Netflix's 'The Night Agent' Interview: Hong Chau

Moviefone speaks with Hong Chau about 'The Night Agent.' "It's got a lot of action and I've never done anything like that before," she said of the series.

Premiering on Matthew Quirk’s novel of the same name.

What is the plot of ‘The Night Agent?’

‘The Night Agent’ follows FBI Agent Peter Sutherland (Luciane Buchanan) and protecting her from the people who murdered her aunt and uncle.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Night Agent?’

‘The Night Agent’ stars Gabriel Basso (‘The Menu’) as Diane Farr.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Hong Chau about her work on ‘The Night Agent,’ the complex plot, her approach to her character, her research, surviving awards season, and how she chooses her projects.

Hong Chau stars in Netflix's 'The Night Agent.'

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Hong, Gabriel Basso and Luciane Buchanan.

Moviefone: To begin with, congratulations on your Oscar nomination and surviving awards season.

Hong Chau: Thank you. It was a really incredible ride. It's kind of crazy that it's come to an end and we're just immediately jumping into something else. It has my head spinning right now.

MF: At this point in your career, how do you choose the roles and projects that you are involved in?

HC: I think it's a combination of people, either directors or showrunners seeing me in something else and just thinking of me for the part in whatever project they have going on. I've been really lucky that the people who are interested in me, who approach me, I'm also interested in what they're doing. It's been really nice that I haven't had anything that I thought was too strange or out of my wheelhouse.

MF: What was it about ‘The Night Agent’ and playing Diane Farr specifically that interested you in this project?

HC: Well, I had just never done anything in this genre. It's a political thriller. It's got a lot of action and I've never done anything like that. I've never played a figure of authority in the government and it was just a nice opportunity to get to play in that world.

Hong Chau as Diane Farr in 'The Night Agent.'

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MF: What kind of research did you do for this series?

HC: I read the book that the show is based off of. Whatever questions I had about how things would normally be handled and what the proper protocol and demeanor would be, I would just ask the writers who are also on set. Because Shawn Ryan really encourages the writers to also act like producers and to have that on set experience. Everybody that I needed was really there for me to use as a resource.

MF: Can you talk about the physical transformation you made for this role? Was the character written that way or are those all specific choices that you made for your performance?

HC: Yes, because I felt like I needed something to help me get into that character. I didn't feel like I naturally have that sort of life experience and gravitas. I think the character's written a little bit older than I am in real life. I just wanted to work towards that and have everything in of her appearance really back up and who this woman is in her career and in her life. I did ask for the hair and some glasses just to give her that appearance of somebody who has been really working hard her entire life and who's just completely devoted to this career. I really enjoyed it. It was a different look for me and I think the producers might have been a little bit scared at first, but we had a wonderful hair department and they were very well versed in wigs. They was able to create something really wonderful for us.

MF: Finally, can you explain what a Night Agent is in the context of the series?

HC: Well, there is a phone in the basement of the White House that is manned by a low level government employee. Usually, the phone never rings and the only time it rings is if there's some trouble. One night, it does ring and it sets off a whole series of events, which hopefully audiences will find really entertaining.

Hong Chau attends the 'The Night Agent' Los Angeles special screening at Netflix Tudum Theater on March 20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Netflix.