Henry Ewan Golding (born 5 February 1987) is a British actor. He began his career as a television presenter before being known for his film work. He has starred in the romantic comedies Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Last Christmas (2019), the thriller A Simple Favor (2018), the action comedy The Gentlemen (2019), as well as playing the title character in the action-adventure Snake Eyes (2021), and appearing in the ensemble cast of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024). He worked as a presenter on ESPN, the BBC and Discovery Channel Asia before refocusing on acting.

Henry Golding
Born
Henry Ewan Golding

(1987-02-05) 5 February 1987 (age 37)
Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Occupations
  • Actor
  • television presenter
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Liv Lo
(m. 2016)
Children2
Signature

Early life

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Henry Ewan Golding was born on 5 February 1987[1] in Betong, a town in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. His mother, Margaret Likan, is a native-born Sarawakian of Dayak Iban ancestry,[2] and his father, Clive Golding, is English.[3][4][5][6] Golding is the youngest of three children.[7][8][9]

The family lived in Terengganu for almost five years before moving to Surrey, England when Golding was eight years old, and he went to The Warwick School, Redhill. He holds British citizenship. After working as a hairdresser[9] on Sloane Street in London for a couple of years, Golding moved back to Malaysia at age 21[2][6] to pursue on-camera roles in Kuala Lumpur.[5][7][10]

Career

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Golding began working as a television presenter in 2008, presenting a weekly football show for ESPN, The Travel Show for the BBC[4][10][11][12] and Surviving Borneo for Discovery Channel Asia.[9][13]

In March 2017, after a global casting call, it was announced that Golding would star in the film Crazy Rich Asians[14] alongside Constance Wu. He was first brought to director Jon M. Chu's attention by accountant Lisa-Kim Ling Kuan, and Golding's charm and personality quickly won him his first major acting role.[15][16] Crazy Rich Asians was released in the United States and Canada on 15 August 2018 by Warner Bros. Pictures and was met with high critical praise, becoming the number one movie in U.S. and Canadian theatres over its opening weekend.[9][17] A month later, Golding appeared in Paul Feig's thriller A Simple Favor, co-starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, playing Sean, the husband of Lively's character.[18][19] Following the success of Crazy Rich Asians, and, to a lesser extent, A Simple Favor, Golding was cast opposite Emilia Clarke in the romantic comedy Last Christmas, directed by Feig (in their second collaboration).[20] Filming commenced on 26 November 2018 and continued until February 2019,[21] and the film was released on 8 November 2019.[22]

 
Henry Golding in Singapore for the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2022

Golding starred alongside Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, and Michelle Dockery in The Gentlemen, a 2019 crime film directed by Guy Ritchie.[23] Golding went on to star in Monsoon, a Hong Khaou film, as Kit, a man who travels from London to his birth country of Vietnam to scatter his parents' ashes.[24]

In August 2019, Golding was cast in the title role of Snake Eyes, a spin-off from the G.I. Joe movie franchise, which was released in July 2021.[25][26][27] Filming for Snake Eyes began in October 2019 in Vancouver, and wrapped in February 2020 in Japan.[28][15]

Personal life

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Golding met Liv Lo, a Taiwanese television presenter and yoga instructor, on New Year's Day 2011.[29][30][31] They became engaged in 2015 and married in August 2016 in Sarawak.[32] They live in Venice Beach, California with their two daughters, born in 2021 and 2023.[33][34]

Before his marriage, Golding completed his bejalai—the Iban rite of passage into manhood—in the wilderness of Borneo, filming the experience over two months (and carrying the camera equipment himself) for the documentary series Surviving Borneo on Discovery Channel Asia.[35] His journey ended in him receiving a traditional hand-tapped bejalai tattoo by Ernesto Kalum of Borneoheadhunters Tattoo in Kuching, Sarawak. The tattoo on his right thigh is a fig tree that wraps around other trees and takes their form to become the tree itself.[36]

