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Benedict Wong

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Benedict Wong
Wong in 2016
Born (1971-07-03) 3 July 1971 (age 53)
Eccles, Lancashire, United Kingdom
OccupationActor
Years active1992–present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese王漢斌
Simplified Chinese王汉斌
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWáng Hàn Bīn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationWòhng Hon-bān
JyutpingWong4 Hon3 Ban1

Benedict Wong (born 3 July 1971)[1][2] is an English 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. He currently has a main role in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem.

Early life and education

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Wong was born in Eccles, a town within the City of Salford,[3] in 1971, the son of Hong Kong immigrant parents who had travelled through Ireland before settling in England.[4]

He was brought up in Salford[3] and attended De La Salle Sixth Form College in the city, where he took a two-year performing arts course.[5]

Career

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Early career

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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.[6] 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.[7]

In 2007, Wong starred in the feature film Grow Your Own.[8] 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.[9] He also appeared in the film Shanghai as Juso Kita, and played Li in the BBC series Spirit Warriors.[10]

In 2012, Wong appeared in the Ridley Scott film Prometheus as the ship's pilot, Ravel.[11] In 2013, he played the lead role in #aiww: The Arrest of Ai WeiWei at the Hampstead Theatre.[12] Shortly after, the Almeida Theatre announced that he had joined the cast of the play Chimerica as Zhang Lin.[13] Also in he played gangster Lau in the BBC Two comedy-drama The Wrong Mans.[14] He was nominated for the West End Frame Award for Best Dramatic Performance for his role in Chimerica.[15][16][17]

International breakthrough

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In 2014, Wong played Kublai Khan in the Netflix series Marco Polo,[14][18] 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.[19] In 2016, he co-starred as Wong in the superhero film Doctor Strange (2016)[20] and later reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War (2018),[21] Avengers: Endgame (2019),[22] Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021),[23][24] Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021),[25] Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022),[26] and the 2022 Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.[27]

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.[28]

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.[29] He joined the cast[30] of the Netflix live action adaptation of the Chinese novel The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin, which began shooting later that year.[31] In 2022, through BBC Radio, he partnered with Ai WeiWei again as the narrator for Ai's memoir 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows.[32]

In 2024, 3 Body Problem was released. The show was well received, with Wong's performance being singled out.[33][34]

Personal life

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Wong is a fan of Manchester United FC.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) Pat Proudence
2001 Wit Fellow 2
Spy Game Tran
2002 Dirty Pretty Things Guo Yi
2003 Code 46 Medic
2005 On a Clear Day Chan
A Cock and Bull Story Ed
2007 Sunshine Trey
Grow Your Own Kung Sang
2008 Largo Winch William Kwan
2009 Moon Thompson
2010 Shanghai Juso Kita
2011 The Lady Karma Phuntsho
Johnny English Reborn Chi Han Ly
Painkiller Jay Short film
2012 Prometheus Ravel
2013 The Counselor Lee scenes deleted[35]
2013 Hummingbird Mr Choy
Kick-Ass 2 Mr Kim
2015 The Martian Bruce Ng
2016 Doctor Strange Wong
2018 Annihilation Lomax
Avengers: Infinity War Wong
2019 Avengers: Endgame
The Personal History of David Copperfield Mr Wickfield
Gemini Man Baron
Lady and the Tramp Bull (voice)
2020 Nine Days Kyo
2021 Extinct Dr. Chung (voice)
Raya and the Last Dragon Tong (voice) [36]
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Wong
Spider-Man: No Way Home
2022 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
2023 The Magician's Elephant The Magician (voice)
2024 Bad Genius Meng
2026 Weapons TBA Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Screenplay Le Van Dong 1 episode
1993 Last of the Summer Wine Chinese Man 1 episode
1994 The Chief Peng 1 episode
1994 Frank Stubbs Promotes Lee 1 episode
1995 Cardiac Arrest Radiographer 1 episode
1995 Hearts and Minds Chinese Interpreter 1 episode
1996 Pie in the Sky Michael Cheung 1 episode
1996 Cracker Peter Yang 1 episode
1997 Supply & Demand Frankie Li Television film
1997 The Bill Li Mann 1 episode
1997 Breakout Jerry Television film
2000 Arabian Nights Hassan Miniseries
2000; 2002 The Bill Michael Wei / DS David Chiu 8 episodes
2002 TLC Terry Cheung Recurring role, 6 episodes
2002 Look Around You Chess Player 1 episode
2002–2004 15 Storeys High Errol Spears Main role, 12 episodes
2003 State of Play Pete Cheng Recurring role, 6 episodes
2005 Look Around You Dr Franklin Fu 1 episode
2006 Eleventh Hour Danny 1 episode
2007 Frankenstein Dr. Ed Gore Television film
2008 The Peter Serafinowicz Show Various characters 4 episodes
2010 Spirit Warriors Li Main role, 7 episodes
2010 The IT Crowd Harold "Prime" Tong 1 episode
2010 Spooks Kai 1 episode
2010–2011 Law & Order: UK Eli Smart 2 episodes
2011 Covert Affairs Shen Yue 1 episode
2011–2013 Top Boy Vincent Recurring role, 6 episodes
2013 The Wrong Mans Mr. Lau 4 episodes
2014 Prey DS Ashley Chan 3 episodes
2014–2016 Marco Polo Kublai Khan Main role, 20 episodes
2016 Black Mirror Shaun Li Episode: "Hated in the Nation"
2017 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Ed Andrews 1 episode
2019 Deadly Class Master Lin Main role, 10 episodes
2019 The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance The General (skekVar) (voice) Main role, 9 episodes
2020, 2023 What We Do in the Shadows Wallace the Necromancer 2 episodes
2021 What If...? Wong (voice) Episode: "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?"
2022 She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Wong Special guest star; 3 episodes
2024 3 Body Problem Da Shi Main role, 8 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2017 Prey Alex Yu [37]

