Hong Chau

Hong Chau (born June 25, 1979, in Thailand) is an American screen actor known for quietly magnetic performances that balance precision, warmth, and bite. Born to Vietnamese parents who had fled Vietnam and were living in a refugee camp, she later moved with her family to the United States through sponsorship from a Vietnamese Catholic church in New Orleans, where she was raised.

Chau studied film at Boston University’s College of Communication, a background that sharpened her understanding of storytelling before she committed fully to acting. She first gained wider attention with the New Orleans-set series Treme, then expanded her film profile with roles including Jade in Inherent Vice.

Her breakout came with Downsizing, where her portrayal of Ngoc Lan Tran drew major awards attention. She later earned further acclaim—and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress—for playing Liz, a nurse, in The Whale.

Chau continues to build an eclectic résumé across film and television, from Watchmen and Homecoming to standout recent credits such as Asteroid City (Polly), The Instigators (Dr. Donna Rivera), and Kinds of Kindness (Sarah / Sharon / Aka).