Born to Viatnamese parents and brought up in America, Hong Chau majored in Film Studies at the Boston University before venturing into acting through guest roles in shows like How I Met Your Mother, Trenches and Treme. Subsequently, she made her feature film debut with a supporting role in the neo-noir comedy drama Inherent Vice (2014). The actress is perhaps best known for her work in the sci-fi comedy-drama Downsizing (2017), in which she starred alongside Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig. For her performance in the film, Chau was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture. Other notable acting credits include the shows NCIS, A to Z and Big Little Lies.