Theatre

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Year Title Role Theatre
1995 The Letter Ong Chi Seng Lyric Theatre
1998 The Merchant of Venice Solanio Shakespeare's Globe
The Honest Whore Castruccio
1999 Julius Caesar Gaius Lucilius
Antony and Cleopatra Menas / Scarus
2003 In Arabia We'd All Be Kings Vic / Cop Hampstead Theatre
2009 The Pillowman Ariel Curve
2012 Hamlet Laertes Young Vic
2013 Chimerica Zhang Lin Almeida Theatre
2013 #aiww: The Arrest of Ai WeiWei Ai Weiwei Hampstead Theatre

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2003 British Independent Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Dirty Pretty Things Nominated [38]
2018 Behind the Voice Awards Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game Prey Nominated [a]
BAM Awards Best Cast Annihilation Nominated [b]
2021 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Male Nine Days Nominated
2022 Gold List Best Supporting Actor Mention [39]
Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Nominated [40]

Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with Prey cast.
  2. ^ Shared with Annihilation cast.

References

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  1. ^ "Famous Salfordians". Salford City Council. Retrieved 30 May 2024. Actor. Born on 3 July 1971.
  2. ^ Solanki, Misha (25 October 2016). "INTERVIEW: Benedict Wong". Salford Now. Retrieved 30 May 2024. He was born in Eccles in 1971...
  3. ^ a b c "Premier League Predictions". BBC. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. ^ Mesure, Susie (28 July 2013). "Benedict Wong: 'I'm the go- to guy for victims of torture'". The Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  5. ^ "The Greater Manchester actors who hit the big time on stage and on screen". Manchester Evening News. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  6. ^ O'Neill, Phelim (9 March 2007). "First sight: Benedict Wong". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Benedict Wong". BIFA. Chapter Media. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  8. ^ Kelly, Ann (11 June 2007). "Benedict Wong – Grow Your Own interview". BBC Films. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Benedict Wong discusses playing Prime". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Press Office – Spirit Warriors press pack: introduction". BBC. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  11. ^ K., Cameron (20 February 2012). "Actor Benedict Wong talks about Prometheus". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Casting announced for #aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei". Hampstead Theatre. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Benedict Wong People". Headlong. 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  14. ^ a b Aroesti, Rachel (13 December 2014). "Benedict Wong: 'Television is reflecting an era that has passed, it's wrong'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Vote: Best Dramatic Performance 2013". West End Frame Awards. West End Frame. 22 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  16. ^ "#aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei". Hampstead Theatre. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  17. ^ "AIWW: THE ARREST OF AI WEIWEI". theculturediary.com. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  18. ^ Hughes, Sarah (29 November 2014). "The 'Chinese Game of Thrones': Marco Polo sets sail for Netflix". The Independent. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  19. ^ "'The Martian' Slammed Over 'White-Washing' Asian-American Roles". Variety. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  20. ^ Kit, Borys (21 January 2016). "'The Martian' Actor Nabs Key 'Doctor Strange' Role". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  21. ^ "Benedict Wong Confirmed For Avengers Infinity War". comicbook.com.
  22. ^ "Avengers 4 Reshoots: Chris Hemsworth Headed to Set, Benedict Wong Already There". Screen Rant. 22 September 2018.
  23. ^ Bonaime, Ross (24 June 2021). "New 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Trailer Gives a Closer Look at Tony Leung As the Real Mandarin". Collider. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  24. ^ Meares, Joel (29 June 2021). "Exclusive: Kevin Feige Confirms That Is The Abomination Fighting Wong in the Shang-Chi Trailer". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  25. ^ Donnelly, Matt (23 August 2021). "'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Trailer Officially Drops, Multiverse Villains Descend on Tom Holland". Variety. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  26. ^ Vary, Adam B.; Kroll, Justin (5 February 2020). "Sam Raimi in Talks to Direct 'Doctor Strange 2' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  27. ^ Paige, Rachel (17 May 2022). "'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law': First Trailer Introduces Jennifer Walters". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Film Review: 'Annihilation'". Variety. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  29. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (26 January 2021). "Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', 'Minari', 'Nomadland' & 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Lead Field". Deadline. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  30. ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (29 October 2021). "'3 Body Problem': MCU's Benedict Wong, Tsai Chin, 'GoT's John Bradley & Liam Cunningham Among 12 Cast In Netflix Series". Deadline. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  31. ^ "The Three-Body Problem". Production List | Film & Television Industry Alliance. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  32. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei". BBC. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  33. ^ Mangan, Lucy (21 March 2024). "3 Body Problem review – the creators of Game of Thrones have done it again". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  34. ^ McIndoe, Ross (9 March 2024). "'3 Body Problem' Review: Brainy Concepts and Characters". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  35. ^ Davids, Brian (18 October 2019). "Benedict Wong on 'Gemini Man' and His 'Doctor Strange' Future". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  36. ^ Abell, Bailee (26 January 2021). "How to Watch 'Raya and the Last Dragon,' the New Disney Princess Movie". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  37. ^ @wongrel (28 April 2017). "👊🏾💫🕹" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ^ Dams, Tim (22 September 2003). "Dirty Pretty Things leads BIFA nominations". Screen Daily. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  39. ^ "'Shang-Chi' Tops Second Annual Gold List for Asian Achievement in Film". The Hollywood Reporter. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  40. ^ Tinoco, Armando (12 August 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
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