Thanapat Saisaymar is a Thai non-professional actor, known internationally for his leading role in the film *Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives* (2010), directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The film was awarded the Palme d'Or at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, a recognition that brought Saisaymar to the attention of international critics. Before his film career, Saisaymar worked as a welder and a farmer and had no acting experience. He was discovered by the director, who chose him for his authenticity and natural presence. His performance, characterized by a quiet intensity, was praised for its decisive contribution to the film's spiritual and reflective atmosphere. He later collaborated with Weerasethakul again on the medium-length film *Mekong Hotel* (2012). His career path is considered an emblematic example of the use of non-professional actors in contemporary arthouse cinema to explore complex themes such as memory and reincarnation.