FORMER host of travel series for the BBC and ESPN, Henry Golding is now exploding onto the leading man scene in the film world with a variety of diverse roles, led by the Warner Bros. romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians.
In the film, he plays Singapore’s favorite son, Nick Young, who proudly brings his beautiful and successful New Yorker girlfriend Rachel Chu home for a meet-and-greet—but the family dynamics aren’t quite what she expects. For Rachel, what starts as a dream romantic holiday with the man she adores becomes a battle to remain true to herself and her roots, while holding her own against picture-perfect backstabbing rivals and a prospective mother-in-law who thinks this modern American girl will never measure up.
Thousands of actors were auditioned around the world and online for the role of Nick. “We were looking for someone who could believably be from Singapore and educated in England, with that specific accent,” director Jon M. Chu outlines.
“He had to be super-charming and likeable, as well as handsome, and with a good sense of humor—a true leading man.” Serendipitously, someone in the office who had caught Henry Golding on television suggested Chu take a look at him. “He was a travel show host, doing cool adventure stories,” the director recounts. “When you watched him talking with people on the street, he was truly a person of the world with such easy charisma.”
“He seems like a guy anyone would want to either date or hang out with,” says producer Nina Jacobson. What clinched it was Golding’s chemistry with Wu, who was reading with potential costars when he cut short his own honeymoon to fly in for
a face-to-face. Chu recalls, “You could feel the electricity immediately. I knew that audiences would fall in love with them as a couple. You want to see them kiss. You want to see them fight. You just want to see them together.”
Add a dash of vulnerability and some endearing cluelessness, and you have Nick Young, a man caught between two forces, trying to reconcile what he wants with what’s expected of him. Says Golding, “He was brought up with a silver spoon but realized that, even though he was the heir apparent, he needed to discover his own way. He fell in love with a woman who brings out the best in him but doesn’t know anything about that part of his life.”
It’s a situation Golding can appreciate. “I’m from Sarawak, the Malaysian state of Borneo, and half British,” he offers. “As a kid, I grew up in the UK but have lived most of my life since then in Asia, so I can relate to not feeling 100 percent at home or belonging in either place. I’ve adopted numerous cultures, as Nick has. He’s taken elements from each part of his life and made them his own, and I think his strength is that he doesn’t necessarily follow anyone’s guidelines. He just wants to be the person he really is.”
Crazy Rich Asians marks your motion picture acting debut. Previously, you worked as a television host and presenter. What was that transition like?
Before this film came around, I was enjoying being a host and presenter on several television travel shows. I wasn’t that interested in acting as a career, so, initially, I rejected auditioning for the role in Crazy Rich Asians, saying, “I don’t want to put myself on tape, because I don’t think there’s a chance I’ll be cast.” Then, I learned that one casting director wouldn’t even consider me, which seemed to prove my point. It wasn’t until (Crazy Rich Asians director) Jon (M. Chu) forced an introduction, that I realized I would be foolish not to put everything I have into auditioning for the role.
The transition to acting felt so natural, which I didn’t expect. It happened at the right time and with the perfect role for me because Nick Young and I are very much alike.
As a presenter and host, you were used to being in front of the camera. Did that help you with acting?
Acting in a film and being a presenter are very different. Everyone on Crazy Rich Asians had years of experience in motion pictures, and I had none. I was the greenest person on the set. But I enjoyed learning from everybody—from the camera crew to my castmates.
What was it like to work with Jon?
I couldn’t have asked for a better director. Jon is an incredibly positive person. Fans of the book may know that when (Crazy Rich Asians author) Kevin
Kwan was writing it, he decided he needed a single word that captured the feel and tone of the story and characters. That word was joy. Kevin wrote the word on a sticky note and put it on the computer on which he was writing the book. He wanted every reader of Crazy Rich Asians to feel and bring joy into their lives. Jon brought that same joy onto the set, where he borrowed Kevin’s idea and wrote the word on a sticky note and put it on his monitor, which he looked at all day, every day. That’s why he was creating this film: to bring joy to people.
Talk about working opposite Constance Wu, who portrays Rachel.
Constance was always five steps ahead of me. (Laughs) All her energy and concentration went into creating the character and that is a beautiful thing to experience. When I had my chemistry read with Constance, I was very nervous, but I gave it everything I had, and we got on very well. She is a strong woman, and wonderful to work with.
And working with Michelle Yeoh?
Everyone who works with Michelle tells her that she’s a legend—because she is a legend. (Laughs) I can’t say anything about Michelle that so many others haven’t already said: she is everything you wish she was—and more. Michelle holds herself with such dignity and class, and she is amazing.
You’ve lived in Singapore for the past few years. What was it like filming there and in Malaysia?
Filming on my home turf was a blessing. Singapore is such a fantastic place to be a part of because it’s growing so quickly. Everyone on Crazy Rich Asians is proud and excited to share it with the rest of the world.
A key scene in the film is set at a wildly extravagant wedding. What is the craziest wedding you’ve ever been to?
I think I’d have to say my own. (Laughs) My wedding was insane. I was so stressed and overcome with emotion, up to the point where I saw my wife walk down the aisle, and then the stress just faded away. Everything became still. No wedding will ever top that for me.
What was your most memorable moment on set?
I had a special moment during that wedding scene, which was filmed at Gardens by the Bay, in Singapore, on the last day of filming. In fact, it was one of the last shots captured.
As we were filming the scene, I remembered writing these letters to Jon and the producers, expressing my gratitude to them for letting me be a part of this—and I started crying, thinking I may never experience this again. But I am so happy that it did happen, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. I think we’ve created real magic with Crazy Rich Asians. And that will stay with us forever.
- In Philippine cinemas on August 22, Crazy Rich Asians is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Image credits: AP
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