| Jess Hong | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Jess Hong at Auckland Writers Festival (2024) | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Known for | 3 Body Problem |
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).
Early life and education
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.
She started taking drama classes at the age of 13, mainly to combat her shyness and social anxiety. Hong initially quit drama classes during her first year of high school but subsequently resumed them at the age of 17 during her final. After completing her secondary education, she moved to Wellington to study for three years at the national drama school, Toi Whakaari, graduating in 2019.
Career
Hong moved to Auckland after graduation, undertaking casual work while auditioning for acting jobs. 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.
Hong gained international recognition with a leading role in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem, released in 2024. 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. To prepare for the role, Hong downloaded Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy on Kindle.
Filmography
Television
| 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
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Grafted | Angela |
Theatre
| 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Jess Hong profile & bio". Johnson & Laird. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- 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.
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