HENRY GOLDING

Jane Austen and G.I. Joe? Now that’s range…

It’s not every actor who starts off as a travel-show presenter before transitioning to a movie star in a massive global hit. But Henry Golding — whom director Jon M. Chu cast as the male lead in Crazy Rich Asians after a tip from his accountant — is a unique case. “I do remember feeling nervous,” says Golding of his first day on set. “But Jon Chu was like, ‘Dude, just be yourself. That’s who we fell in love with for the character.’”

Golding’s charming demeanour worked a treat as Nick Young, but he’s since gotten a lot better at

not being himself, too. Strong performances in

A Simple Favour and Monsoon hinted at his range, but the most dramatic departure from his persona so far came as gangster Dry Eye in The Gentlemen. Impressively, he filmed the role at the same time he was shooting romcom Last Christmas. “There was one overlap day where we were filming nights for

Last Christmas in the dead of winter,” he recalls. “I had to transform from this happy-go-lucky guy into Dry Eye with his leopard print and Louis Vuitton pumps, yelling all these profanities. I think it’s an actor’s greatest dream to be able to do that.”

Another dream Golding is about to live out is starring in Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. The titular ninja warrior is normally masked, but in telling his backstory Golding is relishing the opportunity to add new dimensions to the character, as well as flex some all-new acting muscles. “Snake Eyes is a character synonymous with ass-kicking. To step up to that level of physicality was a real challenge, but the amazing thing about our version of the character is that he is on as much of an emotional journey as a physical one. We really get to delve into his psyche.”

Establishing his action-hero credentials in

Snake Eyes may be a smart move in more ways than one, with Golding’s name in the mix for the new James Bond. “It’ll be interesting to see what direction they take it,” he deflects. “Barbara Broccoli is the only one who’s going to know that answer.” But whether Bond is part of it or not, Golding’s future looks bright. When Empire speaks with him, he’s about to “dial it up to 11” playing Mr Elliot in a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, whom he describes as an “extremely wealthy, very handsome man, who knows what he wants and will do anything to get it.” Looks like that charm is about to be put to good, if insidious, use once again.

SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS IS IN CINEMAS FROM 20 AUGUST