Hong Chau

Career 2006–2017: Early work and breakthrough with Downsizing

Chau began acting in film and television in 2006. In the early 2010s, she had guest roles on the CBS TV series NCIS and How I Met Your Mother. One of her first major roles was in the TV series Treme (2010–2013), which was set in New Orleans. Her first feature film role was in the 2014 film Inherent Vice. For two years after her role, she was not able to get an audition for another film role. In 2015, she had a key role in the Off-Broadway play John; She subsequently appeared in a supporting role in the 2017 film Downsizing, She was nominated for several awards for best supporting actress (see accolades). She appeared in guest roles in several TV series, including BoJack Horseman and Forever. She had a supporting role as a corporate secretary in the first season of the Amazon Prime Video series Homecoming. The Ringers Alison Herman said another actor would have sought to accumulate more recurring roles on TV series. Herman said, "In the Peak TV Era, Chau opted for something much savvier: taking some choice guest parts in a few critically acclaimed TV shows ... Chau benefits from these shows' prestige; the shows benefit from her talents."

Chau had her first leading roles in the films Driveways and American Woman, both released at film festivals in 2019. For Driveways, Chau was familiar with director Andrew Ahn's previous film Spa Night, recognized his name when he contacted her with an offer for the role, and readily accepted the offer. Also in 2019, Chau appeared in the HBO limited series Watchmen as the trillionaire Lady Trieu, whose performance The Hollywood Reporters TV critic Tim Goodman said was one of the series' "exceptional, memorable performances".

In May 2020, Chau had a larger role in Homecomings second season, in which she moves from secretary to a person in charge in the series's featured corporation. Entertainment Tonights Stacy Lambe said Chau "has become something of a scene stealer over the years". Lambe said, "What's notable about most of her projects is that they feature a diverse cast of actors of color who get to shine in unexpected ways," highlighting Treme, Watchmen, and Homecoming. While Chau had filmed a small part as Opal Koboi in the 2020 film Artemis Fowl, her appearance was ultimately cut. Her character's voice was used, but Chau was not officially credited. Her deleted scene became available on Disney+.

2021–present: Oscar nomination for The Whale Chau spent most of 2020 in a lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. She gave birth to a daughter in November. In 2021, she acted in four films: The Whale, Showing Up, The Menu, and Asteroid City. Chau was initially reluctant to audition, preferring to stay home with her newborn and doubting she would get the role as it was originally played by a white actress. For The Menu, Chau was a fan of the TV series Succession and wanted to work with director Mark Mylod, who had directed over a dozen episodes in the series. She also wanted to work with actor Ralph Fiennes.

Showing Up premiered in May 2022 at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, and in September, The Whale premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival, and The Menu premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Both The Whale and The Menu had commercial releases in theaters later in the year. Chau said she gives directors "a wide range of line readings and reactions each time they call 'action'". Variety wrote, "It's resulted in a string of performances of remarkable versatility, star turns." For her role in The Whale, Chau was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Chau appeared as a guest star in an episode of the TV series Poker Face, which premiered in January 2023. Chau also appeared in the TV series The Night Agent, which premiered on March 23, 2023. Chau was familiar with series creator Shawn Ryan's work with the series The Shield and Terriers and accepted the opportunity to work with Ryan and to have a role in a political thriller that would be new genre territory for her.

Chau had a single scene in Asteroid City, which premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. She was part of another ensemble cast in Yorgos Lanthimos's absurdist anthology film Kinds of Kindness, which premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Lanthimos cast her to play three parts in it after being impressed with her acting range in Showing Up. Chau next appeared in the action thriller film The Instigators (2024), directed by Doug Liman.

Personal life , she owned a Rottweiler-Australian Shepherd mix. In November of that year, Chau gave birth to a daughter.

