Jess Hong (born 4 January 1997) is a New Zealand actress. She is known for her role as Jin Cheng in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem (2024).

Early life and education

Jess Hong was born in Auckland 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.

She started taking drama classes at the age of 13, mainly to combat her shyness and social anxiety. Hong initially quit drama classes during her first year of high school but subsequently resumed them at the age of 17 during her final. After completing her secondary education, she moved to Wellington to study for three years at the national drama school, Toi Whakaari, graduating in 2019.

Career

Hong moved to Auckland after graduation, undertaking casual work while auditioning for acting jobs. 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.

Hong gained international recognition with a leading role in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem, released in 2024. 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. To prepare for the role, Hong downloaded Cixin Liu's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy on Kindle.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021The Brokenwood MysteriesMaddy2 episodes
2021InkedAifeiMain cast
2021CreamerieWellness Worker3 episodes
20243 Body ProblemJin ChengMain cast
2024My Life Is MurderSageEpisode: "Location, Location, Location"

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023GraftedAngela

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue
2018RushesDancerCirca Theatre, Wellington
2018Grand OpeningParty GirlCivic Theatre, Auckland
2019Romeo and JulietJulietPop Up Globe
2019Much Ado About NothingHero/EnsemblePop Up Globe
2019An Organ of Soft TissuePrefrontal CortexThe Basement Theatre, Auckland
2020Front Yard FestivalsWahineTe Pou Theater
202048 Nights on Hope StreetNathan/NarratorASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland
2021Duffy in Bubble TroubleScruffyNational tour
2022The First Prime-Time Asian SitcomAngela XuQ Theatre - Loft, Auckland

External links