Hong Chau

Biography

Hong Chau, born on June 25, 1979, is a talented American actress recognized for her impactful performances in film. She garnered significant acclaim for her role as Ngoc Lan Tran in the 2017 film *Downsizing* and as Liz, a nurse, in *The Whale* (2022), earning her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.

Chau's journey began with her Vietnamese parents, who fled to a refugee camp in Thailand after the Vietnam War in the late 1970s. Sponsored by a Vietnamese Catholic church, she and her family relocated to the United States, settling in New Orleans, where she spent her formative years. Pursuing her passion for storytelling, Chau studied film at Boston University College of Communication before embarking on an acting career.

She made her mark on television with appearances in the acclaimed series *Treme* (2010–2013) and the film *Inherent Vice* (2014). Chau's versatility continued to shine through with supporting roles in HBO's *Watchmen* (2019) and the Amazon series *Homecoming* (2018–2020). In addition to her earlier works, she starred in the 2019 films *Driveways* and *American Woman*, and took on notable supporting roles in *The Menu* (2022) and the Netflix series *The Night Agent* (2023).