Jhet plays the younger version of aspiring boxer Louis Neo in 'The Last Bout'.
With his baby face and soft- spoken demeanour, teen actor Jhet Wathanasin – better known as Jhet – exudes a calm aura.
But beneath this gentle exterior lies a fearless spirit who knows no bounds.
“I like doing parkour and would love to be a stuntman in movies someday.
“I really enjoy that boost of adrenaline that comes from doing stunts.
“When you know how to fall... from other people’s perspective, it can look like you’re hurt but in reality, you aren’t. It almost feels like you’re indestructible,” the 14-year-old told StarLifestyle in a Zoom interview. Jhet is based in Kuching, Sarawak.
Growing up, Jhet has always enjoyed watching professional stunt doubles Gui DaSilva-Greene and Scott Adkins, celebrated for their contributions in the films Black Panther and John Wick: Chapter 4 respectively.
These two figures serve as his biggest inspirations in the film industry. Jhet would meticulously dissect their stunt sequences to hone his skills.
“The thing about stuntmen is that they’re very lowkey. They do a lot but don’t get much recognition, which is why I really respect them,” he said.
A quick scroll through Jhet’s Instagram account shows his penchant for stunt work.
From vaulting over obstacles to executing flips and reenacting fight scenes, each post is a testament to his dedication for stunts.
Given his passion for action, it’s hardly surprising when Jhet chose to perform his own stunts in the Singaporean drama The Last Bout.
“My mum said there was a job I could potentially do and told me to audition for it,” he said.
And when the opportunity came up for him to do some stunts, he immediately agreed.
Obstacles for a young actor
Set in 1930s Singapore, The Last Bout chronicles the journey of two childhood friends, Louis Neo (Benjamin Kheng) and Tommy Law (Yao), who find solace and hope in the world of boxing.
As they strive to break free from their oppressive lives, the ring becomes a battleground where dreams, sacrifices and unexpected enemies emerge.
Jhet portrays the younger version of Louis in the Mediacorp series.
Since this was Jhet’s first acting role, the teen star was camera-shy at first.
However, he was able to build confidence after receiving encouragement from Singaporean director Glenn Chan and his co-stars.
“You just need to give it your 100% and not worry about anything else,” Jhet said.
Among the stunts Jhet performed in The Last Bout include engaging in close combat sequences, as well as executing falls and rolls on the ground with precision.
Growing up, Jhet always had a penchant for stunt work. Photos: Handout
While those scenes may seem daunting for most people, Jhet found it to be a lot easier than shooting tear-jerking scenes.
“I get uncomfortable filming emotional scenes. There were a bunch of times in the show where I had to cry and look sad, but since I’m a cheerful person in reality, it was very hard to do that,” he added.
Another obstacle Jhet had to face was balancing between acting and studies.
Due to filming commitments, the youngster struggled to keep up with assignments and deadlines.
Thankfully, he had supportive friends who helped him stay informed about school happenings.
“I have really good friends and they would tell me what they learned in school that day and what I should look at.
“I feel like (acting) shouldn’t be an excuse not to put in the work (in school) because I’m in Year 9 heading to Year 10, so I should focus and just try to catch up,” he said.
To unwind from the pressures of acting and studying, Jhet would find solace in simple things like playing football and enjoying the company of his beloved pets.
He has a goalpost in his living room as well as two cats and four turtles at home.
Despite having a strong interest in the film industry, Jhet recognises the importance of education and is choosing to prioritise his academics for now.
However, he made it clear that this was just the beginning of his showbiz journey, and he’s not shutting any doors on future opportunities.
“I’d love to do an action movie someday but play a smaller role... Whenever there’s a child stunt double needed, I’ll definitely show up,” he concluded.
The Last Bout is available on Mediacorp’s YouTube channel and digital platform, mewatch.
