Born on June 25, 1979, in a refugee camp in Thailand to Vietnamese parents, Chau’s path to cinematic stardom is as deeply inspiring as her acting range is vast.

For years, she was the ultimate “secret weapon” of any project she touched—the actor who could walk onto a set for five minutes and completely walk away with the entire production. Today, she is an established, Oscar-nominated force who effortlessly balances independent darlings, blockbuster television, and dark prestige cinema.

To celebrate her upcoming birthday, we are looking back at the five spectacular, career-defining performances that proved she can truly do absolutely anything on screen.

1. Liz in The Whale (2022)

In Darren Aronofsky’s emotionally grueling drama, Chau delivered a powerhouse performance that rightfully earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards. Playing Liz, a fiercely protective, deeply grieving nurse who acts as the sole caregiver and friend to Brendan Fraser’s Charlie, she served as the grounded, realistic anchor of the film. Chau injected the role with a complex blend of tough love, exhaustion, and overwhelming tenderness, matching Fraser’s intensity beat for beat.

2. Elsa in The Menu (2022)

If you ever needed proof of Chau’s flawless, lethal comedic timing, Mark Mylod’s satirical thriller is the ultimate showcase. As Elsa, the impeccably dressed, fiercely loyal, and utterly unbothered restaurant manager running Chef Slowik’s (Ralph Fiennes) sinister, cult-like island dining experience, she completely stole the show. Her deadpan execution of lines like “No, taco night is not on the menu” became an instant, heavily quoted pop-culture meme, highlighting her ability to build an unforgettable character out of quiet stillness and intense eye contact.

3. Ngoc Lan Tran in Downsizing (2017)

This was the major breakthrough role that officially put Chau on Hollywood’s radar, securing her first Golden Globe and SAG award nominations. In Alexander Payne’s high-concept sci-fi satire, she played a fierce, one-legged Vietnamese political activist who was forcibly shrunken down by her government. While the film itself received mixed reviews, Chau’s performance was universally heralded as a triumph. She brought an uncompromising dignity, hilarious grit, and deep-seated humanity to a character that could have easily felt one-dimensional in the hands of a lesser performer.

4. Lady Trieu in Watchmen (2019)

Stepping into the fiercely guarded, heavily stylized comic book universe of HBO’s Watchmen, Chau crafted a brilliantly enigmatic, cold, and calculated trillionaire scientist. Playing Lady Trieu, a mysterious visionary building a massive quantum clock, she radiated an intimidating, highly sophisticated intellect. Her performance was a masterclass in slow-burn mystery, keeping audiences constantly guessing about her true morality right up until the explosive climax.

5. Kathy in Driveways (2019)

While she excels in massive, high-concept narratives, Andrew Ahn’s quiet independent masterpiece Driveways allowed Chau to flex her understated, deeply emotional dramatic muscles. Playing a single mother who travels with her young son to clean out her late sister’s home, she delivered a beautiful, naturalistic portrait of maternal anxiety and quiet resilience. Gaining an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead, the film serves as a gorgeous reminder of her incredible ability to find profound magic in the most quiet human moments.