Henry Golding may be living oceans away, but his heart still beats for Malaysia.

Born in Betong, Sarawak to an English father and a Malaysian mother, Golding spent his early years in Dungun, Terengganu before relocating to Surrey in England, the United Kingdom, at the age of eight.

Long before making it big in Hollywood, Golding was a hairdresser in England.

He returned to Malaysia in 2008 to chase his dream in broadcast television – a decision that set him on a globe-spanning path: a decade in Singapore, some time in Los Angeles, the United States, and a return to Surrey in late 2024.

“It’s been a long and amazing journey,” the 38-year-old told StarLifestyle in an exclusive virtual interview.

“I’m used to moving around, so I’m sort of transient in that sense.”

But no matter where life takes him, Malaysia remains close to Golding’s heart.

The actor, whose last Instagram post from Malaysia was in November 2024, shared that he often feels left out whenever he sees his friends posting about their adventures here.

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“Oh my gosh, I miss Malaysia tremendously!

"I have to do an extended trip someday just to catch up with everybody and go eat a good bowl of laksa. Hopefully, I’ll have a chance to return,” he said in his charming British accent.

Reflecting on his globe-trotting experience, Golding admitted that it hadn’t been easy.

For one, he used to face racism as an Asian minority trying to assimilate in Britain.

Still, those experiences shaped him, and he slowly began taking pride in his heritage over time.

“It was a little jarring getting used to being there at first, but at the same time, there’s also so much joy and exploration.”

‘Fake it to make it’

When talking about Golding, it’s hard not to think of his breakout performance as the suave Nick Young in 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians – the first-ever Hollywood flick featuring an all-Asian cast since 1993’s The Joy Luck Club.

The movie propelled him to global stardom – a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that he had no acting experience before bagging the role.

“I went out and was like: ‘I’ve got to fake it to make it. I’ve got to pretend I have experience.’ Sometimes, you really have to put yourself on the line to get the results you really want,” he told British daily The Guardian.

Golding starred opposite Michelle Yeoh (left) and Constance Wu in the hit movie 'Crazy Rich Asians'. Photos: HandoutGolding first launched his career as a television host on the local variety show 8TV Quickie in 2008 before going on to present for ESPN, the BBC and Discovery Channel Asia.

Building on the success of Crazy Rich Asians, Golding starred in films such as Last Christmas (2019), Snake Eyes (2021), Daniela Forever (2024) and more.

Over the years, the actor has been hailed by international media as one of the more prominent Asian leading men in movies today.

New retreat, new faces

He’s currently starring in the second season of the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers.

The first instalment, based on Australian author Liane Moriarty’s 2018 novel of the same name, featured Oscar winner Nicole Kidman as Masha – a Russian wellness guru who uses psychedelic therapy to help nine guests heal at her resort in California.

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman reprises her role as Russian wellness guru Masha in the second season of 'Nine Perfect Strangers'.The latest season, however, strays away from its source material, shifting the setting to the snowy Austrian Alps and introducing nine new characters.

This time, Masha invites a fresh group of strangers to a one-week transformation retreat: A formerly devout nun (Dolly de Leon), a socially awkward puppeteer (Murray Bartlett), a tense mother-daughter duo (Christine Baranski, Annie Murphy) and more.

Other new faces introduced include Golding’s Peter – a young man longing for his billionaire father’s (Mark Strong) approval.

“It’s rare to find a series with such strong and compelling characters... Like, Peter has everything, but the one thing he can’t have is his father’s love,” Golding told StarLifestyle.

Golding (left) is thrilled to work alongside fellow actor Mark Strong, who's one of his biggest idols in the film scene. Photo: Reuters“That distance with his father makes him a sensitive soul, but the moment he has any interaction with his dad, he becomes like this puppy... basically a child.

“He’s kind of wacky and easily freaks out, but he’s really just a sensitive young boy in a man’s body, so it was fun exploring that.”

A golden opportunity

For Golding, Nine Perfect Strangers is more than just another role – it’s an exciting experience that marks many firsts for the actor.

The eight-episode project took him to Munich and the Austrian Alps for the first time, where he spent months filming and exploring.

“We spent a lot of time in Salzburg city, went deep into the mountains and explored everywhere.

“Filming began in January and ended in June, so I literally saw all the seasons – from winter to spring and all the way into summer.

“By the time filming ended, we were all in shorts and T-shirts,” he said with a laugh.

Golding had the opportunity to explore the Austrian Alps for the first time while filming 'Nine Perfect Strangers'.Golding also joked that if Nine Perfect Strangers has a third instalment, it should be set in the jungles of Borneo so everyone could “sweat a little”.

Beyond the picturesque scenery, Golding had the privilege of working alongside industry juggernauts Kidman and Baranski, who have graced the screen for over 40 years.

Describing it as an inspiring experience, Golding shared: “I love being surrounded by talented people on set... It’s such a gift.

“As an actor, you’re constantly motivated by others’ performances in the best way possible. You watch them, see their process and take on board their choices.”

Another memorable aspect of the project for Golding was the opportunity to star opposite actor Strong, who’s one of his biggest heroes in the film industry.

Strong, 61, is famous for movies such as Stardust (2007), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and its sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017).

“I grew up watching Mark’s works, so it was a joy to find out he would be playing my dad. He’s such a regal and phenomenal actor who has cultivated his art and craft... He oozes control,” added Golding.

Finding room for improvement

Ever the perfectionist, Golding is constantly pushing himself to grow as an actor by embracing various challenges.

In Nine Perfect Strangers, the biggest hurdle came in the form of filming out of sequence – a daunting task given it’s his first series since 2009’s Goda.

'Nine Perfect Strangers' marks Golding's first series since 2009's 'Goda'. Photo: Henry Golding/Instagram

“It’s always challenging to film out of order, especially when you have eight episodes that, sometimes, aren’t fully finished.

“Like, I’ve already done this, but now I’m doing this and then I’ve got to come back here.

“That’s just the nature of filming something so big,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Golding successfully brought the emotionally intricate character of Peter to life, thanks to his determination and the support of his co-stars.

That same drive to grow carries over into his personal life.

In August 2016, Golding tied the knot with Taiwanese television presenter Liv Lo in Sarawak.

The couple, who first crossed paths at a New Year’s Eve party in 2010, are now proud parents to two daughters – Lyla, four, and Florence, two.

For Golding, no role is more important than that of being a father.

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“I think you can never stop being a better father.

“No matter how much time I spend with my daughters or how patient I try to be, I always look back and wonder if I should’ve spent more time with them,” he shared.

Though he admitted that parenthood is tough, it’s also his greatest joy and blessing.

“Being a parent is probably life’s biggest challenge because you can be hard on yourself.

“But at the same time, you know you’re trying your best, so I think that’s something that I can always improve on.”

Nine Perfect Strangers Season Two is available on Prime Video, with new episodes out every Thursday.