Filmography

Film + Chau's film roles Year Title Role Notes 2014 Inherent Vice Jade 2017 Downsizing Ngoc Lan Tran 2018 Duck Butter Glow 2019 Driveways Kathy American Woman Jenny Shimada 2020 Artemis Fowl Opal Koboi Uncredited voice role; deleted scene 2022 Showing Up Jo Tran Liz Elsa 2023 Asteroid City Polly 2024 Kinds of Kindness Sarah, Sharon and AkaTriple role Dr. Donna Rivera 2026 Wuthering Heights Nelly Dean Beth Pennock

Television + Chau's TV roles Year(s) Title Role Notes 2006 Finding My America Minh Episode: "The Road Trip Begins" 2008 The Sarah Silverman Program Asian Masseuse Episode: "Patriot Tact" 2010 How I Met Your Mother Cook Pu Episode: "Perfect Week" Trenches Spc. Wing Main role (10 episodes) NCIS F.B.I. Lab Tech Molly Choi Episode: "Jurisdiction" My Boys Audrey Episode: "Puss 'N' Glutes" $h*! My Dad Says DJ Episode: "Code Ed" 2011–2013 Treme Linh 13 episodes 2012 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Julie Blanch Episode: "Ms. Willows Regrets" Good Luck Charlie Theresa Episode: "Welcome Home" 2014–2015 A to Z Lora Main role (13 episodes) 2017 Big Little Lies Jackie 6 episodes American Dad! Korean Spy Voice; episode: "Casino Normale" 2018 BoJack Horseman Pickles Aplenty Voice; 5 episodes Forever Sarah Episode: "Andre and Sarah" 2018–2020 Homecoming Audrey Temple Main role (11 episodes) 2019 Watchmen Lady Trieu Main role (4 episodes) 2023 Poker Face Marge Episode: "The Night Shift" Diane Farr Main role (season 1)

Theatre + Chau's stage roles Year Title Role Playwright Venue 2015 John Jenny Annie Baker Signature Theatre, Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations

Chau had a supporting role in the 2017 film Downsizing and was nominated for several awards, including Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Considered a probable nominee for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 90th Academy Awards, she was not nominated. USA Todays Andrea Mandell said, "Hong Chau was snubbed ... a nomination many had assumed was a lock given the strength of her performance as a Vietnamese refugee."

Chau also had a supporting role in the 2022 film The Whale and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the first time. She was also nominated for other supporting-actress awards including the Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

+ Awards and nominations received by Hong ChauOrganizationsYearCategoryWorkResult Academy Awards 2023 Best Supporting Actress The Whale Actor Awards 2018 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Downsizing 2023 The Whale Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2023 Best Actress in a Supporting Role Astra Creative Arts TV Awards 2024 Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Poker Face Astra Film Awards 2023 Best Supporting Actress The Whale British Academy Film Awards 2023 Best Actress in a Supporting Role Chicago Film Critics Association 2022 Best Supporting Actress Chlotrudis Awards 2024 Best Performance in a Supporting Role Showing Up Cinequest Film Festival 2020 Maverick Spirit Award — Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2018 Best Supporting Actress Downsizing Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association 2022 Best Supporting Actress The Whale Dorian Awards 2023 Supporting Film Performance of the Year Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival 2019 Best Actress American Woman Florida Film Critics Circle 2017 Best Supporting Actress Downsizing Gold List 2023 Best Performance in a Supporting Role The Whale Golden Globe Awards 2018 Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Downsizing Gotham Independent Film Awards 2022 Outstanding Supporting Performance The Whale Independent Spirit Awards 2015 Robert Altman Award Inherent Vice 2020 Best Female Lead Driveways 2024 Robert Altman Award Showing Up International Cinephile Society 2023 Best Supporting Actress Las Vegas Film Critics Society 2022 Best Supporting Actress The Whale London Film Critics' Circle 2023 Supporting Actress of the Year New York Film Critics Online 2022 Best Supporting Actress Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2017Per Variety, "The Virtuosos Award is given annually to artists who have distinguished themselves through breakthrough performances in film." St. Louis Film Critics Association 2017 Best Supporting Actress