UK Actors of Asian (East & South East) Descent
by NietNiet | created - 04 Mar 2018 | updated - 22 May 2021 | PublicNon-exhaustive list, feel free to recommend any I've missed out!
Other lists:
- UK Actors of Colour (BAME): http://imdb.to/2oH0qhP
- UK Back Actors: http://imdb.to/2H3LfWM
- UK Actors of South Asian & Middle Eastern Descent: http://imdb.to/2oECwDR
- UK Actors of Colour (BAME) in LGBT Roles: http://imdb.to/2FeD7lK
1. Gemma Chan
Actress | The Creator
Gemma Chan (born 29 November 1982) is a British film, television, and theatre actress and former fashion model. She played Charlotte in season four of the Showtime and ITV2 series Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2007); Ruth in Channel 4's Fresh Meat (2011); Mia Bennett in Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars...
2. Jessica Henwick
Actress | The Royal Hotel
Jessica Yu Li Henwick is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Nymeria Sand in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011), X-wing pilot Jessika Pava in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Colleen Wing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making her debut in the Netflix television series Iron...
3. Katie Leung
Actress | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Katie Leung began her career when she was cast as Cho Chang in the Warner Brothers feature film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a role she subsequently reprised for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part II). Alongside her acting career, Katie ...
4. Henry Golding
Actor | Crazy Rich Asians
British-Malaysian television host, actor and model Henry Ewan Golding was born in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, to Margaret Likan and Clive Golding. His father is English and his mother is Malaysian. His mother is from the Iban people, an Indigenous group in Sarawak, and Henry completed the bejalai, ...
5. Haruka Abe
Actress | Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
Haruka Abe is an Anglo-Japanese actress based in London, United Kingdom.
Born in Tokyo, Haruka spent her childhood split between New York, London and Tokyo, moving between the three cities with her family. Aged 8 she decided to try acting and at age 9 she played Bilbo Baggins in her school play ...
6. Alice Hewkin
Actress | The Brothers Sun
Alice Hewkin was born on September 10, 1999 in London, UK. She is an actress, known for The Brothers Sun (2024), Sex Education (2019) and Rye Lane (2023).
7. Jessica Sula
Actress | Split
Jessica Sula (born 3 May 1994)[1] is a British actress known for playing the character Grace Blood in the third generation of the British television series Skins and for her role in the M. Night Shyamalan-directed horror film Split (2016).
Sula was born in Swansea to Trinidadian mother Shurla Blades...
8. Kae Alexander
Actress | Game of Thrones
Kae Alexander was born on August 31, 1985 in Kobe, Japan. She is an actress, known for Game of Thrones (2011), Fleabag (2016) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019).
9. George Young
Actor | Falling for Christmas
George Young was born in London, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Falling for Christmas (2022), Malignant (2021) and Containment (2016). He has been married to Janet Hsieh since January 26, 2015. They have two children.
10. Sonoya Mizuno
Actress | Ex Machina
Sonoya Mizuno's a Japanese-born English actress, model & ballet dancer. She was born on July 1, 1986 in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the Royal Ballet School.
She has starred in Ex Machina (2014), Annihilation (2018) & Devs (2020). She had minor roles in La La Land (2016), Beauty and the Beast (...
11. Jennifer Lim
Actress | Hostel
Jennifer Lim was born in 1980 in London, England, UK. She is an actress and producer, known for Hostel (2005), A Monster Calls (2016) and Rogue Trader (1999).
12. Benedict Wong
Actor | Annihilation
Benedict Wong is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Kublai Khan in Netflix's Marco Polo (2014-2016), Bruce Ng in The Martian (2015), and Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Doctor Strange (2016). Wong was born on 3 July 1971 in Eccles, Greater Manchester, the son of Hong Kong ...
13. Crystal Yu
Actress | Doctor Who
Crystal Yu is known for Doctor Who (2005), Casualty (1986) and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (2019).
15. Naoko Mori
Actress | Everest
Born in Nagoya, Naoko moved with her parents to New York aged four before returning to Japan and then, when she was twelve, locating to London. Naoko began to take singing lessons and at the age of 17 was cast in the lead as Kim in the West End musical 'Miss Saigon' opposite John Barrowman, with ...
16. Yennis Cheung
Actress | Skyfall
Yennis Cheung is known for Skyfall (2012), Death Race 4: Beyond Anarchy (2018) and Ransom (2017).