When interviewed by Michele Manelis of The New Zealand Herald, Golding said of his surname, "Golding is really darn Jewish, isn't it? My grandfather during the war was in London and as the story goes, he was possibly adopted by a Jewish family by that name."[37]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Pisau Cukur Iskandar Tan Sri Murad Special appearance
2013 The Borneo Incident Henry
2018 Crazy Rich Asians Nick Young
A Simple Favor Sean Townsend
2019 Monsoon Kit
Last Christmas Tom Webster
The Gentlemen Dry Eye
2021 Snake Eyes Snake Eyes
2022 Persuasion Mr. Elliot
2023 Assassin Club Morgan Gaines Also executive producer
Downtown Owl Vance Druid
2024 The Tiger's Apprentice Mr. Hu Voice role
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Freddy Alvarez
Daniela Forever Nicolas[38]
TBA The Old Guard 2 TBA Post-production
Untitled A Simple Favor sequel Sean Townsend Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007–2010 The 8TV Quickie Himself Presenter
2009 Goda Hariz
2010–2012 Football Crazy Himself Presenter
2012 Welcome to the Railworld Malaysia Himself Presenter
2014–present The Travel Show Himself Co-presenter[39]
2015 Welcome to the Railworld Japan Himself Presenter[40]
2017 Surviving Borneo Himself Presenter[35]
2021 Star Wars: Visions Tsubaki (voice) Short film: Akakiri: English language dub[41]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2010 2nd Shout! Awards Favorite TV Personality Award The 8TV Quickie Nominated
Hot Guy Award Himself Won
2012 3rd Shout! Awards Favorite TV Personality Award Welcome to the Railworld Malaysia Nominated
Hot Guy Award Himself Nominated
2013 4th Shout! Awards Hot Guy Award Himself Nominated
2018 Women Film Critics Circle Awards Best Screen Couple Crazy Rich Asians Nominated [42]
2019 9th The Asian Awards Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Won [43]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Comedy Movie Actor Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble Cast – Motion Picture Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Famous birthdays for Feb. 5". United Press International. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Good as Golding: an interview with 'Monsoon' actor Henry Golding". Bay Area Reporter (Interview). Interviewed by Shapiro, Gregg. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ Garcia Lawler, Opheli (8 August 2018). "Henry Golding Styled His Mom's Hair for the Crazy Rich Asians Premiere". The Cut. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Chung, Winnie (9 August 2018). "How 'Crazy Rich Asians' star Henry Golding rose to stardom". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "The rise of Henry Golding". The Sun (Malaysia). 31 December 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Henry Golding Drew on His Own Cultural Confusion in 'Monsoon'". The New York Times (Interview). Interviewed by Kwai, Isabella. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b Jung, E. Alex (August 2018). "There's Something About Henry". Vulture. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  8. ^ Lim, Ida (19 November 2018). "Crazy Rich Asians' Malaysia-born star Henry Golding on his Iban heritage". Malay Mail. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d Mylrea, Hannah (24 September 2020). "Henry Golding: "People don't see me as fully British"". NME. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b Clarke, Chloe (18 August 2021). "Henry Golding: Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas actor's Surrey links including school". Getsurrey.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  11. ^ Harano, Lauren (14 June 2021). "Actor and Former Travel Host Henry Golding Shares His Favorite Destination: "It Was Remarkable"". Popsugar. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  12. ^ Marcus, Lilit (8 July 2021). "Even Henry Golding has been travel scammed". CNN. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  13. ^ "BBC News - The Travel Show - Henry Golding". BBC. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  14. ^ Crucchiola, Jordan. "A Hollywood Newcomer Has Been Cast Opposite Constance Wu in Crazy Rich Asians". Vulture. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  15. ^ a b Hanna, Graeme (7 August 2021). "Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins UK release date, trailer and cast starring Crazy Rich Asian's Henry Golding". Kent Live. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  16. ^ Jung, E. Alex. "There's Something About Henry". Vulture. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  17. ^ Lee, Yen Nee (20 August 2018). "'Crazy Rich Asians' is No. 1 movie in US and Canada over the weekend". CNBC. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  18. ^ McNary, Dave (26 July 2017). "'Crazy Rich Asians' Star Henry Golding Joins Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick's 'A Simple Favor'". Variety. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Henry Golding to star alongside Blake Lively". Star2.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  20. ^ "Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding to Star in 'Last Christmas' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 18 September 2018.
  21. ^ "Emma Thompson/Paul Feig's Universal Holiday Comedy 'Last Christmas' Shoots November–February in London". 5 September 2018.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (19 April 2019). "Emilia Clarke & Henry Golding Romantic Comedy 'Last Christmas' Gets Release Date Shift – Update".
  23. ^ Kroll, Justin (10 October 2018). "Matthew McConaughey to Star in Guy Ritchie's 'Toff Guys' With Kate Beckinsale, Henry Golding".
  24. ^ "'Crazy Rich Asians' Actor Henry Golding to Star in 'Monsoon' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 7 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Henry Golding to Star in G.I. Joe Spinoff Snake Eyes". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 August 2019.
  26. ^ "'Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins' Production Begins in Japan with a Special Ceremony". /Film. 10 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Hasbro Posts Quarterly Loss as Pandemic Hits eOne". The Hollywood Reporter. 27 July 2020.
  28. ^ "G.I. Joe spinoff movie, Snake Eyes, to shoot in Vancouver in autumn 2019". The Georgia Straight. 15 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Henry Golding Fast Facts You Must Know (Singapore)". Guidesify Opinion. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  30. ^ Heggeness, Greta (14 June 2019). "Henry Golding Is Married!? Every Single Thing We Know About His Relationship with Liv Lo". PureWow. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  31. ^ "5 reasons why Crazy Rich Asians' Henry Golding and wife Liv Lo are total couple goals". Her World. 27 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  32. ^ Jamaluddin, Lira (26 August 2016). "Henry Golding Weds Liv Lo". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  33. ^ "Inside Actor Henry Golding's Minimalist, Japanese Inspired Backyard". aspire design and home. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Henry Golding and Wife Liv Lo Welcome Their Second Baby Together". people.com. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  35. ^ a b "Surviving Borneo". Discovery Channel Asia. 2017. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  36. ^ Jung, E. Alex. "There's Something About Henry". Vulture. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  37. ^ "Why Crazy Rich Asians is a Hollywood gamechanger." Manelis, Michele. The New Zealand Herald. Published 23 August 2018 Accessed 14 November 2018.
  38. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (9 April 2024). "'Daniela Forever': First Look Images Of Henry Golding & 'The White Lotus' Actress Beatrice Grannò In Nacho Vigalondo's Sci-Fi Romance". Deadline Hollywood.
  39. ^ "The Travel Show – Henry Golding – BBC World News". BBC. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  40. ^ Zaidi Mohamad (12 January 2015). "Kembara Henry Golding di Jepun menerusi Welcome to the Railworld Japan" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  41. ^ "Stunning New Star Wars: Visions Trailer Debuts". StarWars.com. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  42. ^ Neglia, Matt (11 December 2018). "The 2018 Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  43. ^ "Outstanding Achievement in Cinema – CRAZY RICH ASIANS". The Asian Awards. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
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