Tom Wu | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1988–present |
Known for | Martial arts |
Tom Wu (born 15 May 1972) is a Hong Kong-born British actor. He is a martial artist whose films include Shanghai Knights (2003), Out for a Kill (2003), Belly of the Beast (2003), Revolver (2005), Batman Begins (2005) and the Bollywood film Ra.One (2011). [1] On television, he is known for his roles in the CBBC series Spirit Warriors (2010), the Netflix series Marco Polo [2] (2014–2016) and the ITV crime drama Strangers (2018).
Wu was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Chinatown, London. [3] At the age of ten, Wu began practising various martial arts such as Hung Gar, karate and Wing Chun and later took up acrobatics. In 1988, he competed for Britain at China's International wu-shu (martial arts) tournament, winning two bronze medals and a gold medal. [4]
Wu went on to study at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. [5] [6]
Wu is one of the founding members of the British theatre company Yellow Earth Theatre, which was established in 1995. [7] [8] [9] [10] He's performed in their various productions over the years including The Magic Paintbrush [11] , Play to Win [12] , a co-production with Soho Theatre and The Whisper of a Leaf Falling at Battersea Arts Centre [13] , Blue Remembered Hills [14] and Behind the Chinese Takeaway [15] . He choreographed their touring show Why The Lion Danced in 2013. [16]
His further stage credits include M. Butterfly in 1989 at Shaftesbury Theatre [17] and the original production of Miss Saigon in 1989. [18] In 2005, he went on to perform in an adaptation of Tintin (character) at Barbican Theatre [19] .
Wu is known for playing numerous Chinese Triad gang member or leader roles in various films [20] . Such as Out for a Kill , Wake of Death , Revolver and Kick-Ass 2 and most recently, in 2019 playing a criminal and tattoo artist in the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw and playing the Chinese Triad leader Lord George in the British film The Gentlemen . [21]
One of his notable roles was in The Scorpion King 2 (2008) [22] where he played Fung, a Chinese Ming dynasty soldier rescued by Mathayus and his allies and who later assists them towards the end of the film.
In 2014, he portrayed the character Hundred Eyes in the Netflix original series Marco Polo before its cancellation in late 2016. [23] Wu played Sir George, King Arthur's mentor in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword in 2017. In 2018, Wu played Hong Kong inspector Daniel Tsui in the series Strangers . [24] In 2019 he featured as Lord George in the Guy Ritchie film The Gentlemen (2019 film). [25] In 2021 he appeared in action feature Havoc (2025 film). [26]
Wu is married to violinist Sarah Chi Shang Liew. [27]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Rockliffe's Babies | Ho Lee | Episode: "A Very Diplomatic Incident" |
1991 | The Godfather Squad | Triad Member In Restaurant | |
1992 | To Be the Best | Airline Official | TV movie |
1996 | Thief Takers | Chang Ming | 2 episodes |
Cracker | Detective Lawyer | Episode: "White Ghost" | |
1998 | Immortality | Gang Member | |
1999 | Rogue Trader | George Seow | |
2003 | Shanghai Knights | "Lead Boxer" Liu | |
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life | Sean's Man | ||
Out for a Kill | Li Bo | ||
Belly of the Beast | General Jantapan | ||
2004 | Wake of Death [28] | Andy Wang | |
2005 | Batman Begins | Bhutanese Prison Guard #1 | |
Revolver [29] | Lord John | ||
2008 | The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior [30] | Fong | |
Mutant Chronicles [31] | Corporal Juba Kim Wu | ||
2010 | Spirit Warriors [32] | Hwang | 7 episodes |
2011 | Ra.One [33] | Akaashi / Ra.One | Hindi film |
2012 | Treasure Island | Joe Thoby | TV film |
Skyfall | Silva's Mercenary | ||
2013 | RED 2 | Security Officer | |
Kick-Ass 2 [34] | Genghis Carnage | ||
2014 | Da Vinci's Demons | Quon Shan | 5 episodes |
2014–2016 | Marco Polo [35] | Hundred Eyes | 18 episodes |
2015 | Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes [36] | Hundred Eyes | TV short |
2016 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny | [37] | |
2017 | King Arthur: Legend of the Sword [38] | Kung Fu George | |
2018 | Strangers [39] | Detective Inspector Daniel Tsui | 8 episodes |
2019 | Baliko | King | Short film |
Strike Back: Revolution [40] | Uncle Laoshu | 2 episodes | |
Hobbs & Shaw [41] | Tsoi | ||
The Gentlemen [42] | Lord George | ||
2020 | The Host [43] | Yong | |
2022 | The Sandman [44] | Hippogriff (voice) | Episode: "Dream of a Thousand Cats" |
2024 | 3 Body Problem [45] | Count of the West | Episode: "Red Coast" |
2025 | Havoc [46] | Wong |