Henry Golding on Making a Statement with 'Crazy Rich Asians'

Crazy Rich Asians, the movie adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s 2013 novel of the same name, depicts the lives of the super-rich families of Singapore. The film has romance, comedy and large doses of emotional drama, a combination that has proven to be a hit with audiences around the world.

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Golding plays Nick Young, a young guy who has met the woman of his dreams while studying in New York. Though at first he keeps his family’s wealth a secret, when the couple travel to Singapore for a wedding, the revelation threatens their relationship.

Golding was born in Malaysia but moved to England a few years later. Following a stint as a hairdresser in London, he became a successful TV presenter before being cast in Crazy Rich Asians.
Golding reveals the “relief” he felt when he eventually won the role in Crazy Rich Asians, following a series of auditions.

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The locations, predominantly across Singapore, also play a huge part in the film. Golding speaks about of the sets providing important contextual backdrops, capturing both antiquated “old money” spaces and the “garish gold” of the new.

For Golding, the next step is simple. He no longer wants to be labelled an ‘Asian leading man’ but simply, a leading man. Golding hopes that Crazy Rich Asians can play a small part in an industry-wide movement that will give non-white actors an equal platform.

Crazy Rich Asians is on general release in the UK from September 14