Jess Hong | |
|---|---|
 Jess Hong at Auckland Writers Festival (2024) | |
| Born | 4 January 1997 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Known for | 3 Body Problem |
Jess Hong (born 4 January 1997) [1] is a New Zealand actress. She is known for her role as Jin Cheng in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem (2024).
Jess Hong was born in Auckland [2] and raised in Palmerston North, New Zealand to Chinese parents. Her mother came from Guangzhou while her father was from Shanghai. She is the youngest of three sisters. [3] [4]
She started taking drama classes at the age of 13, mainly to combat her shyness and social anxiety. [3] Hong initially quit drama classes during her first year of high school but subsequently resumed them at the age of 17 during her final. [4] After completing her secondary education, she moved to Wellington to study for three years at the national drama school, Toi Whakaari, graduating in 2019. [3] [5]
Hong moved to Auckland after graduation, undertaking casual work while auditioning for acting jobs. [3] [4] 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 . [5]
Hong gained international recognition with a leading role in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem , released in 2024. [3] 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. [6] To prepare for the role, Hong downloaded Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy on Kindle. [4]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Brokenwood Mysteries | Maddy | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Inked | Aifei | Main cast |
| 2021 | Creamerie | Wellness Worker | 3 episodes |
| 2024 | 3 Body Problem | Jin Cheng | Main cast |
| 2024 | My Life Is Murder | Sage | Episode: "Location, Location, Location" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Grafted | Angela |
| 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 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
