Henry Golding
{{short description|British actor (born 1987)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Henry Golding
| image = Henry Golding at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (Cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Golding in 2024
| birth_name = Henry Ewan Golding
| birth_place = Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|2|5|df=y}}
| citizenship = UK
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|TV presenter}}
| years_active = 2007–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Liv Lo|2016}}
| children = 2
| signature = Henry Golding's autograph.jpg
}}
Henry Ewan Golding{{cite news|title=The rise of Henry Golding|url=https://thesun.my/style-life/the-rise-of-henry-golding-BL1841223|newspaper=The Sun (Malaysia)|date=31 December 2019|access-date=9 April 2024}} (born 5 February 1987) is a British actor of Malaysian origin. 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 he appeared in the ensemble cast of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024). In 2025, he had a role in the second season of the Hulu anthology series Nine Perfect Strangers.
Before being known for his film work, he began his career as a presenter on ESPN, BBC, and Discovery Channel Asia.
Early life
Golding was born on 5 February 1987{{cite news|title=Famous birthdays for Feb. 5|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2020/02/05/Famous-birthdays-for-Feb-5-Henry-Golding-Bobby-Brown/7761580688274/|work=United Press International|date=5 February 2020|access-date=9 April 2024}} in Betong, a town in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. His mother, Margaret Likan, is a native-born Sarawakian of Dayak Iban ancestry,{{cite interview|title=Good as Golding: an interview with 'Monsoon' actor Henry Golding|url=https://www.ebar.com/story.php?id=299238|newspaper=Bay Area Reporter|interviewer-last=Shapiro|interviewer-first=Gregg|date=17 November 2020|access-date=27 July 2024}} and his father, Clive Golding, is English.{{cite news|last=Garcia Lawler|first=Opheli|title=Henry Golding Styled His Mom's Hair for the Crazy Rich Asians Premiere|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/08/henry-golding-mom-hair-crazy-rich-asians.html|website=The Cut|date=8 August 2018|access-date=9 April 2024}}{{Cite magazine |last=Chung |first=Winnie |date=2018-08-09 |title=How 'Crazy Rich Asians' star Henry Golding rose to stardom |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2158660/how-crazy-rich-asians-star-henry-golding-rose-stardom |access-date=2024-06-19 |magazine=South China Morning Post}}{{cite interview |interviewer-last=Kwai |interviewer-first=Isabella |title=Henry Golding Drew on His Own Cultural Confusion in 'Monsoon' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/movies/henry-golding-monsoon.html |access-date=1 June 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=9 October 2020}} Golding is the youngest of three children.{{Cite news|last=Jung|first=E. Alex|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/henry-golding-crazy-rich-asians-casting.html/|title=There's Something About Henry|website=Vulture|date=August 2018|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826174416/http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/henry-golding-crazy-rich-asians-casting.html|archive-date=26 August 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Ida|title=Crazy Rich Asians' Malaysia-born star Henry Golding on his Iban heritage|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2018/11/19/crazy-rich-asians-malaysia-born-star-henry-golding-on-his-iban-heritage/1694877|newspaper=Malay Mail|date=19 November 2018|access-date=9 April 2024}}{{cite news|last=Mylrea|first=Hannah|title=Henry Golding: "People don't see me as fully British"|url=https://www.nme.com/features/film-interviews/henry-golding-interview-monsoon-2759529|website=NME|date=24 September 2020|access-date=27 July 2024}}
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. Golding holds British citizenship. After working as a hairdresser on Sloane Street in London for a couple of years, Golding moved back to Malaysia at age 21 to pursue on-camera roles in Kuala Lumpur.{{cite news |last= Clarke |first= Chloe |date= 18 August 2021 |title= Henry Golding: Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas actor's Surrey links including school |work= Getsurrey.co.uk |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/henry-golding-crazy-rich-asians-21333823 |access-date= 20 February 2024 }}
Career
Golding began working as a television presenter in 2008, presenting a weekly football show for ESPN, The Travel Show for the BBC{{Cite web |last=Harano |first=Lauren |date=2021-06-14 |title=Actor and Former Travel Host Henry Golding Shares His Favorite Destination: "It Was Remarkable" |url=https://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/henry-golding-travel-interview-48369471 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Popsugar |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Marcus |first=Lilit |date=2021-07-08 |title=Even Henry Golding has been travel scammed |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/henry-golding-travel-interview/index.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=CNN |language=en}} and Surviving Borneo for Discovery Channel Asia.{{Cite web |title=BBC News - The Travel Show - Henry Golding |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1h0sVft438P3G3c6xVnXJnJ/henry-golding |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