17. David Yip
Actor | A View to a Kill
Born in Liverpool, one of eight children. David's father was a Chinese seaman from the Canton area of southern China, and his mother was from Liverpool. He trained at E15 Acting School, London in 1973 and since then worked in Film, Television, Theatre, Radio and other voice work both in the UK and ...
18. Daniel York
Actor | The Beach
Daniel York is known for The Beach (2000), Doom (2005) and Rogue Trader (1999).
19. Jing Lusi
Actress | Crazy Rich Asians
Jing Lusi was born in Shanghai and moved to England with her parents at the age of five. After graduating law from University College London, Lusi went on to become one of the most prominent Asian actresses in the UK. She has appeared across TV (Lucky Man (2016), Scott & Bailey (2011)), film (...
20. Max Minghella
Actor | The Handmaid's Tale
Max Giorgio Choa Minghella is an English-born actor and filmmaker. He was born in Hampstead, London, England, the son of choreographer Carolyn Choa and the late Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella. He is the half-brother of Hannah Minghella, who has also worked in film.
Minghella is a former ...
21. Chike Chan
Actor | Everest
Chike is a British actor of East Asian extraction. Born in 1974 in Stockport, UK, he was brought up in South Manchester where he attended Parrswood High School. After a break from studying A-Levels he trained at The Arden School of Theatre, graduating in 2000. Chike is conversant in 9 languages.
22. Colin Ryan
Actor | Doctor Who
Colin Ryan was born on June 23, 1986. He is an actor, known for Doctor Who (2005), Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward (2015) and Leonardo (2011).
23. Christina Chong
Actress | Johnny English Reborn
Christina Chong is an international television and film actress who stars in the CBS series "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" as series regular 'La'an Noonien-Singh,' alongside Anson Mount and Rebecca Romijn. The series expanded on the iconic franchise, with six new crew members on the USS Enterprise...
24. Lobo Chan
Actor | King Kong
Lobo Chan is known for King Kong (2005), Johnny English Reborn (2011) and The Broken (2008).
25. Will Sharpe
Actor | Flowers
Will Sharpe was born on September 22, 1986 in Camden, London, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Flowers (2016), Landscapers (2021) and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021).
26. Sophie Wu
Actress | Kick-Ass 2
Sophie Wu was born on December 23, 1983 in the UK. She is an actress and writer, known for Kick-Ass 2 (2013), Kick-Ass (2010) and Wild Child (2008).
27. Naomi Yang
Actress | Wolfe
Naomi Yang is known for Wolfe (2021), Lilting (2014) and Chimerica (2019).
28. Eleanor Matsuura
Actress | Wonder Woman
Eleanor Matsuura (born c. 1983) is an English actress, who is best known for her roles as Hannah Santo in Spooks: The Greater Good, Bev in Utopia and as PC Donna Prager in Cuffs.
Matsuura was born in Tokyo and raised in Hertfordshire, England. She was trained at the Central School of Speech and ...
29. Elaine Tan
Actress | Tully
Elaine was born in London, England. She attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School and performed in West End stage productions, including South Pacific and The King & I, Royal Variety Shows, film, television, radio and commercials. After leaving to attend a regular academic school, she continued ...
30. Daphne Cheung
Actress | Ali G Indahouse
Daphne Cheung is known for Ali G Indahouse (2002), Friday Night Dinner (2011) and Spirit Warriors (2010). She has been married to David Coatsworth since September 1, 1993. They have one child.
31. Alicia Lai
Actress | The Sparticle Mystery
Alicia Lai is known for The Sparticle Mystery (2011), Hank Zipzer (2014) and Doctors (2000).
32. Yuyu Rau
Actress | Estranged
East Asian actress based in London. Yuyu was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She trained in ballet and Chinese martial arts dance professionally for 14 years before she moved to the UK in 2006. She obtained MA: Performance at University of Chichester in 2009 and has been working as professional performing ...
33. Tom Wu
Actor | Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes
Tom Wu was born on May 15, 1972 in Hong Kong, China. He is an actor, known for Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes (2015), The Gentlemen (2019) and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019).
34. You-Ri Yamanaka
Actress | Servants' Quarters
You-Ri Yamanaka is known for Servants' Quarters (2016), The Wheel of Time (2021) and After the World Ended (2015).
35. Peter Peralta
Actor | Gangsters Gamblers Geezers
Peter Peralta was born in London, England, UK. He is known for Gangsters Gamblers Geezers (2016), Sons of God: The Deal (2014) and Sons of God: The Seventh Trumpet (2013).
