Jess Hong is a New Zealand actress of Chinese descent, known for her role as Jin Cheng in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem (2024).

Jess Hong
Jess Hong at Auckland Writers Festival (2024)
OccupationActress
Years active2018–present
Known for3 Body Problem

Early life and education

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Jess Hong was raised in Palmerston North in New Zealand, by her mother, an immigrant from Guangzhou, China. Her father is from Shanghai. She is the youngest of three sisters.[1][2]

She started taking drama classes at the age of 13, mainly to combat her shyness and social anxiety.[1] Hong initially quit drama classes during her first year of high school but subsequently resumed them at the age of 17 during her final.[2] After completing her secondary education, she moved to Wellington to study for three years at the national drama school, Toi Whakaari, graduating in 2019.[1][3]

Career

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Hong moved to Auckland after graduation, undertaking casual work while auditioning for acting jobs.[1][2] She has appeared in a variety of stage productions throughout New Zealand, including several Shakespeare performances. On television she has appeared in the New Zealand shows The Brokenwood Mysteries, Inked, Creamerie, and My Life Is Murder.[3]

Hong gained international recognition with a leading role in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem, released in 2024.[1] According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hong's character Jin Cheng, who is originally of Chinese descent, was rewritten to reflect her New Zealand background and accent.[4] To prepare for the role, Hong downloaded Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy on Kindle.[2]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 The Brokenwood Mysteries Maddy 2 episodes
2021 Inked Aifei Main cast
2021 Creamerie Wellness Worker 3 episodes
2023 My Life Is Murder Sage Episode: "Location, Location, Location"
2024 3 Body Problem Jin Cheng Main cast

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2023 Grafted Angela

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue
2018 Rushes Dancer Circa Theatre, Wellington
2018 Grand Opening Party Girl Civic Theatre, Auckland
2019 Romeo and Juliet Juliet Pop Up Globe
2019 Much Ado About Nothing Hero/Ensemble Pop Up Globe
2019 An Organ of Soft Tissue Prefrontal Cortex The Basement Theatre, Auckland
2020 Front Yard Festivals Wahine Te Pou Theater
2020 48 Nights on Hope Street Nathan/Narrator ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland
2021 Duffy in Bubble Trouble Scruffy National tour
2022 The First Prime-Time Asian Sitcom Angela Xu Q Theatre - Loft, Auckland

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Puckett-Pope, Lauren (22 March 2024). "Jess Hong Can't Solve the 3 Body Problem. She'll Try to Save the World Anyway". Elle. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jess Hong from 3 Body Problem on her rapid rise and being painfully shy". The Spinoff. 2 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Jess Hong profile & bio". Johnson & Laird. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  4. ^ Rankin, Seija (19 March 2024). "Jess Hong Is in Netflix's Biggest Show of the Year So Far — But Don't Call Her a Star". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024. ...says Hong, 27,...
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