PETALING JAYA: From a law lecture hall to Barbie and later the glitzy ballroom of Bridgerton, Malaysian-born actor Yong Zheng Xi (pic) is quietly carving out a place for himself on the international stage.
He appeared in the period drama as Lord Barnaby, a role that marks another milestone in a journey shaped as much by persistence as by talent.
Yong, 32, began as a singer but it was only after moving to London to pursue a law degree that his career trajectory shifted.
“When I came to London to pursue my undergraduate degree in law, my then singing teacher encouraged me to consider pursuing musical theatre and to watch more shows,” said the Miri-born who has a law degree from King’s College London.
“I became inspired when I saw that. In musical theatre, you could act, sing and dance all at once, which satisfied my multiple interests, so I decided that was what I wanted to do,” he said when contacted.
What began as curiosity soon evolved into a commitment to storytelling, a craft he describes as complex and rewarding.
“As an actor, you are constantly trying to uncover something about a role that you can never fully grasp. That is what makes it fascinating,” he said, adding that the profession demands resilience in the face of rejection and uncertainty.
Before stepping into the world of Bridgerton, Yong built his foundation on stage and screen through a series of formative roles.
His first professional break came with the United Kingdom and international tour of Miss Saigon, where he learned the discipline and etiquette required of a working actor.
He later took on his first leading role as Kosei in the West End musical Your Lie in April, an experience that required months of preparation and the stamina to carry an entire production.
His transition to screen included a role in the film Barbie, where he gained insight into working on set and collaborating with directors and crew, experiences he said reinforced the importance of professionalism and humility in the industry.
“Forever grateful to be a tiny part of this wonderful film,” he posted on Instagram.
Landing a role in Bridgerton followed a familiar route, with an audition tape submitted through his agent.
Two weeks later, he received confirmation that he had secured the part.
Aware of the show’s global following, Yong approached the role with careful preparation.
“I made sure to watch previous seasons to understand the tone of the show, learn my lines and prepare a rough idea of how I thought the character would behave,” he said.
Yong views his presence in international productions as part of a broader conversation about representation.
Growing up, he looked up to Malaysian figures such as Michelle Yeoh and Henry Golding, whose success inspired him to pursue his own path.
He believed there is also growing space for South-East Asian talent globally, as audiences and creators increasingly value diversity and cross-cultural storytelling.
Still, Yong is candid about the realities behind the scenes.
“This career is about 95% hard work and struggle, and maybe 5% glamour. There is a lot of rejection, and many actors take on other jobs just to get by.
“There is a lot of hustling behind the scenes, and most actors here work other jobs to make ends meet,” he said.
Looking ahead, he has recently wrapped a theatre run of American Psycho and appears in the latest season of the BBC comedy-drama Boarders.
“I am looking to rest a little, and then we will see what happens next in terms of acting. Exciting times!”