In March 2017, after a global casting call, it was announced that Golding would star in the film Crazy Rich Asians{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/03/hollywood-newcomer-joins-constance-wu-in-crazy-rich-asians.html|title=A Hollywood Newcomer Has Been Cast Opposite Constance Wu in Crazy Rich Asians|last=Crucchiola|first=Jordan|work=Vulture|access-date=21 August 2018|language=en}} 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.{{Cite news |last= Hanna |first= Graeme |date= 7 August 2021 |title= Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins UK release date, trailer and cast starring Crazy Rich Asian's Henry Golding |work= Kent Live |url= https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/film/snake-eyes-gi-joe-origins-5736840 |access-date= 20 February 2024 }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/henry-golding-crazy-rich-asians-casting.html|title=There's Something About Henry|last=Jung|first=E. Alex|work=Vulture|access-date=21 August 2018|language=en}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/20/crazy-rich-asians-is-no-1-movie-in-us-and-canada-over-the-weekend.html|title='Crazy Rich Asians' is No. 1 movie in US and Canada over the weekend|last=Lee|first=Yen Nee|date=20 August 2018|publisher=CNBC|access-date=21 August 2018}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/henry-golding-simple-favor-blake-lively-anna-kendrick-1202507301/|title='Crazy Rich Asians' Star Henry Golding Joins Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick's 'A Simple Favor'|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=26 July 2017|work=Variety|access-date=21 August 2018|language=en-US}}{{cite web |url=http://www.star2.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/2017/07/27/henry-golding-to-star-alongside-blake-lively/ |title=Henry Golding to star alongside Blake Lively |publisher=Star2.com |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220125820/https://www.star2.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/2017/07/27/henry-golding-to-star-alongside-blake-lively/ |url-status=dead }} 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).{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/emilia-clarke-henry-golding-star-last-christmas-1141382|title=Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding to Star in 'Last Christmas' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=18 September 2018 }} Filming commenced on 26 November 2018 and continued until February 2019,{{cite web|url=https://thegww.com/emma-thompson-paul-feigs-universal-holiday-comedy-last-christmas-shoots-november-february-in-london/|title=Emma Thompson/Paul Feig's Universal Holiday Comedy 'Last Christmas' Shoots November–February in London|date=5 September 2018 |last1=Marc |first1=Christopher }} and the film was released on 8 November 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/emilia-clarke-henry-golding-romantic-comedy-last-christmas-to-unwrap-november-2019-1202490546/|title=Emilia Clarke & Henry Golding Romantic Comedy 'Last Christmas' Gets Release Date Shift – Update|first1=Anthony|last1=D'Alessandro|date=19 April 2019}}
File:Henry Golding in Singapore for the MilkenInstitute Asia Summit 2022.jpg
Golding starred alongside Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, and Michelle Dockery in The Gentlemen, a 2019 crime film directed by Guy Ritchie.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/matthew-mcconaughey-kate-beckinsale-henry-golding-toff-guys-1202970513/|title=Matthew McConaughey to Star in Guy Ritchie's 'Toff Guys' With Kate Beckinsale, Henry Golding |first1=Justin|last1=Kroll|date=10 October 2018}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/crazy-rich-asians-actor-henry-golding-star-monsoon-1092363|title='Crazy Rich Asians' Actor Henry Golding to Star in 'Monsoon' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=7 March 2018 }}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/crazy-rich-asians-breakout-henry-golding-star-gi-joe-spinoff-snake-eyes-1231492|title=Henry Golding to Star in G.I. Joe Spinoff Snake Eyes|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=14 August 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/g-i-joe-snake-eyes-movie-starts-shooting-in-japan/|title='Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins' Production Begins in Japan with a Special Ceremony|date=10 January 2020|website=/Film}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hasbro-posts-quarterly-loss-as-pandemic-hits-eone-1304504|title=Hasbro Posts Quarterly Loss as Pandemic Hits eOne|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=27 July 2020 }} Filming for Snake Eyes began in October 2019 in Vancouver, and wrapped in February 2020 in Japan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/movies/1266681/gi-joe-spinoff-movie-snake-eyes-shoot-vancouver-autumn-2019|title=G.I. Joe spinoff movie, Snake Eyes, to shoot in Vancouver in autumn 2019|date=15 July 2019|website=The Georgia Straight}}
He starred in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare in 2024.
