Sarocha Chankimha

Biography

Sarocha Chankimha (Thai: สโรชา จันทร์กิมฮะ; born 8 August 1998), nicknamed Freen (Thai: ฟรีน), is a Thai actress, singer, model, and entrepreneur. She is best known for her lead role as Khun Sam in Gap (2022), Thailand's first Girls' Love series to be broadcast on national television. Subsequent projects include Thailand's first Girls' Love science fiction film, Uranus 2324 (2024), and the period drama The Loyal Pin (2024). She was the first Thai woman to be appointed Brand Ambassador for the Italian fashion house Valentino in January 2025. In May 2025, she became the first Thai actress to attend the Met Gala, and in October 2025 was inducted into The Business of Fashion BOF 500. In 2026, she appeared in all instalments of 4 Elements, a Thai Girls' Love mega-project broadcast in prime time on Channel 7HD, starring as the lead of The Air.

== Early life and education == Sarocha was born on 8 August 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand, and is the only child in a Buddhist family. She attended high school at La Salle School Bangkok. For her post-secondary education, she graduated from the College of Communication Arts at Rangsit University, with a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communication. She had a strong inclination towards a career in the corporate sector. She was awarded First Class Honours for her academic achievement.

== Career ==

=== Early work (2016–2021) === In 2016, Sarocha competed in Miss Teen Thailand and was one of 15 finalists, receiving the 'Miss Swizer Superfood' award for Best Healthy Figure, which came with a cash prize. During the contest she was given the opportunity to be the host of Miss Teen Thai and Girl Daily program. Sarocha's first foray into the entertainment industry was her appearance in the music video "Before Rain" by Thai recording artist The Toys in May 2017. After auditioning at various talent agencies, she joined Idol Factory in 2020, then landed her first TV role as the female lead in the romantic comedy So Fit, which premiered on 25 February 2021. She then joined the cast of Secret Crush on You, a romantic comedy produced by Idol Factory. The series premiered on Channel 3 HD (Thailand) on 11 February 2022.

=== Breakthrough: Gap: The Series (2022-23) === Later that same year, Sarocha starred as Khun Sam in the television series Gap. opposite Becky Armstrong in Thailand's first Girls' Love series to be broadcast on national television. The series accumulated more than 900 million views on YouTube. She and Armstrong became known as "FreenBecky". Sarocha also contributed songs to the series' soundtrack, including "Whisper".

=== Diversification (2024-25) === In January 2024, Sarocha signed with The Venture Management, a boutique talent consultancy founded in 2023 by Nichapat Suphap. In May 2024, Sarocha attended the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a "Women in Cinema" honoree, invited by the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF). She participated in the Variety Global Conversations / RSIFF Women in Cinema panel, during which she spoke about the international reach of Thai Girls' Love drama. She was featured on the digital cover of the European edition of Vanity Fair as part of its "Six Women in Cinema" feature. In 2024, Sarocha and Armstrong co-starred in two productions, filmed concurrently. The first, Uranus 2324, Thailand's first Girls' Love science fiction film, was produced by VelCurve Studio and directed by James Thanadol. Released on 4 July 2024, it topped the Thai domestic box office on opening day, grossing more than 2 million baht in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The second, The Loyal Pin, a period drama series produced by Idol Factory, premiered on Workpoint TV on 4 August 2024. Sarocha played Lady Pilanthita Kasidit (known as Khun Pin), an orphan noblewoman raised by her aunt within the royal household in 1950s Thailand who develops a close bond with the mischievous Princess Anilaphat Sawetawarit. After eight months of filming, Sarocha called the project the most demanding of her career to date. She described Khun Pin's personality as completely at odds with her own, requiring significant time and effort to fully portray. The cast noted that the period-specific royal vocabulary was challenging to master. Also in 2024, Sarocha appeared in the horror-comedy Rider alongside Mario Maurer. Produced by Sahamongkolfilm International and directed by Nitivat Cholvanichsiri, it was released on 10 December 2024.

=== Independent career and Solenn Entertainment (2025-Present) === In October 2025, Sarocha's contract with Idol Factory concluded, after which she established her own management company, Solenn Entertainment, and began operating as an independent artist. Sarocha played Namsai in psychological romantic thriller The Stain (Thai: ราคี) alongside Engfa Waraha, Nattawin Wattanagitiphat and Jespipat Tilapornputt. Produced by Be On Cloud, the film is a modern take on the classic Thai horror film Buppah Rahtree. It was released in Thai cinemas on 26 February 2026. Sarocha appeared in the Thai Girls' Love mega-project 4 Elements, produced by North Star Entertainment. Adapted from a series of novels by Thai author Salmon (Thai: แซลม่อน), the project is composed of four series of eight episodes, each starring a different lead couple. The stories are connected through the Wathinwanit cousins, each named after one of the four elements, who appear in all series. Sarocha plays Vayo Wathinwanit, nicknamed Lom, a police officer. She appears as a recurring guest star in The Earth, The Water and The Fire, and stars as the lead in The Air (Thai TV Series), alongside Armstrong, in their fourth project together.

== Fashion and endorsements == In September 2024, Sarocha attended her first Paris Fashion Week show, which saw new Valentino creative director Alessandro Michele debut his first collection, Pavillon des Folies Spring/Summer 2025, for the Maison. According to Launchmetrics, Sarocha ranked fourth among all celebrities at the event, generating an estimated $5.9 million in Media Impact Value (MIV) from 4 placements. In January 2025, Valentino announced her appointment as their first Thai female Brand Ambassador. Following this appointment, she attended the Valentino Fall/Winter 2025 collection presentation in Paris in March 2025. On 5 May 2025, she was the first Thai actress to attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Met Gala in New York City, wearing a custom creation by Michele with Valentino Garavani accessories. According to Launchmetrics' annual Red Carpet Power Rankings, published by The Hollywood Reporter, she generated $19.5 million in Media Impact Value (MIV), placing her second overall among all attendees after fellow Thai and Blackpink member Lisa (rapper), helping Valentino rank second among brands present. The Business of Fashion noted that Sarocha's custom looks "sparked discussions about “retro-futurism” and “dark romanticism”" on tiktok, and highlighted that her debut "was a resounding success for Valentino, underscoring a fashion brand's ability to amplify rising global talent." In October 2025, she was included in The Business of Fashion's BOF 500 list; and subsequently attended the BOF 500 Gala on 4 October 2025, wearing a custom Valentino dress. In November 2025, Sarocha was selected by ICONSIAM as their Nang Noppamas of the Year for the Loy Krathong Festival. As part of that honour, she led a showcase of Thai royal traditional dresses in a Thai Chakraphat designed by Dr. Surat Jongda.