Hong Chau

Hong Chau, born on June 25, 1979, is an accomplished American actress celebrated for her remarkable performances in both film and television. She gained widespread recognition for her role in the 2022 film The Whale, which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, alongside various other accolades in the same category. Chau's career took a significant turn with her breakthrough performance in the 2017 film Downsizing, where she also received multiple nominations for supporting-actress awards.

In addition to her film work, Chau has made a notable impact on television. She showcased her talent in acclaimed series such as Watchmen (2019) and Homecoming (2018–2020), with Variety highlighting her prolific contributions to the industry in recent years. Her earlier television appearances include roles in Treme (2010–2013) and a part in the film Inherent Vice (2014). In 2018, she expanded her repertoire with guest roles in several TV series.

Chau's versatility continued to shine in 2019, where she played significant roles in the limited series Watchmen and the films American Woman and Driveways. Her journey in Homecoming saw her transition from a supporting role in the first season to a leading role in 2020. In 2022, she further solidified her status with supporting roles in films such as Showing Up, The Menu, and The Whale. Most recently, in 2023, she took on a main role in the TV series The Night Agent.

Born to Vietnamese parents who fled their homeland in the late 1970s, Chau's early life was shaped by her family's experiences in a refugee camp in Thailand. Sponsored by a Vietnamese Catholic church in New Orleans, Louisiana, they relocated to the United States, where Chau grew up. She pursued her passion for storytelling by majoring in film studies at Boston University College of Communication, laying the foundation for her successful acting career.