How a single Chinatown casting call launched a multifaceted cinematic career
In short: From being the first East Asian lead in a British CBBC series to directing BAFTA-nominated shorts, Jessica Henwick has become a mainstay of modern blockbusters. Her journey from a London casting call to the Marvel Cinematic Universe reveals a talent that refuses to settle for easy roles.
Born in 1992 to a Singaporean-Chinese mother and a Zambian-born English father, Henwick’s career began with a serendipitous discovery of a casting call in London's Chinatown. This led to her casting in June 2009 as Bo in the CBBC series Spirit Warriors, a role that made her the first actress of East Asian descent to lead a British television series.
Henwick has become a recognizable face in major franchises, including Game of Thrones, where she played Nymeria Sand from 2015 to 2017, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Colleen Wing in Iron Fist. Curiously, although Daisy Ridley secured the Rey part in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, she had initially tried out for it, yet she still appeared as X-wing pilot Jess Pava.
Beyond acting, Henwick has expanded into writing and directing. Her directorial debut, the smartphone-shot short film Bus Girl (2022), earned a BAFTA nomination and the Mary Pickford prize for female filmmaker. Her versatility is further evidenced by her willingness to master new skills, such as American Sign Language for her role in the 2024 film Cuckoo.
Her recent and upcoming projects include the 2026 film Everybody Wants to Fuck Me and the series How to Make a Killing. Her career trajectory, marked by being named a Variety Top Breakout Star in 2017 and a Hollywood Reporter Rising Star in 2020, suggests a performer who prioritizes narrative depth over simple franchise continuity.
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