Celebrity Info
After Gemma Chan transitioned from modeling to acting, it felt as though she was suddenly everywhere in British pop culture. She became a familiar face across several major pillars of the UK’s entertainment industry, taking on small but notable roles in iconic series like the long-running sci-fi classic Doctor Who (BBC 1963–) and the critically acclaimed detective drama Sherlock (BBC 2010–). In addition to those appearances, she delved into more prominent roles in cult-favorite shows such as Secret Diary of a Call Girl (ITV2 2007–2011), Fresh Meat (Channel 4 2011–), and Bedlam (Sky Living 2011–12).
Gemma Chan was born on November 29, 1982, in London, England, to a Hong Kong-born engineer father and a mother who was originally from China and raised in Scotland. She initially pursued a legal education at Worcester College, University of Oxford, and even began a training contract at a law firm after graduation. However, her time in the legal field was brief, as she soon decided to follow her passion for acting and enrolled at the Drama Centre London.
She began her journey in the entertainment world as a model, appearing on the first season of Project Catwalk (Sky One 2006–08) and in various advertising campaigns. Her move into acting started with background roles, but she quickly gained attention for her standout performance as Mia Bennett in a 2009 episode of Doctor Who. That role proved to be a turning point, opening doors to feature film opportunities such as the gritty thriller Pimp (2010) and the John Cusack-starring Shanghai (2010).
Chan continued to build her reputation with appearances in beloved British television shows like The IT Crowd (Channel 4 2006–2013) and Sherlock. She also appeared in Richard Ayoade’s coming-of-age indie film Submarine (2010), which marked the beginning of a fruitful creative partnership. The following year brought her some of her most significant roles yet, including a regular spot on Secret Diary of a Call Girl and a recurring role in the darkly comedic Fresh Meat. She further solidified her presence on television with a role in the psychological thriller Bedlam.
Chan reunited with Ayoade for his second directorial effort, The Double (2013), and soon after, she made her first major move into Hollywood with Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), directed by Kenneth Branagh. Her growing international appeal was further cemented when she joined the main cast of the British-American sci-fi series Humans (Channel 4/AMC 2015–), which explored the complex world of artificial intelligence and humanoid robots.
Throughout her career, Gemma Chan has demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate both television and film, transitioning seamlessly from quirky comedies to intense dramas and sci-fi narratives. Her journey, from law student to model to celebrated actress, reflects a dynamic and evolving presence in contemporary entertainment.
When it comes to Gemma Chan’s filmography, one standout in terms of critical acclaim is The Boy and the Heron from 2023. This particular movie has emerged as Gemma Chan’s highest-rated film to date, earning praise for its storytelling and visual artistry. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s London Fields, released back in 2018, which unfortunately turned out to be Gemma Chan’s lowest-rated film according to reviews and audience reception. While Gemma Chan has taken on a variety of roles throughout her career, these two films represent the high and low points in terms of ratings. Still, Gemma Chan continues to be a compelling presence on screen, showing versatility across genres. It’ll be interesting to see how future projects stack up against the success of The Boy and the Heron and whether Gemma Chan can leave behind the underperformance of earlier works like London Fields.
China
