Benedict Wong
{{short description|English actor (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Benedict Wong
| image = Benedict Wong by Peter Guenzel.jpg
| caption = Wong in 2023
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|7|3}}
| birth_place = Eccles, Lancashire, United Kingdom
| years_active = 1992–present
| occupation = Actor
| spouse =
| children =
| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|t=王漢斌|s=王汉斌|p=Wáng Hàn Bīn|j=Wong4 Hon3 Ban1|y=Wòhng Hon-bān}}
}}
Benedict Wong (born 3 July 1971){{cite web |title=Famous Salfordians |url=https://www.salford.gov.uk/people-communities-and-local-information/famous-salfordians/ |website=Salford City Council |access-date=30 May 2024 |quote=Actor. Born on 3 July 1971.}}{{cite web |last1=Solanki |first1=Misha |title=INTERVIEW: Benedict Wong |url=https://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2016/10/25/us-interview-benedict-wong/ |website=Salford Now |access-date=30 May 2024 |date=25 October 2016 |quote=He was born in Eccles in 1971...}} is a British actor. He began his career on stage before starring in the film Dirty Pretty Things (2003), which earned him a British Independent Film Award nomination, and the BBC sitcom 15 Storeys High (2002–2004). This was followed by roles in the films On a Clear Day (2005), Sunshine, Grow Your Own (both 2007), and Moon (2009), and the CBBC series Spirit Warriors (2010).
Wong gained further recognition in the 2010s for his roles as Kublai Khan in the Netflix series Marco Polo (2014–2016), Bruce Ng in the film The Martian (2015), and Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe media franchise since the film Doctor Strange (2016). He has since starred in the Syfy series Deadly Class (2019). His performance in the film Nine Days (2020) earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Since 2024, he currently has a main role in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem.
Early life and education
Wong was born in Eccles, a town in the city of Salford, England, in 1971, the son of Hong Kong immigrant parents who had travelled through Ireland before settling in England.{{cite news |first=Susie |last=Mesure |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/benedict-wong-im-the-goto-guy-for-victims-of-torture-8735044.html |title=Benedict Wong: 'I'm the go- to guy for victims of torture' |newspaper=The Independent |date=28 July 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014}}
He was brought up in Salford{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30396743 |title=Premier League Predictions |publisher=BBC |date=15 December 2014 |access-date=17 January 2021}} and attended De La Salle Sixth Form College in the city, where he took a two-year performing arts course.{{cite news |date=25 March 2018 |title=The Greater Manchester actors who hit the big time on stage and on screen |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/greater-manchester-actors-who-hit-14451232 |access-date=2 April 2018 |work=Manchester Evening News}}
Career
=Early career=
Wong's first role was in the 1993 BBC Radio play Kai Mei Sauce, written by his cousin, Kevin Wong. He appeared as Errol Spears alongside Sean Lock in the situation comedy 15 Storeys High, and as Franklin Fu in the second series of Look Around You.{{cite news |first=Phelim |last=O'Neill |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/mar/09/3 |title=First sight: Benedict Wong |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 March 2007 |access-date=13 July 2014}} In 2003, he was nominated at the British Independent Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Guo Yi in Dirty Pretty Things.{{cite web |url=http://bifa.chaptermedia.com/people/benedict-wong |title=Benedict Wong |work=BIFA |publisher=Chapter Media |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628212110/http://bifa.chaptermedia.com/people/benedict-wong |archive-date=28 June 2013}}
In 2007, Wong starred in the feature film Grow Your Own.{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Ann |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/06/11/grow_your_own_2007_interview.shtml |title=Benedict Wong – Grow Your Own interview |work=BBC Films |date=11 June 2007 |access-date=13 July 2014}} He appeared in the second episode of Series 4 of the Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd as Prime, a previous Countdown contestant who had won the sixteenth Countdown teapot when he was known as Harold Tong.{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-it-crowd/articles/benedict-wong-discusses-playing-prime |title=Benedict Wong discusses playing Prime |publisher=Channel 4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521063027/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-it-crowd/articles/benedict-wong-discusses-playing-prime |archive-date=21 May 2013 |access-date=10 August 2016}} He also appeared in the film Shanghai as Juso Kita, and played Li in the BBC series Spirit Warriors.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/12_december/21/spirit.shtml |title=Press Office – Spirit Warriors press pack: introduction |publisher=BBC |date=21 December 2009 |access-date=13 July 2014}}
