Who is Gemma Chan? 5 things you need to know about the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ actress

British-born actress Gemma Chan attends the Los Angeles premiere of the hit romantic comedy-drama ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, in which she plays a supporting role, on August 7. Photo: Invision/AP

Let’s meet Gemma Chan, the British-born actress who has risen to new levels of fame thanks to her supporting role in the hit romantic comedy-drama, Crazy Rich Asians.

My beautiful castmates

Thank you for your lovely messages and for making us #1 at the box office for the 2nd weekend running (with barely any drop )#crazyrichasians https://t.co/wYltOEL9uE pic.twitter.com/u8Ype6903t

— Gemma Chan (@gemma_chan) August 27, 2018

Chan, 35, who was born in London and raised in Kent in England, plays Astrid, the cousin to male lead Nick Young (Henry Golding) in the film, which follows the story of a young Asian-American woman who travels to meet her boyfriend’s parents and finds they are one of Singapore’s richest families.

Here are five things you need to know about her.

Actresses Lisa Lu (left, centre) alongside Gemma Chan in the wedding scene from the romantic comedy-drama ‘Crazy Rich Asians’.

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1. Former model and fabulous fashionista

Gemma Chan at the 2014 Hollywood premiere of Kenneth Branagh’s film ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’, which saw her in a supporting role opposite Chris Pine and Keira Knightley.

Elegant, classy and stylish – only three of the many words we can use to describe the fashionista and Crazy Rich Asians actress Chan.

She was one of 12 models competing for an Elle magazine fashion spread on the British reality television show Project Catwalk in 2006, but was eliminated in episode 5.

2. She’s always been a Michelle Yeoh fan

With the incomparable @michelleyeoh_official during yesterday's press day. Growing up, Michelle was someone I looked up to hugely and I'm still pinching myself that we are in a film together ️ #crazyrichasians @crazyrichasians

A post shared by Gemma Chan (@gemma_chan) on Aug 6, 2018 at 5:40pm PDT

Having achieved fame in the early 1990s, the actress Michelle Yeoh is an idol and role model to many Asian women around the world – and Chan is no different; the British star’s excitement at being in a film with Yeoh is evident from her social media postings.

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3. A member of the geek squad

Gemma Chan (left) in a supporting role alongside Connie Nielsen in the 2017 action thriller ‘Stratton’.

A surprising number of the roles Chan has played will tickle the fancy of science-fiction and fantasy genre lovers everywhere.

Although not having leading parts, she appeared in films such as Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) and Stratton (2017) before winning her role in Crazy Rich Asians. 

4. A romance ... with Harry Shum Jr.?

Repost @harryshumjr Astrid x Charlie tbc... #crazyrichasians

A post shared by Gemma Chan (@gemma_chan) on Aug 18, 2018 at 1:47pm PDT

We saw former Glee star Harry Shum Jr. make a small cameo at the end of Crazy Rich Asians, and there was an evident connection between him and Chan’s character Astrid.

Will we see a blossoming romance between the two in the sequel of Crazy Rich Asians? That remains to be seen.

5. She’s an alien

Gemma Chan is set to star as Marvel comic book character Doctor Minerva.

There’s definitely some excitement surrounding Chan’s role in Marvel’s forthcoming film Captain Marvel.

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This is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first film to have a female character as the lead – with Captain Marvel played by Brie Larson.

Happy opening day ️#crazyrichasians #goldopen #representation pic.twitter.com/WKqbnTwu8t

— Gemma Chan (@gemma_chan) August 15, 2018

Chan is to star as Minn-Erva, more commonly known as Doctor Minerva, who is a geneticist and member of the alien Kree race.

Doctor Minerva is known to be a foe of Captain Marvel, so we’re definitely excited to see Chan play a more villainous role on the big screen.

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