Hong Chau

American actress Hong Chau, born on June 25, 1979, is celebrated for her versatile acting performances. She has received multiple award nominations for her roles in films such as Downsizing (2017) and The Whale (2022). Born in Thailand to Vietnamese parents who lived in a refugee camp after fleeing Vietnam in the late 1970s, Chau's family was sponsored by a Vietnamese Catholic church in New Orleans, Louisiana to move to the United States. Chau's acting career started in the TV series Treme (2010–2013) and the film Inherent Vice (2014), which grew into supporting roles in HBO's limited series Watchmen (2019) and Prime Video's series Homecoming (2018–2020). Chau's resilience and determination led her to play leading roles in 2019 films Driveways and American Woman, and supporting roles in film The Menu (2022) and Netflix series The Night Agent (2023). Raised in an environment of hardship, she attended Boston University with financial aid, and initially studied creative writing before giving in to her parents’ request for a more practical major. Supported by her encouraging parents who worked hard as dishwashers and then ran a convenience store, Chau became an established actress, overcoming introversion and revealing herself as a scene stealer.