36. Elizabeth Tan
Actress | Top Boy
Elizabeth Tan is a British actress best known for her series regular roles in award-winning TV series Top Boy, Emily in Paris, The Singapore Grip, The Syndicate and Dr Who. Her transformative character work in Film, Television and Theatre has seen Tan demonstrate incredible versatility in her ...
38. Meg Kubota
Actress | Good Omens
Meg is an East Asian actress born in Seattle, raised in Japan, South Africa and now based in the UK. She speaks both English and Japanese fluently. She studied at Wasoeda University in Japan before moving to the UK to obtain MA at Royal Holloway, University of London, and trained at Arts ...
39. Andrew Leung
Actor | Barbie
Andrew Leung is known for Barbie (2023), Cruella (2021) and Quiz (2020).
40. Vera Chok
Actress | Hollyoaks
Vera Chok is a writer, actress, singer, artist and lover of language.
Of Chinese descent, Chok was born in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, where she grew up attending the missionary school of Asaunta until moving to the United Kingdom as a teenager and completing her secondary education in Abbots Bromley ...
41. David K.S. Tse
Actor | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
David K.S. Tse is known for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Devs (2020) and Chimerica (2019).
42. Elizabeth Chan
Actress | Black Mirror
Elizabeth Chan is known for Black Mirror (2011), Silent Witness (1996) and Last Tango in Halifax (2012).
43. Jamie Cho
Actor | Batman Begins
Jamie Cho is an actor from London. He attended the University of Southampton earning a degree in Sports Science and Psychology, after which he returned to London to study acting. He soon began to work in Film, TV and Commercials. He is best known for work on Batman Begins (2005), Harrigan (2013) ...
44. Chooye Bay
Actor | Skyfall
Chooye Bay is known for Skyfall (2012), Vampire Academy (2014) and The Angels' Share (2012).
45. Siu Hun Li
Actor | Perfect Sense
Siu Hun Li is known for Perfect Sense (2011), The Angels' Share (2012) and Johnny English Reborn (2011).
46. Pik Sen Lim
Actress | Mind Your Language
Pik-Sen Lim was born to Chinese parents in Penang, Malaysia. She came to London at the age of sixteen to learn drama. Her big break came in 1964 when she appeared in the long-running hospital drama series Emergency-Ward 10 (1957) where she was cast as the first Chinese nurse on British television. ...
47. Emily Ng
Emily Ng is known for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), House Bound and Argylle (2024).
48. Jonathan Raggett
Actor | The Lady
Jonathan Raggett was born on November 3, 1992 in Brighton, Sussex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Lady (2011), Trafficker (2015) and Wolfblood (2012).
49. Jason Wong
Actor | Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Jason Wong was born on March 24, 1986 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), Guy Ritchie's the Covenant (2023) and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).
51. Rebecca Yeo
Actress | North Star
Rebecca Yeo is known for North Star (2023), For Her Sins (2023) and We Are Not Alone (2022).
52. Tuyen Do
Actress | Enola Holmes
Tuyen Do is known for Enola Holmes (2020), The Ones Below (2015) and The Red King (2024).
53. Lucy Sheen
Actress | Secrets & Lies
Lucy Sheen, stage name. Originally known as Chau Lai-Tuen until the finalisation of her transracial adoption was legally granted in the early 60s. Lucy born on the British Crown colony of Hong Kong and also abandoned there shortly after her birth. She was adopted by a white growing up in the ...
54. Kirsty Rider
Actress | Space Pirates
Kirsty Rider is known for Space Pirates (2007), The Girl Before (2021) and The Sandman (2022).
55. Julie Cheung-Inhin
Actress | Kill and Wound
Julie Cheung-Inhin is known for Kill and Wound (2013), Disconnected (2023) and Acquainted (2013).
56. Siu-see Hung
Actress | #SketchPack
Siu-see Hung is known for #SketchPack (2015), Good Grief (2023) and Unexpected Reunion (2019).
57. Anna Leong Brophy
Actress | Shadow and Bone
Anna Leong Brophy is known for Shadow and Bone (2021), Ragdoll (2021) and Traces (2019).
58. Windson Liong
Actor | Lock-In
Windson Liong is a UK-based actor/singer/voiceover artist who has worked all around the world. Born and raised in Singapore to Chinese parents, Windson is bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese. He is an alumnus of Lasalle College of the Arts (Singapore) and The Royal Central School of Speech ...
