HENRY GOLDING

The Crazy Rich Asians star, 35, enters the romantic world of Persuasion (July 15 on Netflix), based on Jane Austen’s final novel, published in 1817. He plays Mr. Elliot, a cousin and suitor for the hand of Anne (Dakota Johnson), who is pining for another man—the one who got away.

What attracted you to Persuasion? It was my first time doing a period drama/comedy, and it allowed me to be back home [in England]. The quarantine had just finished, and I hadn’t been home for two years. It was a chance to see my family and bring my baby [his 14-month-old daughter with wife Liv Lo, a yoga instructor and television host].

Tell us about your character, Mr. Elliot. He doesn’t have a care in the world. He has his own ambitions, and that’s mainly [pursuing women]. He’s not afraid to mess around with the beehive and get stung a few times. Whatever takes his fancy, whatever whim he feels, he just dives headfirst into it.

You’ve also done Snake Eyes [on Prime Video], a ninjathemed spinoff of the G.I. Joe franchise. What was that like? It’s a lot more physical. Sword work is very technical, so it takes a lot of coordination. It helps to have a background in martial arts, which I didn’t. I had done some Muay Thai boxing through the years; very amateur in terms of skill level, but enough to learn and adapt into this situation.

You have several tattoos. Tell us about them. It’s a part of my culture from Malaysia, where traditionally we use tattoos to tell stories or to mark significant moments in life. So, for me, it’s a heritage thing. They’re markers of different chapters in my life.

You were a TV personality when you landed Crazy Rich Asians. How did you make the jump to film? I always wanted to get into acting and learn the craft. So I went to an acting class. And then I got a job offer to be a host on a show called The Travel Show, and I was like, “Oh, I guess it’s not meant to be just yet.” So I put it on the backburner, but then the opportunity came for Crazy Rich and I jumped at it.

WHAT’S HIS FAVORITE JANE AUSTEN NOVEL? GO TO PARADE.COM/GOLDING TO FIND OUT.