In 2012, Wong appeared in the Ridley Scott film Prometheus as the ship's pilot, Ravel.{{cite web |first=Cameron |last=K. |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/18758/actor-benedict-wong-talks-about-prometheus |title=Actor Benedict Wong talks about Prometheus |website=Den of Geek |publisher=Dennis Publishing |date=20 February 2012 |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916024108/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/18758/actor-benedict-wong-talks-about-prometheus |archive-date=16 September 2016 }} In 2013, he played the lead role in #aiww: The Arrest of Ai WeiWei at the Hampstead Theatre.{{cite web |url=http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/news/2013/03/casting-announced-for-aiww-the-arrest-of-ai-weiwei/ |title=Casting announced for #aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei |website=Hampstead Theatre |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014}} Shortly after, the Almeida Theatre announced that he had joined the cast of the play Chimerica as Zhang Lin.{{cite web |url=http://headlong.co.uk/work/chimerica/people/benedict-wong/ |title=Benedict Wong People |website=Headlong |date=13 September 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192920/http://headlong.co.uk/work/chimerica/people/benedict-wong/ }} Also in he played gangster Lau in the BBC Two comedy-drama The Wrong Mans. He was nominated for the West End Frame Award for Best Dramatic Performance for his role in Chimerica.{{cite web |url=http://www.westendframe.com/2013/10/BestDramaticPerformance-VotingPage.html |title=Vote: Best Dramatic Performance 2013 |work=West End Frame Awards |publisher=West End Frame |date=22 October 2013 |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822072354/http://www.westendframe.com/2013/10/BestDramaticPerformance-VotingPage.html |archive-date=22 August 2016 }}{{Cite web |title=#aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei |url=https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2013/aiww-the-arrest-of-ai/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Hampstead Theatre}}{{Cite web |title=AIWW: THE ARREST OF AI WEIWEI |url=https://www.theculturediary.com/stories/aiww-arrest-ai-weiwei |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426183422/https://www.theculturediary.com/stories/aiww-arrest-ai-weiwei |url-status=usurped |archive-date=26 April 2020 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=theculturediary.com |language=en}}
=International breakthrough=
In 2014, Wong played Kublai Khan in the Netflix series Marco Polo,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/dec/13/benedict-wong-marco-polo-netflix |title=Benedict Wong: 'Television is reflecting an era that has passed, it's wrong' |last=Aroesti |first=Rachel |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 December 2014 |access-date=10 August 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-chinese-game-of-thrones-marco-polo-sets-sail-for-netflix-9890764.html |title=The 'Chinese Game of Thrones': Marco Polo sets sail for Netflix |first=Sarah |last=Hughes |newspaper=The Independent |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=10 August 2016}} which on 7 January 2015 was renewed by Netflix for a 10-episode second series.
The next year, he appeared in another Ridley Scott science fiction film, playing Jet Propulsion Lab director Bruce Ng in The Martian.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/the-martian-white-washing-asian-american-ridley-scott-1201614155/ |title='The Martian' Slammed Over 'White-Washing' Asian-American Roles |work=Variety |date=8 October 2015 |access-date=2 April 2018}} In 2016, he co-starred as Wong in the superhero film Doctor Strange (2016){{cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/martian-actor-nabs-key-doctor-858155 |title='The Martian' Actor Nabs Key 'Doctor Strange' Role |first=Borys |last=Kit |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=21 January 2016 |access-date=10 August 2016}} and later reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War (2018),{{cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/marvel/2016/10/21/benedict-wong-confirmed-for-avengers-infinity-war/|title=Benedict Wong Confirmed For Avengers Infinity War|website=comicbook.com|date=6 September 2017 }} Avengers: Endgame (2019),{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/avengers-4-reshoots-chris-hemsworth-benedict-wong-set/|title=Avengers 4 Reshoots: Chris Hemsworth Headed to Set, Benedict Wong Already There|date=22 September 2018 |publisher=Screen Rant}} Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021),{{Cite web |last=Bonaime |first=Ross |date=June 24, 2021 |title=New 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Trailer Gives a Closer Look at Tony Leung As the Real Mandarin |url=https://collider.com/shang-chi-trailer-tony-leung-mandarin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625013959/https://collider.com/shang-chi-trailer-tony-leung-mandarin/ |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2021 |website=Collider}}{{Cite web |last=Meares |first=Joel |date=June 29, 2021 |title=Exclusive: Kevin Feige Confirms That Is The Abomination Fighting Wong in the Shang-Chi Trailer |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/exclusive-kevin-feige-confirms-that-is-abomination-fighting-wong-in-the-shang-chi-trailer/ |access-date=June 30, 2021 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021),{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=August 23, 2021 |title='Spider-Man: No Way Home' Trailer Officially Drops, Multiverse Villains Descend on Tom Holland |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/spider-man-no-way-home-trailer-leak-official-1234968950/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824020848/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/spider-man-no-way-home-trailer-leak-official-1234968950/ |archive-date=24 August 2021 |access-date=August 23, 2021 |website=Variety}} Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022),{{Cite web |last1=Vary |first1=Adam B. |last2=Kroll |first2=Justin |date=February 5, 2020 |title=Sam Raimi in Talks to Direct 'Doctor Strange 2' (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/doctor-strange-2-sam-raimi-1203475309/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206013138/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/doctor-strange-2-sam-raimi-1203475309/ |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |access-date=February 5, 2020 |website=Variety}} and the 2022 Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.{{Cite web |last=Paige |first=Rachel |date=17 May 2022 |title='She-Hulk: Attorney at Law': First Trailer Introduces Jennifer Walters |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/she-hulk-first-trailer-jennifer-walters-disney-plus |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Marvel Entertainment |language=en}}
He appeared in "Hated in the Nation", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror, playing Shaun Li, an agent with the National Crime Agency in 2016. In 2017 he voiced Alex Yu in the Arkane Studios game Prey and starred in "2036: Nexus Dawn", a promotional short film prequel to Blade Runner 2049 directed by Luke Scott and co-starring Jared Leto. He appeared as the scientist Lomax in the 2018 science fiction horror film Annihilation.{{cite web| url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/annihilation-review-natalie-portman-1202706321/| title=Film Review: 'Annihilation'| work=Variety| date=21 February 2018| access-date=2 April 2018}}
In 2019, he performed the voice of Skeksis general skekVar in the Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and the voice of Bull in the film Lady and the Tramp. In 2020, he appeared as a Necromancer in an episode of the FX television series What We Do in the Shadows. Wong's 2013 political play #aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei was streamed through the news network The Guardian again in May 2020.
In 2021, Wong voiced the warrior giant Tong in the Disney animated film Raya and the Last Dragon. In 2021, he was nominated for a Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance as Kyo in Nine Days.{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2021-01-26|title=Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', 'Minari', 'Nomadland' & 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Lead Field|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/film-independent-spirit-2021-noms-include-minari-nomadland-ma-raineys-black-bottom-never-rarely-first-cow-1234680490/|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} He joined the cast{{Cite web |last=Rosario |first=Alexandra Del |date=2021-10-29 |title='3 Body Problem': MCU's Benedict Wong, Tsai Chin, 'GoT's John Bradley & Liam Cunningham Among 12 Cast In Netflix Series |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/3-body-problem-benedict-wong-tsai-chin-john-bradley-liam-cunningham-among-12-cast-netflix-1234864582/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} of the Netflix live action adaptation of the Chinese novel The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin, which began shooting later that year.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-25 |title=The Three-Body Problem |url=https://productionlist.com/production/three-body-problem/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Production List {{!}} Film & Television Industry Alliance |language=en-US}} In 2022, through BBC Radio, he partnered with Ai WeiWei again as the narrator for Ai's memoir 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows.{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00114cz |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
