From the ski slopes of Niseko to hiking in Khao Yai, Thai-British actress and model Paula Taylor is constantly on the move — and believes she’s all the better for it.
“I feel like I’m always living in a box,” Paula Taylor says, laughing. She looks resplendent in light makeup and a white sleeveless top with ribbons down the front. “I moved back to Thailand about two months ago, and while I love being on the go, it honestly has been non-stop.”
The Thai-British actress and model has lived around the world since she was born, but has moved back to her place of birth, Bangkok, earlier this year. Taylor moved to Perth as a newborn and spent the next 18 years down under. Her childhood was remarkably idyllic, and she reminisces about spending a lot of time outside. “I feel connected to nature because of that. We camped, did road trips and played outdoors all the time,” she shares.
In her late teens, Taylor moved back to Asia, where she was scouted by a model agent while at a shopping mall and encouraged to go for a casting call. She did, and the rest is history. Jobs came knocking in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines, whether for magazines, music videos or television commercials.
After featuring in several television gigs, she was asked to become a regular VJ for Channel V Thailand, which she embraced. Asia grew close to her heart, and Thailand became her soul city. It offered a life she had never envisioned, especially as the glamour of Hollywood remains a far-fetched dream for many budding actresses.
“When I left home in Australia, I made Thailand my home. It would always be my base. I had so many opportunities here, and I bought my first home here,” Taylor explains. It seems like the work she has in Thailand is far from over — she recently played a leading role in Thai sci-fi film Taklee Genesis, which aired in September. I ask about her Thai fluency, and she shrugs with a smile. “It’s not 100 percent. If Thais talk to me they’ll know it’s not my first language. But they are very forgiving, and I love them.”
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Family Ties
Mothers have a tendency to pivot conversations to their children when they find out they share that kindred bond with one another. Taylor, who is a mum to three children, and I are no different. I’m in London at the moment, another city she knows like the back of her hand having lived there for the past six years. She is bright-eyed and effervescent as she reels off her personal recommendations for kid-friendly activities in the British capital (the Science Museum comes top).
Her children Lyla, Luca and Luella, aged 13, nine and six respectively, are the people who ground her amid the chaos and busyness of life. “Whenever you think you’ve got this, they bring you back down to earth very quickly,” she says. “Motherhood is a continuous journey, and it’s also the most fun one.”
Taylor loves to take her children travelling with her, and holidays in Australia are often on her must-do list, for a glimpse of her childhood, the ease of getting around and the endless activities on offer. Being outdoors on the beach or going on a picnic are some of her favourite things to do with her trio.
Perhaps what makes travel so intrinsic to Taylor’s life is the immeasurable value she draws from it. She is more resilient, she confesses, and so are her children — especially when it comes to not having a lasting attachment to certain places. “It’s not easy to always just get up and go, but I guess I’m good at it, and it’s something I try to instil in my kids as well,” she muses.
Taylor is a spontaneous traveller and excellent at making plans on the fly. She often travels with close friend Janesuda Parnto, who has a tendency to ask her along for a trip with only days to spare. “We just get on a plane without doing much research,” she says. “I love the spontaneity of it all, and for me, these moments are super fun for the life lessons you learn and the experiences you have. It’s also a great way to cement a friendship.”
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On The Road
It’s no secret Taylor loves adventure travel — you may have caught her on The Amazing Race Asia 2 with her friend Natasha Monks — but she prefers to be open-minded with her trips. “I don’t go for a specific type of holiday. I like mixing it up, and I’m happy to be both an adventure or luxury traveller.”
She adds that travel energises her, and each time she goes away, it feels like a great reset. When asked, Taylor reveals that her main travel hack is to get local recommendations, as opposed to planning an itinerary around what is on the Internet. “The vibes are really important to me, and you don’t get that online,” she ruminates. “I would pick a vibe over something scenic, so find someone you know who knows the city well.”
A place she is confident enough to play host in? Niseko, where she has been time and time again over the last few years. Its powder snow and lively food scene are an exceptional draw for skiers, and Taylor is similarly smitten. And as the snow is softer and more forgiving, falls are not so harsh. She pauses for a few moments, before declaring that the food is also what makes it an incredible destination. “In Europe, it’s all cheese and bread, which can get boring. In Japan, you can have ramen, fondue or anything you want, really. There is so much choice.”
Taylor is off on a road trip to Khao Yai tomorrow with her children and a couple of her friends. To her, exploring Thailand is wholly underrated and most people don’t realise how diverse the country is.
She will be checking out a new train-themed hotel, visiting petting zoos and embarking on some hikes — and her excitement is infectious. “I’m someone who is very excited about life,” she says. “I’m excited to go on this trip tomorrow. I’m also going to Hong Kong next week, so I’m super excited to show my little one Disneyland for the first time. Life – what’s not to be excited about?”