From Miri To London: Meet The Malaysian Actor Who Appears In Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’

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If you haven't already binged it, the final four episodes of Bridgerton season four dropped on Netflix on 26 February — and Malaysians were quick to spot a familiar face among London's high society!

Malaysian actor Yong Zheng Xi appears in the series as Lord Barnaby, the love interest of Posy Li, who is the stepsister of Sophie Baek in this season's Cinderella-inspired storyline.

The season follows the romance between Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek as they navigate the rigid social hierarchy separating a gentleman and a maid.

The 32-year-old Malaysian appears in the final episode, playing a small but notable role as the show's first Southeast Asian character.

On the day the episodes released, Yong shared his excitement in an Instagram post, saying, "Absolutely adored my time on Bridgerton and everyone who I got to meet and work with! What a dream to be part of it all."

Yong, who hails from Miri, Sarawak, has also appeared as supporting roles in major productions such as Barbie and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Speaking to SAYS, Yong, who is currently based in London, said he feels fortunate to have landed these roles but still considers himself at an early stage of his career.

Interestingly, he added, acting wasn't part of his original plan.

Growing up in Malaysia, Yong said he was initially passionate about singing, and often joined competitions and school productions. In 2013, when he moved to the UK to study law at King's College London, he met his singing teacher Kevin Fountain, who encouraged him to train in musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music.

"I remember seeing a West End musical and absolutely falling in love with the idea of performing — getting to act, sing, and dance altogether.

"That's when I decided to audition for drama school as my pathway into film, TV, and theatre," he said.

One project he's especially proud of is starring in the West End musical Your Lie in April two years ago

"It was the first West End musical to have a fully East and Southeast Asian cast, so it meant a lot for our representation," he said, adding that it's also the most challenging role he's done so far.

As for current work, Yong said he is performing in the musical American Psycho at London's Almeida Theatre and will also be appearing in season three of the BBC series Boarders.

Looking ahead, Yong hopes to work with directors like Jon M Chu, Adele Lim, Celine Song, Christopher Nolan, Yorgos Lanthimos, Luca Guadagnino, and Chloé Zhao, and to one day share the screen with actors such as Michelle Yeoh, Saoirse Ronan, and Melissa McCarthy

When asked for advice for aspiring actors, he said, "Believe in yourself and be resilient. The industry is super tough, so you have to be thick-skinned."

Despite living in London for the past 13 years, Yong added that he still misses home and tries to return to Malaysia at least once a year.