59. Kevin Shen
Actor | Close
Kevin Shen is known for Close (2019), Unlocked (2017) and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (2019).
60. Gabby Wong
Actress | Rogue One
Gabby Wong(she/her) is a Hong Kong born, UK based actor and writer, best known for her role as series regular Yuk Je in 1899 and Wona Goban in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. She speaks Cantonese, Mandarin and English. While studying Politics at university, Gabby became heavily involved in the ...
61. Julia Sandiford
Actress | Coronation Street
Julia Sandiford is known for Coronation Street (1960), Emmerdale Farm (1972) and Making It (2015).
62. Tina Chiang
Actress | Bodyguard
Studied at RADA.
Loves snowboarding & scuba-diving.
Took a year out and went traveling on her own to India, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia & New Zealand.
Dislocated her elbow in a snowboarding accident but went onto do a mini-winter season in Morzine, France to get over her injury.
63. Helen Russell-Clark
Actress | Fit
Helen Russell-Clark is known for Fit (2010), Coming Up and Hollyoaks (1995).
64. Mei Mac
Actress | East Mode with Nigel Ng
Mei Mac is known for East Mode with Nigel Ng (2022), Up in Smoke and Sifu (2022).
65. Jeffrey Ho
Actor | Queen
Jeffrey Ho was trained and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, the world-leading vocational training for actors. For his debut feature film, Jeffrey plays the role of Taka in Queen, the multi award winning movie, 22 wins and 21 nominations. He recently won 5 awards ...
67. Chris Lew Kum Hoi
Actor | War Machine
Chris Lew Kum Hoi is known for War Machine (2017), Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020) and Jayson Bend: Queen and Country (2015).
68. Dan Li
Actor | Red Eye
Dan is British South East Asian actor born and raised in London. Throughout his career, he has built an impressive filmography that spans across genres and platforms.
He has been involved in several award-winning productions: working on the BAFTA award-winning Best British Film I Daniel Blake, the ...
69. Orion Lee
Actor | First Cow
A transformative actor working across theatre, film and television Orion is a versatile performer able to create characters and inhabit them with verisimilitude. Lauded for his performance as King Lu in First Cow and loved for his performance as the Dad Jin in Turning Red. Besides his screen ...
70. Linda Louise Duan
Actress | Doctor Strange
Linda works as a Development Coordinator at Objective Fiction. She started as an actress and short film producer, having studied at Ecole Philippe Gaulier and graduating with a Distinction in MA Producing at the MetFilm School London. Passionate about the environment, climate change, and diversity,...
71. Samuel Mak
Actor | The World's End
Samuel Mak is known for The World's End (2013), Tomb Raider (2018) and No Way Up (2024).
72. David Cheung
Stunts | Barbie
David Cheung is a British actor and stunt performer currently appearing in Barbie The Movie as the first Asian casted Beach Ken stuntman. He is also known as West2 in the first three episodes of Star War's Andor.
David Cheung has performed alongside Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rowan Atkinson as well ...
73. Hong Khaou
Director | Lilting
Hong Khaou was born on October 22, 1975 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He is a director and writer, known for Lilting (2014), Monsoon (2019) and Spring (2011).
74. Jo Yang
Actress | X+Y
Jo Yang is an English actress who was born in China and raised in West London from the age of 8. While attending the William Morris school in Acton Jo showed an aptitude for the arts and was placed at a performing arts school to study acting and dancing. Jo later attended St Mary's university to ...
75. Alan Wai
Actor | Into the Badlands
Alan Wai was born on June 26, 1983 in Dublin, Ireland. He is an actor, known for Into the Badlands (2015), Soho Jimbo (2016) and Missile from the East (2021).
76. Bruce Chong
Actor | Zack Snyder's Justice League
Bruce Chong is known for Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), The Gentlemen (2019) and Now You See Me 2 (2016).
77. Ling Whye Hang
Actor | Gatwick Gangsters
Ling Whye Hang is known for Gatwick Gangsters (2017), Panic (2014) and The Brothers Swap (2024).
78. Chris Chung
Director | Soho Jimbo
Chris Chung is a British director and writer with a focus on comedy led projects. His first short film 'Handuken' was a finalist in the Virgin Media Shorts and premiered in the BFI IMAX and was shown in cinemas and Tivo nationwide. The short garnered several international awards and was longlisted ...