In 2025 he reprised his role as Sean Townsend in Another Simple Favor. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20214908/
Personal life
Golding met Liv Lo, a Taiwanese television presenter and yoga instructor, on New Year's Day 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://opinion.guidesify.com/henry-golding-fast-facts-you-must-know-singapore/|title=Henry Golding Fast Facts You Must Know (Singapore)|date=20 June 2019|website=Guidesify Opinion|language=en-US|access-date=6 September 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.purewow.com/news/henry-golding-liv-lo-relationship|title=Henry Golding Is Married!? Every Single Thing We Know About His Relationship with Liv Lo|first=Greta|last=Heggeness|date=14 June 2019|website=PureWow|language=en-US|access-date=24 June 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.herworld.com/weddings/real-weddings/3-reasons-why-celebrity-couple-henry-golding-liv-lo-are-so-good-together|title=5 reasons why Crazy Rich Asians' Henry Golding and wife Liv Lo are total couple goals|website=Her World|date=27 August 2018|language=en|access-date=24 June 2019|archive-date=15 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115232106/https://www.herworld.com/weddings/real-weddings/3-reasons-why-celebrity-couple-henry-golding-liv-lo-are-so-good-together/|url-status=dead}} They became engaged in 2015 and married in August 2016 in Sarawak.{{cite web|url=http://marieclaire.com.my/latest-news/henry-golding-livlo-wedding/|title=Henry Golding Weds Liv Lo|website=Marie Claire|author=Jamaluddin, Lira|date=26 August 2016|access-date=26 November 2017|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327145932/http://marieclaire.com.my/latest-news/henry-golding-livlo-wedding/|url-status=dead}} They live in Venice Beach, California, with their two daughters, born in 2021 and 2023.{{Cite web |date=12 July 2022 |title=Inside Actor Henry Golding's Minimalist, Japanese Inspired Backyard |url=https://aspiremetro.com/henry-golding-japanese-inspired-backyard/ |access-date=28 July 2022 |website=aspire design and home |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=10 October 2023 |title=Henry Golding and Wife Liv Lo Welcome Their Second Baby Together |url=https://people.com/henry-golding-and-liv-lo-welcome-their-second-baby-together-7643820 |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=people.com |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite news |url=http://www.discoverychannelasia.com/survivingborneo/ |title=Surviving Borneo |publisher=Discovery Channel Asia |year=2017 |access-date=11 November 2017 |archive-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109072751/http://www.discoverychannelasia.com/survivingborneo/ |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/henry-golding-crazy-rich-asians-casting.html/|title=There's Something About Henry|website=Vulture|author=Jung, E. Alex|access-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826174416/http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/henry-golding-crazy-rich-asians-casting.html|archive-date=26 August 2018|url-status=dead}}
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."[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12110119 "Why Crazy Rich Asians is a Hollywood gamechanger."] Manelis, Michele. The New Zealand Herald. Published 23 August 2018 Accessed 14 November 2018.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2009
| Iskandar Tan Sri Murad | Special appearance |
| 2013
| The Borneo Incident | Henry | |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
| Nick Young | |
| A Simple Favor
| Sean Townsend | |
| rowspan="3"| 2019
| Monsoon | Kit | |
| Last Christmas
| Tom Webster | |
| The Gentlemen
| Dry Eye | |
| 2021
| |
| 2022
| Mr. Elliot | |
