Who is Benedict Wong?
British actor Benedict Wong was born in Eccles, Lancashire, England on 3 July 1971, meaning that Cancer’s his zodiac sign. He’s had roles in nearly 100 movies and TV series, but is perhaps known best for portraying Bruce Ng in the 2015 adventure science fiction movie “The Martian”, which starred Jessica Chastain and Matt Damon, and was directed by Ridley Scott. It follows the stranding of an astronaut on Mars, who has to find a way to send a signal to Earth; the movie won 40 of its 240 award nominations, including seven Oscar nominations, including for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay and Best Motion Picture of the Year.
Education and early life
Benedict was raised in Eccles alongside his brother Humphrey Wong, by their mother Paula and father Pinua Wong; his parents were Hong Kong immigrants who came to England through Ireland.
Benedict was into a number of activities while studying at a local high school in Eccles; it was during his time there that he fell in love with acting and began appearing in both school and theatre plays.
He matriculated in 1989 and then enrolled at Salford City College, from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1993.
Roles in TV series
Benedict’s debut TV series role was playing Le Van Dong in the 1992 episode “Small Metal Jacket” of the drama “Screenplay”, and the following years saw him appear in an episode or two of the drama “Medics”, the comedy “Last of the Summer Wine”, and the drama “The Chief”.
In 1998, he portrayed Frankie Li in all six episodes of the drama mini-series “Supply & Demand”, created by Lynda La Plante, and which starred Miriam Margolyes, Larry Lamb and Stella Gonet; it follows the lives of several British undercover police officers.
From 2002 through 2004, Benedict starred as Errol in all 12 episodes of the comedy “15 Storeys High”, which also starred Sean Lock and Dan Mersh, and follows two men who are sharing a flat in South London; the series was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best New Director (Fiction). The remainder of the decade saw Benedict appear in an episode of two of the comedy “Look Around You”, the science fiction thriller mini-series “Eleventh Hour”, and the comedy “The Peter Serafinowicz Show”.
From 2014 through 2016, he portrayed the main character Kublai Khan in 20 episodes of the action adventure “Marco Polo”, created by John Fusco, and which also starred Lorenzo Richelmy and Joan Chen. It follows the life of explorer Marco Polo who lived in the 13th century, and the series won three of its nine award nominations.
Some of Benedict’s most recent TV series roles have been in the 2021 episode “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” of the animated action adventure “What If…?” (voice role), the 2022 episode “Death Valley” of the comedy “Toast of Tinseltown”, and also in 2022 three episodes of the action adventure comedy “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law”; he’s currently shooting for the upcoming series “The Three-Body Problem”.
Roles in movies
Benedict’s debut film role was playing Guard in the 1995 action thriller “Detonator II: Night Watch”, and his other two film roles in the ‘90s were in the dramas “Supply & Demand” and “Breakout”, both released in 1997.
He played Guo Yi in the 2002 crime thriller “Dirty Pretty Things”, directed by Stephen Frears, and which starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou and Sophie Okonedo. The film follows illegal migrants Senay and Okwe who are working at a London hotel, and are living in fear of being reported; it won 16 of its 34 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Original Screenplay. Some of Benedict’s following roles were in the 2003 romantic science fiction “Code 46”, the 2005 romantic comedy “On a Clear Day” and the 2005 comedy “Tristram Shandy”.
He portrayed Thompson in the critically acclaimed 2009 science fiction mystery “Moon”, written and directed by Duncan Jones, and which starred Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey and Dominique McElligott. It follows astronaut Sam Bell who’s about to complete his three-year stint on the Moon, and the film won 28 of its 65 award nominations.
Benedict could then have been seen appearing in a number of hit movies, such as the 2012 adventure science fiction mystery “Prometheus”, the 2013 action crime comedy “Kick-Ass 2” and the 2015 historical action “Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes”. He was then cast to play Wong in the 2016 action adventure fantasy “Doctor Strange”, directed by Scott Derrickson, and which starred Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor; it follows a neurosurgeon who’s become a superhero, and the movie won 20 of its 88 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.
Some of Benedict’s most recent film roles have been in 2022 in the short comedy “Cloak vs. Tuna Melt” and the action adventure fantasy “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, and in 2023 the animated adventure comedy “The Magician’s Elephant” (voice role); he’s currently shooting for the upcoming movies “Avengers: Secret Wars” and “Bad Genius”.
Benedict Wong says he’d love to see #Wong team up with Nick Fury and eventually the X-Men in the MCU — he adds that he’d also like to see the Secret Wars storyline adapted in the MCU!
“What I love about this is I have portal world travel…so the more, the merrier.” pic.twitter.com/n06PxWVb5j
— Doctor Strange Updates (@DrStrangeUpdate) April 27, 2022
Other credits
Benedict wrote the 2001 short movie “Double Happiness”.
He received special thanks for the 2017 short documentary film “Doctor Strange: The Score-Cerer Supreme”.
Some of Benedict’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “GMA3: What You Need to Know”, “Hollywood Insider” and “Marvel Studios: Assembled”.
Awards and nominations
Benedict won a 2022 Gold List Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in “Nine Days”.
He’s been nominated for five other awards, which include a 2003 British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, for “Dirty Pretty Things”, a 2018 The Bam Award for Best Cast, for his and his colleagues’ performance in “Annihilation”, and a 2021 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, for “Nine Days”.
Love life and wife
Benedict prefers to keep his love life away from media, but still occasionally attends his red carpet events hand-in-hand with his Vietnamese-American wife Sarah Pong.
The two married in a private ceremony in 2013, and it’s believed that they had previously dated for two years; Sarah’s a private person who stays away from the media’s attention, so her profession hasn’t been disclosed.
Benedict and Sarah have two children together, Benedict ‘Benny’ Wong and Russell E. Wong, but their birthdates have been kept a secret.
He’s yet to speak of the women whom he had dated prior to meeting Sarah, Benedict’s married to Sarah Pong as of May 2023, and they have two children together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Benedict’s appeared in four space-themed films, which include “The Martian”, “Moon” and “Prometheus”.
He’s a huge fan of soccer, and cheers for Manchester United Football Club.
Close to a million people are following Benedict on Instagram today, and he’s posted nearly 330 pictures and videos onto the network; many of these serve to promote the movies and TV series in which Benedict’s appeared, while others show him during his everyday life.
He’s a huge fan of animated movies, and some of his favorites are “Megamind”, “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Princess Mononoke”.
Benedict’s favorite actor is Robert De Niro, while some of his favorite live-action movies include “The Mission”, “Midnight Run” and “This Boy’s Life”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Benedict’s age is 51. He has brown eyes and black hair, is 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall and weighs about 180lbs (82kgs).
Benedict’s net worth’s been estimated at over $3 million, as of May 2023.
Leave a Reply