Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, born May 27, 1990, in Thailand, was discovered as an actress at the age of 17 years by filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanaruang who gave her the title role in his chamber play-like relationship drama "Ploy". Sakuljaroensuk won nominations for the Thailand National Film Association Award as well as for the Asian Film Award as "Best actress in a supporting role" for her performance in the role of a mysterious young woman who turns the life of a married man upside down.

After striking supporting roles in two further Thai productions, she applied for the leading role in Detlev Buck"s film "Same Same But Different" – and landed the role: Although Sakuljaroensuk is a Thai, Buck gave her the role of a Cambodian woman because of her powerful acting performance. The film is based on the true story of a young German who falls in love with a local woman during a vacation trip to Cambodia.