In 2024, 3 Body Problem was released. The show was well received, with Wong's performance being singled out.{{Cite news |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=2024-03-21 |title=3 Body Problem review – the creators of Game of Thrones have done it again |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/mar/21/3-body-problem-review-the-creators-of-game-of-thrones-have-done-it-again |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=McIndoe |first=Ross |date=2024-03-09 |title='3 Body Problem' Review: Brainy Concepts and Characters |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/3-body-problem-review-benedict-wong-john-bradley/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Wong is a fan of Manchester United.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class=unsortable | Notes |
|---|
| 2000
| Pat Proudence | |
| rowspan="2"| 2001
| Wit | Fellow 2 | |
| Spy Game
| Tran | |
| 2002
| Guo Yi | |
| 2003
| Code 46 | Medic | |
| rowspan="2"| 2005
| Chan | |
| A Cock and Bull Story
| Ed | |
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| Sunshine | Trey | |
| Grow Your Own
| Kung Sang | |
| 2008
| William Kwan | |
| 2009
| Moon | Thompson | |
| 2010
| Shanghai | Juso Kita | |
| rowspan="3"| 2011
| The Lady | Karma Phuntsho | |
| Johnny English Reborn
| Chi Han Ly | |
| Painkiller
| Jay | Short film |
| 2012
| Ravel | |
| 2013
|Lee |
| rowspan="2"| 2013
| Mr Choy | |
| Kick-Ass 2
| Mr Kim | |
| 2015
| Bruce Ng | |
| 2016
| Wong | |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
| Lomax | |
| Avengers: Infinity War
| rowspan=2| Wong | |
| rowspan="4"| 2019
| |
| The Personal History of David Copperfield
| Mr Wickfield | |
| Gemini Man
| Baron | |
| Lady and the Tramp
| Bull (voice) | |
| 2020
| Kyo | |
| rowspan="4"| 2021
| Extinct | Dr. Chung (voice) | |
| Raya and the Last Dragon
| Tong (voice) |
| Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
| rowspan=3| Wong | |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home
| |
| 2022
|Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | |
| 2023
| The Magician (voice) | |
| 2024
| Meng | |
| 2025
| Weapons | {{TBA}} | Post-production |
| 2026
| Wong | Filming |
| TBA
| {{TBA}} |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992
| Le Van Dong | 1 episode | |||
| 1993
| Chinese Man | 1 episode | |||
| 1994
| Peng | 1 episode | |||
| 1994
| Lee | 1 episode | |||
| 1995
| Radiographer | 1 episode | |||
| 1995
| Chinese Interpreter | 1 episode | |||
| 1996
| Michael Cheung | 1 episode | |||
| 1996
| Cracker | Peter Yang | 1 episode | |||
| 1997
| Frankie Li | Television film | |||
| 1997
| The Bill | Li Mann | 1 episode | |||
| 1997
| Breakout | Jerry | Television film | |||
| 2000
| Hassan | Miniseries | |||
| 2000; 2002
| The Bill | Michael Wei / DS David Chiu | 8 episodes | |||
| 2002
| TLC | Terry Cheung | Recurring role, 6 episodes | |||
| 2002
| Chess Player | 1 episode | |||
| 2002–2004
| Errol Spears | Main role, 12 episodes | |||
| 2003
| Pete Cheng | Recurring role, 6 episodes | |||
| 2005
| Dr Franklin Fu | 1 episode | |||
| 2006
| Danny | 1 episode | |||
| 2007
| Dr. Ed Gore | Television film | |||
| 2008
| Various characters | 4 episodes | |||
| 2010
| Li | Main role, 7 episodes | |||
| 2010
| Harold "Prime" Tong | 1 episode | |||
| 2010
| Spooks | Kai | 1 episode | |||
| 2010–2011
| Eli Smart | 2 episodes | |||
| 2011
| Shen Yue | 1 episode | |||
| 2011–2013
| Top Boy | Vincent | Recurring role, 6 episodes | |||
| 2013
| Mr. Lau | 4 episodes | |||
| 2014
| Prey | DS Ashley Chan | 3 episodes | |||
| 2014–2016
| Main role, 20 episodes | |||
| 2016
| Shaun Li | Episode: "Hated in the Nation" | |||
| 2017
| Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams | Ed Andrews | 1 episode | |||
| 2019
| Master Lin | Main role, 10 episodes | |||
| 2019
| The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance | The General (skekVar) (voice) | Main role, 9 episodes | |||
| 2020, 2023
| Wallace the Necromancer | 2 episodes | |||
| 2021
| Wong (voice) | Episode: "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" | |||
| 2021-2022 | Marvel Studios: Assembled | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2022
| Wong | Special guest star; | |||
| 2024
| Da Shi | Main role, 8 episodes |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017
| Prey | Alex Yu |{{cite tweet |user=wongrel |number=857863799705088000 |date=28 April 2017 |title=👊🏾💫🕹 }} |
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995
| Ong Chi Seng | |||
| rowspan="2"| 1998
| Solanio | rowspan="4"| Shakespeare's Globe | |||
| The Honest Whore
| Castruccio | |||
| rowspan="2"| 1999 | |||
| Antony and Cleopatra
| Menas / Scarus | |||
| 2003
| Vic / Cop | |||
| 2009
| Ariel | Curve | |||
| 2012
| Hamlet | Laertes | |||
| 2013
| Zhang Lin | |||
| 2013
| #aiww: The Arrest of Ai WeiWei |
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|0938950}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wong, Benedict}}
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century British male actors
Category:Actors from Eccles, Greater Manchester
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male Shakespearean actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:English people of Chinese descent