The Love of Siam.

Mario Maurer was born in Bangkok, Thailand. He attended school at St. Dominic School in Bangkok and now studying in Ramkhamhaeng University, majoring in Communication Arts.

At the age of 16, Maurer became a model doing photo shoots, commercials and music videos. In 2007, he made his feature film debut in a leading role in The Love of Siam, written and directed by Chukiat Sakweerakul. The role was “Tong” that would bring him many accolades and instant fame far beyond Thailand’s borders. But he said “I didn’t want to do it, Acting wasn’t on my list to do.” He decided to do the movie because he trusted the director “Chukiat” and the movie would give him many opportunities. He’d be making money to help his family.

The film’s promotion did not play up its homosexual romance. Nonetheless, most critics have given extremely positive reviews. When asked about his kissing scenes with Witwisit Hirunwongkul in The Love of Siam, Maurer said, “I was nervous. I’ve never kissed a man and kissing is not something you do every day.” Maurer has been nominated for an Asian Film Awards in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Love of Siam, but lost to Sun Hong-Lei for Mongol.[7] He won for Best Actor in Starpics Thai Films Awards and also nominated in Bangkok Critics Assembly and Star Entertainment Awards.

Director Bhandit Rittakol had approached Maurer for Boonchu 9, but he was tied up with other projects. He has been cast in the 2008 film by Chatchai Naksuriya, Friendship. The film is set around 1983. Maurer starring opposite Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, as 12th grade student. That same year he appeared in a segment of the four-story anthology 4 Romance (segment “Joob” or Kiss) directed by Rashane Limtrakul.

Maurer’s next role will be in Piti Jaturapat’s Roommate, adapted from Andrew Fleming’s 1994 American Film Threesome.

Check out more photos of Mario Maurer in AZ Models.