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](https://filmschoolsports.com/cine-210-index) 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.