| rowspan="2"| 2023
| Morgan Gaines | Also executive producer |
| Downtown Owl
| Vance Druid | |
| rowspan="3"| 2024
| Mr. Hu | Voice role |
| The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
| Freddy Alvarez | |
| Daniela Forever
| Nicolas{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/henry-golding-white-lotus-actress-beatrice-granno-first-images-daniela-forever-nacho-vigalondo-1235879463/|title='Daniela Forever': First Look Images Of Henry Golding & 'The White Lotus' Actress Beatrice Grannò In Nacho Vigalondo's Sci-Fi Romance|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=9 April 2024|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman}} | |
| rowspan="2" | 2025
| Sean Townsend | |
| The Old Guard 2
| Tua | Post-production |
=Television=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2007–2010
| Himself | Presenter |
| 2009
| Goda | Hariz | |
| 2010–2012
| Football Crazy | Himself | Presenter |
| 2012
| Welcome to the Railworld Malaysia | Himself | Presenter |
| 2013
| Driving Change with Caltex | Himself | TV Special |
| 2014–present
| Himself |
| 2015
| Welcome to the Railworld Japan | Himself |
| 2017
| Surviving Borneo | Himself |
| 2021
| Tsubaki (voice) | Short film: Akakiri: English language dub{{Cite web|date=17 August 2021|title=Stunning New Star Wars: Visions Trailer Debuts|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-visions-trailer-and-cast|access-date=17 August 2021|website=StarWars.com|language=en-US}} |
| rowspan=2| 2025
| No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski | Himself | Guest{{cite magazine|last=Miller|first=Merlyn|title=Antoni Porowski Is Hosting the Thoughtful Celebrity Food Show We All Need|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/antoni-porowski-no-taste-like-home-11681941|date=February 19, 2025|access-date=April 28, 2025|magazine=Food & Wine}} |
| Nine Perfect Strangers
| Peter | Main cast (Season 2) |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! class="unsortable"|Ref. |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2010
| rowspan="2"|2nd Shout! Awards | Favorite TV Personality Award | {{nom}} | |
| Hot Guy Award
| Himself | {{won}} | |
| rowspan="2"|2012
| rowspan="2"|3rd Shout! Awards | Favorite TV Personality Award | Welcome to the Railworld Malaysia | {{nom}} | |
| Hot Guy Award
| Himself | {{nom}} | |
| 2013
| 4th Shout! Awards | Hot Guy Award | Himself | {{nom}} | |
| 2018
| Women Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Screen Couple | rowspan="4"|Crazy Rich Asians | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3"|2019
| Outstanding Achievement in Cinema | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |url=https://www.theasianawards.com/Crazy_Rich_Asians.html|title=Outstanding Achievement in Cinema – CRAZY RICH ASIANS|publisher=The Asian Awards|access-date=28 October 2019}} |
| Teen Choice Awards
| Choice Comedy Movie Actor | {{nom}} | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards
| Outstanding Ensemble Cast – Motion Picture | {{nom}} | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|6525901}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Golding, Henry}}
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Actors from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Category:BBC television presenters
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English people of Malaysian descent
Category:Discovery Channel people
Category:Male actors from London
Category:Male actors from Surrey
Category:Malaysian expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:Malaysian expatriates in the United States
Category:People from Terengganu
Category:Television personalities from Surrey
Category:Television personalities from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea