
Owen Earls
Acting
Hong Chau
ActingThailandHong Chau's journey from a refugee camp in Thailand to the silver screen is nothing short of extraordinary. Born to Vietnamese parents who fled their war-torn homeland, she and her family eventually settled in New Orleans. This rich cultural background has not only shaped her identity but also infused her performances with depth and authenticity.
Chau's passion for storytelling blossomed during her formative years, prompting her to pursue a degree in film studies at Boston University. It was there that she honed her craft, preparing for a career that would soon see her emerge as a distinctive voice in the industry. Her first significant role came in the HBO series Treme, a project that showcased her ability to connect with complex characters and narratives.
Her presence on screen became widely acknowledged after her role in Inherent Vice, where she demonstrated her knack for nuanced performances. Yet, it was the character Ngoc Lan Tran in Downsizing that truly marked her breakthrough, earning her critical acclaim and leading to several award nominations. This role highlighted her unique ability to resonate with audiences, establishing her as a formidable talent.
Following this success, Chau starred as Liz, a compassionate nurse, in The Whale. Her portrayal garnered rave reviews and culminated in an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, further solidifying her standing in Hollywood. Critics often praise her performances for their emotional depth, a testament to her dedication and skill as an actress.
Chau's versatility has allowed her to traverse various genres with ease. She has made memorable appearances in acclaimed television series, including the HBO limited series Watchmen and the Amazon Prime series Homecoming. Each role underscores her adaptability and commitment to exploring diverse characters, whether in leading or supporting parts.
In 2019, she showcased her range further with prominent roles in Driveways and American Woman, continuing to captivate audiences with her performances. Her recent works, including The Menu and the Netflix series The Night Agent, continue to highlight her evolving talent and influence in the industry.
Chau often reflects on her experiences as a first-generation American, infusing her performances with a unique perspective that resonates with many viewers. This cultural richness adds an additional layer to her characters, enabling her to connect with diverse audiences on a deeper level.
As her career progresses, Hong Chau leaves a significant impact on the film and television landscape. Her roles not only entertain but also invite audiences to engage with complex narratives and characters. The authenticity she brings to her performances ensures her place among the notable talents of her generation, inspiring both peers and aspiring actors alike.
Insomniacs Trivia
- Hong Chau's family was sponsored by a Vietnamese Catholic church in New Orleans after fleeing Vietnam.
- She majored in film studies at Boston University before pursuing acting.
- Chau's breakthrough role was as Ngoc Lan Tran in the film Downsizing.
- She received an Academy Award nomination for her role in The Whale, showcasing her remarkable talent.
- Chau has appeared in both dramatic and comedic roles, illustrating her versatility as an actress.
Insomniacs Take
Hong Chau is a breath of fresh air in contemporary cinema, showcasing her incredible range and emotional depth in every role. Her ability to bring authenticity to even the most challenging characters sets her apart in an industry that often overlooks nuanced performances. As she continues to take on diverse roles, it's exciting to witness how she challenges conventional storytelling while paving the way for future actors from underrepresented backgrounds.

Natalie Carter
ActingBeverly Hills, California, USANatalie Carter is an actress & neo-ethnic Soul / Jazz vocalist who has performed Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Brazilian Jazz nationally and internationally.Walter Liebman
Acting
Margot Robbie
ActingDalby, Queensland, AustraliaMargot Robbie spent her early career getting heavily underestimated by Hollywood executives who took one look at her blonde hair and assumed she was just another soap star trying her luck in America. She completely shattered that delusion within seconds of swaggering onto the screen in The Wolf of Wall Street, firmly putting Leonardo DiCaprio in his place and proving she had the raw acting chops to run the entire town. Since then, she has transitioned from a fiercely talented leading lady into one of the most powerful, calculating producers in modern cinema.She first properly sent shockwaves through pop culture by grabbing a baseball bat and transforming Harley Quinn into the undisputed standout highlight of DC’s chaotic superhero universe. But rather than coasting on blockbuster franchise money, Margot used her leverage to launch her own production company, LuckyChap Entertainment. She immediately went full independent method to play the disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya—delivering a fiercely aggressive, vulnerable performance that bagged her a fully deserved Oscar nomination and proved she was completely unafraid to look bruised and unpolished on screen.Her absolute masterstroke, however, came when she decided to turn the world completely pink. As both the lead star and the creative driving force behind Barbie, Margot pulled off a historic, billion-pound box office miracle, turning a heavily manufactured doll into a deeply existential, razor-sharp cultural phenomenon. Instead of resting on her laurels after conquering the globe, she immediately pivoted back to dark, prestige cinema—producing and starring as the volatile Catherine Earnshaw in Emerald Fennell’s gothic, boundary-pushing adaptation of Wuthering Heights.Lately, she has been entirely relentless in building her multi-million-pound empire behind the camera while commanding the screen. She brought her effortless charm to the star-studded sci-fi romance A Big Bold Beautiful Journey opposite Colin Farrell, and she’s gearing up for a massive high-stakes heist run by co-starring with Bradley Cooper in the highly anticipated retro prequel Ocean's Eleven. Margot Robbie has spent over a decade proving that true stardom isn't just about flashing a perfect smile for the cameras—it’s about owning the entire studio, calling all the shots, and making the rest of the industry play by your rules.Insomniacs Trivia
• The Dutch Courage Audition: When she walked into the casting room to read for the fiercely sharp Naomi in The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot was completely terrified of standing next to Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese. Convinced she was going to choke under the massive pressure, she slipped out of the building, ran to a local New York off-licence, and knocked back three straight shots of tequila in quick succession before walking back in to deliver her career-launching audition.• The Panicked Co-Star Slap: During that exact same high-stakes audition with Leonardo DiCaprio, the script called for a massive verbal argument between the two characters. Wanting to do something completely unforgettable to secure the part, Margot completely went off-script; she marched right up to DiCaprio, screamed in his face, and delivered a massive, full-force slap directly across his jaw. The entire room went completely dead silent, and Margot was fully convinced she was about to be arrested for assault before Scorsese burst out laughing and hired her on the spot.• The Uncredited Tattoo Disaster: While filming the high-octane anti-hero blockbuster Suicide Squad, Margot bought a professional, industrial-grade tattoo gun and started giving matching "SKWAD" tattoos to the entire cast and crew as a bonding exercise in her trailer. While she successfully inked director David Ayer and co-star Cara Delevingne, she suffered a massive, accidental slip of the hand while tattooing a production assistant, completely misspelling the word as "SKWOD" and leaving him with a permanent reminder of her rookie mistake.Insomniacs Take
Margot Robbie is an absolute mastermind. In a business that has spent decades treating young actresses like disposable commodities, she had the immense brains and stones to seize the steering wheel of her own career before anyone else could box her in. She possesses a magnetic, old-school movie star presence that completely fills a cinema screen, yet her absolute greatest talent is her staggering versatility—she can switch from a cartoonish comic book psycho to a tragic, broken athlete or a philosophical doll without breaking a sweat. She is an absolute titan of modern filmmaking, and she is single-handedly keeping the industry interesting.Click the Filmography tab to see all the Movies & Series linked to Margot Robbie on Insomniacs.