Slow Horses star, Christopher Chung on staying patient and finding confidence

He's changing things

The BAFTA-nominated actor, Slow Horses star and personal trainer on setting lofty goals, and finding the confidence to reach them.

With a growing sphere of influence, have you seen a ripple effect through the industry in terms of representation?

I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of other East Asian actors here in the UK, which has been great; young, up and coming men doing workshops for different theatre pieces, or even in film and TV. And when I was nominated for the BAFTA, a couple of them reached out to me and said, "Mate, you're changing things. This is representation." I'm one of only three East Asian males to be nominated in an acting category for the BAFTAs, ever, and to show that kind of accolade is possible is huge. It’s a really nice progression for younger actors of my background, being someone they can aspire to, and to show that it's possible to do that level of work.

Who did you look up to when you were a kid?

The only shows that I could watch and say, "Yeah, I could do that," were The King and I, or Miss Saigon, because I started in musical theatre. As those were the only things that I saw myself reflected in, it really limited my scope of what was possible. I used to watch a lot of old Chinese martial arts films with my grandma, with Jackie Chan and Jet Lee, and that was brilliant. They're obviously at the top of their game, but not every Asian person does martial arts to that level. So I saw myself reflected in what I looked like through them, but not in terms of inspired to do that kind of work. It wasn’t until I moved to London that I started to see how open and varied things in the UK were to people that looked like me, and it really broadened my horizons of what was possible.

Not everything is going to come at once, and I find confidence in knowing that things take time, and allowing myself to have the patience to wait for the things that need to happen.  Image: Getty

Slow Horses has become a phenomenon, and you’ve recently entered the Dr Who universe. How to you pick projects that land so well with audiences?

My career is made up as much of the things that I say “yes” to, as the things I say “no” to. If I had said “yes” to certain projects, my career might be on a very different path right now. But I always backed myself, in that I wanted to work to a certain level, and I hoped that it would pay off. I liken acting to gambling; you get a big job, and a decent pay check, and you think, "All right, is this where I cash out and get a normal job? Or do I take that, reinvest in myself, and go all in again?"

How do you find the self-confidence to continually back yourself in such an unpredictable vocation?

It comes in waves, but your patience is your greatest asset. Not everything is going to come at once, and I find confidence in knowing that things take time, and allowing myself to have the patience to wait for the things that need to happen. 

I left Australia properly when I was 20 and I studied performing. I put all my eggs in that basket straight away, leaving home and family, sacrificing going to weddings, seeing friend’s kids, family birthdays, everything. I’ve given up so much in pursuit of this thing, that is part of the drive, and I feel it all must be for some greater goal. And It’s now starting to really pay dividends.

I make sure that my nutrition is on point throughout the shoot weeks and I can't go out and slam the beers and eat junk anymore. Image: @chrispchung on Instagram

How have your careers as both an actor and personal trainer shaped your wellness routine?

I can't live the same way now at 36 as I did when I was 25. I was motivated by aesthetics then whereas now I must be functional and make sure that my body is robust enough to do whatever is required of me on set, still hoping that the by-product is an aesthetic physique.

I've had to really learn how to have a new relationship with my body, and how that kind of plays into my filming schedule. I make sure that my nutrition is on point throughout the shoot weeks and I can't go out and slam the beers and eat junk anymore.

I used to use food as a kind of mood leveller and binge, then I would punish myself by going to the gym and pushing as hard as I can. I'd injure myself, and then, I wouldn't be able to train as hard. It was very cyclic.

I work out five to six times a week, with four days of lifting and two days of conditioning work. I feel funny in my body and mind if I don't get those workouts in or I've got a lot of either pent-up anxiety, that I just need to get out. 

As a personal trainer, what do you see as the biggest hurdles your clients face?

The biggest killer is a sedentary lifestyle. If you sit at your desk for more than an hour, you need to get up every 15 minutes to move around. The cumulative effect that sitting has on you over the week is huge.

The other issue is stress management, and because it's not tangibly seen, it's hard for people to comprehend the amount of cortisol that comes into your system when you're stressed. It can be debilitating, so understanding that something as simple as going for a walk outside can have huge benefits for your physical health is key.

Originally published as Slow Horses star, Christopher Chung on staying patient and finding confidence