Prior to 2018, the name Henry Golding didn’t ring a bell or spark interest. That all changed with the surprise movie hit of that year, Crazy Rich Asians. Adapted from the bestselling book of the same name, it was Hollywood’s first all-Asian cast film since 1993’s Joy Luck Club and in it, Henry played the lead. Overnight, his star went supernova and he’s become much in demand as a leading man in many big productions.

Born in Betong, Sarawak to an English father and a Malaysian Iban mother, he lived his early years in Dungun, Terengganu before the family relocated to Surrey, England when he was eight. After a successful stint as a hairdresser for a few years, he made the decision to return to Malaysia when he was 21 to pursue his showbiz dreams. Aside from a few small roles in local movies, he became a presenter for a string of television programs such as The 8TV Quickie, Welcome to the Railworld Malaysia, Welcome to the Railworld Japan and Surviving Borneo. He was also BBC’s KL-based The Travel Show’s presenter.

His big silver screen break came in 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians and his performance, along with the film’s box office success earned critical praise and new lead roles for him. He later appeared in Paul Feig’s thriller A Simple Favor and then opposite Emilia Clarke in the romantic comedy Last Christmas, again directed by Feig. This year, he plays the titular role in Snake Eyes, a G.I. Joe movie spin-off, as well as providing his voice as a character in Disney’s Star Wars: Visions.