79. Zak Shukor
Actor | Survivor
Zak Shukor was born in London Hammersmith in 1970. He is a British based actor.
Shukor's parents moved to England when his father was hired as a director to the BBC.
He is known for his work on Mr Holmes (2015), Stan Lee's Lucky Man (2018), Sex Education (2019), Warrior (2020), Save Me (2020) and ...
80. Christina Tam
Actress | Autómata
Christina Tam is known for Automata (2014), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) and The Limehouse Golem (2016).
81. Jonathan Chan
Actor | Wakefield
Jonathan Chan is known for Wakefield (2021), Old School (2014) and The Ronnie Johns Half Hour (2005).
82. Jon Xue Zhang
Actor | The Brothers Sun
Jon Xue Zhang was born on March 4, 1988. He is an actor and producer, known for The Brothers Sun (2024), Eternals (2021) and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019).
83. Van Pham
Actress | 1983
Van is based in London originally from Vietnam. Born on 26 December 1985. She has a real passion for acting and was given a key role in 'Mumbai Massacre' for National Geographic Documentary. Her character was Dara Huang an American who was unfortunately caught up in the Mumbai Terrorist Attacks ...
84. Pui Fan Lee
Actress | The Nevers
Pui Fan Lee was born on July 14, 1971 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. She is an actress and writer, known for The Nevers (2021) and Landscapers (2021).
85. Lourdes Faberes
Actress | The Sandman
Lourdes Faberes was born in Manila, Philippines. She is an actress and producer, known for The Sandman (2022), Boiling Point (2021) and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023).
86. Carl Ng
Actor | Point of Entry
Carl Ng was born in Hong Kong in 1976. He is half Chinese and half British. His father is comedy legend of the 80s and 90s, Richard Ng. Carl earned a BBA at Westminster University in the UK where he also studied drama at the Tony Grecos Acting Studio.
Later he moved to Thailand where he earned a ...
87. Bip Ling
Actress | Adam Green's Aladdin
Bip Ling is known for Adam Green's Aladdin (2016), Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016) and Carnage (2017).
88. Fiesta Mei Ling
Music_department | United 93
Fiesta Mei Ling is known for United 93 (2006), Vera Drake (2004) and Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers (1977). She has been married to John A. Coleman since 1983. She was previously married to John Forgeham.
89. Siu-see Hung
Actress | #SketchPack
Siu-see Hung is known for #SketchPack (2015), Good Grief (2023) and Unexpected Reunion (2019).
90. Rebecca Boey
Actress | Jade Dragon
Rebecca Boey is known for Jade Dragon (2017), Troll Hunters (2018) and Crystal Springs (2014).
91. Stephen Hoo
Actor | Kickoff
Stephen Hoo is known for Kickoff (2011), Jade Dragon (2017) and 007 Legends (2012).
92. Andrew Koji
Actor | Bullet Train
Born in 1987, Koji grew up in Epsom, Surrey. His father is Japanese and mother is English.
Studied film and theatre before travelling to Thailand and Japan, where he started work, taking on small acting jobs, working as a stunt man, editor and various odd jobs to pay the bills
Moved back to England ...
93. Mark Takeshi Ota
Actor | The Impact
Mark Takeshi Ota is known for The Impact (2022), The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (2021) and Little English (2022).
94. Chloe Ewart
Actress | Torchwood: Monthly Range
Chloe Ewart is known for Torchwood: Monthly Range (2015), Fragments and Jade Dragon (2017).
97. Natalie Mendoza
Actress | The Descent
Natalie Jackson Mendoza was born in Hong Kong of a Filipino/Spanish Jazz musician father and German/English mother. She had a bohemian upbringing with her six artist siblings living all over the world in Asia, Australia, England and NYC. She was raised as a child in Hong Kong and Australia. She ...
98. Christopher Goh
Actor | Secret Invasion
Christopher Goh was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Secret Invasion (2023), The Romanoffs (2018) and Hunter Killer (2018).
99. Eugenia Low
Actress | Raging Grace
Eugenia is a, British East Asian actor of Singaporean-Chinese heritage based in London, UK. Warm-hearted, grounded and endearingly quirky in comedic roles, she is equally at home playing driven, passionate and protective authority figures and often plays caring, maternal and professional types. ...
100. Julie Yammanee
Actress | Lazarus
Julie Yammanee is known for Lazarus (2018), A Christmas Story Christmas (2022) and Sleepover Club (2003).
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