Gemma Chan - Biography

Who is Gemma Chan?

Gemma Chan is a British actress of Chinese descent.

Gemma Chan – Age, Parents, Siblings

Gemma Chan was born on 29 November 1982 in Southwark, London, England to Chinese parents. Although her parents' names are not known, a few details of her parents are shared. 

Chan’s father grew up in Hong Kong and worked as an engineer while her Chinese-Scottish mother migrated from China to Greenock, Scotland, later working as a pharmacist at Guy's Hospital. She also has a sibling, a younger sister named Helen Chan, who is an associate director at financial PR firm Buchanan, married English businessman Eric Born in April 2016.

Education, Ethnicity

Chan was raised with her siblings near Sevenoaks, South East England. Young Gemma Chan swam competitively, learned ballet, and played piano and violin.

As for her education, Gemma Chan attended Newstead Wood School for Girls and later went on to attend the University of Oxford’s  Worcester College. There she earned a degree in law. But after graduating, she did not practice law, despite having been offered a training contract as a graduate at Slaughter and May law firm. 

Instead, she opted to study at Drama Centre London and pursued acting, the decision, which worried her parents. Chan even revealed that her father did not talk to her for three months! She graduated from Drama school in 2008. Her ethnicity is Chinese and Scottish.

Also read: Is Oxford Law degree helpful in an acting career? Gemma Chan says so!

Gemma Chan – Boyfriend, Husband, Children, Divorce

Gemma Chan had been in a relationship with comedian Jack Whitehall since 2011. They first met on the set of Fresh Meat, where they co-starred. The couple did not marry but broke up in 2017, after 7 years together. Both cited busy work schedules as the main reason for their split. 

However, the former pair added they are still good friends.

In August 2018, Chan was rumored to be in a relationship with new boyfriend Dominic Cooper, after the couple was spotted getting cozy, during a night out in Spain. Gemma Chan and Cooper were also seen holding hands on Beach in Spain.

Also read: Winston Duke - Actor of Black Panther 

Gemma Chan – Career

Early Days 

Gemma Chan has also worked as a fashion model and is active in theatre plays. In 2006, Chan competed in the first series of reality television series Project Catwalk and was chosen in the final three. She had previously worked as a model to fund herself during her years in Drama School.

Gemma Chan was spotted at her showcase by Damian Jones, a British film producer. Soon, she was signed into acting with the agent Nicki van Gelder. Her beginning role was that of geologist Mia Bennett in BBC's Doctor Who, which aired on 15 November 2009. She was then cast in Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2011), Fresh Meat (2011), Bedlam (2012), Death in Paradise (2013), Dates (2013), Humans (2015-2018), among others.

Also read: Cobie Smulders - Actress of How I met your Mother, Avengers

Films, Series

In the arena of films, Chan has starred in Pimp (2010), Shanghai (2010), Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Transformers: The Last Knight (2018), Mary Queen of Scots (2018), among others.

But most of all, she has been known to play the role of Astrid Leong-Teo in 2018 romantic-comedy Crazy Rich Asians, directed by Jon M. Chu. She also stars in the movie Captain Marvel (2019) as Minn-Erva.

Also read: Benedict Cumberbatch - Actor of Doctor Strange, Avengers 

Co-stars

On the set of Captain Marvel, Chan has worked with Brie Larson, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Lee Pace, Djimon Hounsou.

Also read: Jon Favreau - Director, Actor, Producer, Screenwriter of Iron Man

Gemma Chan – Social work, fatal stabbing

Gemma Chan is also active in philanthropic works via different organizations that help children and refugees. Chan, who is also an ambassador of Moët & Chandon’s charity initiative, Toast for a Cause.

In October 2012, Gemma Chan witnessed the lethal stabbing of a homeless man at the Putney Bridge Tube station in West London. She stayed with the victim until the paramedics arrived but the victim soon expired. In September 2013 she appeared as a witness during the trial.

Also read: Evangeline Lilly - Actress Lost, Antman, Avengers: End Game 

Gemma Chan – Net Worth, Salary

The net worth of Chan is around $6 million but the figure for her annual salary is not known.

Gemma Chan – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On Instagram and Twitter, Gemma Chan is followed by millions of followers but is absent from Facebook.

Also read: Clark Gregg - Actor, Director - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Avengers