Hong Chau Bio: Age, Height, Net Worth, Movies, Husband, Parents, Nationality, Awards, TV Shows

Hong Chau is an acclaimed Vietnamese-American actress known for her powerful supporting performances in film and television. She earned critical praise and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Liz in The Whale (2022).

She is also recognized for Ngoc Lan Tran in Downsizing (2017), receiving Golden Globe and SAG nominations, and roles in The Menu (2022), Showing Up (2022), Asteroid City (2023), The Night Agent (2023), and Kinds of Kindness (2024), often portraying complex, resilient characters with depth and subtlety.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Hong Chau
• Stage Name: Hong Chau
• Born: June 25, 1979
• Age: 46 years old
• Birthplace: Refugee camp in Thailand
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Vietnamese
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 1.55 m
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. Chau and Mrs. Chau
• Siblings: Two older brothers
• Spouse: Unknown
• Children: One daughter
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $3 million USD

Early Life and Education

Hong Chau was born on June 25, 1979, in a refugee camp in Thailand, to parents Mr. Chau and Mrs. Chau. Her family fled Vietnam as part of the Vietnamese boat people in 1979; her mother was six months pregnant with her during the escape, and her father was shot by a guard, bleeding for three days on the boat.

The family, including her two older brothers, resettled in New Orleans, Louisiana, sponsored by a Vietnamese Catholic church. Her parents worked menial jobs, including as clerks and later running a convenience store, while learning English. Chau grew up in New Orleans, attending schools such as Eleanor McMain Secondary School, Benjamin Franklin High School, and Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. She majored in film studies at Boston University College of Communication, graduating with a BA in 2001, initially aiming for a career behind the camera before discovering acting through improv to overcome shyness. Her ethnicity is Vietnamese. Her religion is unknown.

Career

Hong Chau began acting professionally in 2006 with small TV roles, appearing in series like Treme (2010–2013) and Big Little Lies (2017). She gained notice in films such as Inherent Vice (2014). Her breakthrough came with Downsizing (2017) as Ngoc Lan Tran, earning multiple nominations including Golden Globe and SAG for Best Supporting Actress.

She starred in Homecoming (2018–2020), Watchmen (2019), The Whale (2022) as Liz (Oscar nomination), The Menu (2022), Showing Up (2022), Asteroid City (2023), The Night Agent (2023), Kinds of Kindness (2024), and upcoming projects like Wuthering Heights (2026).

Social Media

Hong Chau does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

Hong Chau, 46 years old and 1.55 m tall, is married to her husband, whom she met in Boston and who grew up in New Hampshire; details about him and their marriage are kept private. No past relationships are publicly known. They welcomed their daughter in November 2020 and live together, with Chau prioritizing family and taking time off after motherhood. She owns a Rottweiler-Australian Shepherd mix dog.

Net Worth

Hong Chau‘s net worth is estimated at $3 million USD. Her income primarily comes from acting roles in acclaimed feature films including The Whale, The Menu, Downsizing, and Asteroid City; television series such as The Night Agent, Homecoming, and Watchmen; residuals from streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Searchlight; award nominations and critical acclaim leading to higher-profile opportunities; and occasional writing credits.

Filmography

• Inherent Vice (2014)
• Downsizing (2017)
• Homecoming (2018–2020, TV series)
• Watchmen (2019, TV series)
• The Whale (2022)
• The Menu (2022)
• Showing Up (2022)
• Asteroid City (2023)
• The Night Agent (2023, TV series)
• Kinds of Kindness (2024)
• Wuthering Heights (2026)