IF YOU did not know who Min Maw Kun was until he won his Best Actor Academy Award at this year’s cer emony, then you have been living under a rock for the past six years. The 24-year-old, celebrating his birthday just last week, is not only a household name; he is also one of the most popular actors of his generation. "A talented actor," gushes director U Tin Oo. "He has a style so different from other actors – it is like a habit, and this is most striking. He never argues with the director – he may give suggestions, but always accepts the final instructions.

"He can turn his hand to whatever character and mood is called for," U Tin Oo added. If that is not a big compliment, then what more can the young actor do? Well, if his short, but busy life thus far is any indication, he does not leave many stones unturned (except, obviously those ones under which you may have been hiding had you answered the first sentence in the affirmative). Married in 1998, a father to two young children, 15 films under his belt, and a singing career that is causing almost as much a sensation as his acting skills – what more could be done? Seems he has got the formula right already. "I don’t know about business – I don’t understand it and I’m not even interested in it. My future plans are just about singing, acting, and writing songs and poetry," the face that is even younger in person than in a photo, tells me. Another thing he is sure he doesn’t want to do in the future is graduate. "Being a graduate is not really necessary to me. That which makes my career long and prosperous is what is important to me," Min Maw Kun said.

"I haven’t sat for my computer science final year exam, and I don’t intend to. My Mum wants me to be a graduate – but I don’t feel like attending university." He sounds like a rebellious child with a nagging mother, but in fact this father of two is more mature than most 24-year-olds. He has ideas in his head that, given the chance, come forth despite much of the interview being conducted in short sentence answers. One of the subjects is the film industry. His main love, apart from his wife and parents, is acting and the Myanmar film industry. He sees a lot of potential and readily agrees improvement could push it into the worldwide stage. "Enlarge the movie market, develop technology, create better themes for movie scripts, and reduce restrictions on scriptwriters. "Then, Myanmar movies can reach an international audience," he said. Min Maw Kun started acting in movies in 1996 – bursting onto the stage in his debut Ah Yeik (Shadow) which saw his face and name become hot property. The son of actor Zin Waing, and a doting mother, both of whom he still lives with, Min Maw Kun didn’t want to stop at films.

He now sings with a band, drawing screaming fans to gigs every time he plays. He appeared on Phyo Ngwe Soe’s album, writing and singing two songs for the 1998 debut album. He then collaborated with another model, Kyaw Thu Soe and the Myae Pe Yo band on their first album Ah Chit Myar Swar A Twat (For Too Much Love). He is now arranging his own solo album, and hopes to release it later this year. "I never anticipated the success of Myae Pe Yo, but I think the extent of my victory is reflected by the success of Myae Pe Yo," Min Maw Kun said. "I have performed at nearly 10 stage shows – I get a lot of encouragement most of the time but sometimes nothing. It all depends on the audience at the time." A big fan of the music of The Ants, including Inle Lake’s L Phyu and Maung Maung Zaw Latt with whom he is also friends, he says his style is strongly influenced by them. "My song writing style is sometimes the same as theirs," Min Maw Kun said. Grandfather of Myanmar rock, singer/songwriter Zaw Win Htut, is impressed by Min Maw Kun’s fast rise in the music arena, which in Myanmar can be very tough to break into. "His voice is attractive, and he has a style and mood that captures his music style. I think he will go far," Zaw Win Htut said. Having made 15 films in just over six years, and already worked on three albums, as well as having married and had a family, you would think that Min Maw Kun had already started checking into a health spa, occasionally, for recuperation. "What do I do if it all gets too much? A good night’s sleep is the best remedy for a day’s stress, but if it really becomes too much I pack up my family and we go to the beach. "But, regularly I go to the Pearl Centre and play Counterstrike, that is my recreation as well as reading a good book," he said.

But what about all the attention being such a well-known face? "What I really want is freedom, but in reality I don’t have that often. But, anyway, I don’t find it annoying – it’s nice to know that I have a lot of encouragement from the audience," he said. He says he draws from his experiences in life when he turns himself into the characters he plays in movies. "I can apply life experience even at 24. I am a father, I know the issues that come from being a married man – it all combines to help me create my characters. "Being a father really changed my life. My way of living before I was married was totally different, but now I am satisfied. I always make my family my priority." He hopes that he can offer his children an even better chance at life than he has had, and says he will support them in whatever choices they make, though he admits; "If they enter into the arts industry, I would welcome them". He enjoys his job, not only because of the rewards of being paid for doing something he loves, but also because of the people he gets to work with. He cites Kyaw Ye Aung and Lwin Moe as the two actors he most admires from his generation of actors, and says Zaw Win Htut is still the most talented singer in the country. He is still quite modest about his academy award, saying that luck played a major role in that happy ending. "I won it because I was lucky, and I tried hard. Luck is pretty important for all performers – so many perform well, but luck does not favour them." For this lucky young man, the future should only prove more delightful.