Christopher Chung knows how to build intrigue. 

“Sometimes trailers give away all of the good stuff,” says the Australian actor, offering his review of the teaser for Netflix’s new series “My Brilliant Career.” “But I don’t think we did.”

Chung stars in the new screen adaptation of the classic 1901 Australian novel, about a rebellious young woman who defies marriage expectations. Chung steps into the romantic lead role of Harry Beecham, who, in Netflix’s expanded version, faces competition in the form of another suitor, but also the woman’s own ambition.

“To see an East Asian leading romantic part that’s in a period piece, that’s in Australia is — it’s an albatross. You never see them,” Chung says of his attraction to the role. “To step into these shoes in such a profound way and to take on that part — from reading the initial breakdown, that was something that I really wanted to do.”

Beecham was previously portrayed onscreen by the late Sam Neill in the acclaimed 1979 film adaptation. Chung briefly connected with the actor, who passed away earlier this summer, during filming.

“I sent him a video of me in my costume, because Kate Mulvany, who plays my auntie, is very good friends with him. So she managed to get a video message to him from me, and then in turn he sent one back,” Chung says. “[He] gave me his blessing on the role, which was really, really generous and sweet. It was really nice to have him in my corner in that way.”

Chung found out he’d been cast in “My Brilliant Career” in February 2025, during his last week onset for season six of Apple TV+ series “Slow Horses.”

“The first person that I told was Aimee-Ffion Edwards, who plays Shirley Dander, and Ruth Bradley, because they knew how much I wanted the job,” Chung says. “We were in between takes when my agent called to tell me. I came back in, and they were like, ‘Who was that?’ I was like, ‘Guys, I got the job,’ and they flipped out. It was just such a beautiful moment.”

Chung also gamely hypes up the upcoming season of the popular spy series, which premieres in mid-September. “ I think this season is probably a little bit darker, but it’s really action-packed,” he says. “The final episode is so cinematic.”

Chung stars in the show as Roddy Ho, a tech-savvy hacker for spy agency Slough House. Although introduced in season one, Roddy recently became a breakout character and fan-favorite of last season.

“What happens within season five is set off by what Ho does,” Chung says. “The great thing about ‘Slow Horses’ is that you manage to shine a light on different characters in every season, and bring them a little bit more into the focus. In essence it’s an ensemble piece, really,” he adds. “ That’s just the structure of the show, and I think [that] is why people engage so much and wanna see, ‘Oh, who’s gonna step forward a little bit more this season?’ I think you’ll be surprised in season six.”

The actor describes his character in the upcoming season as a “little bit more pious and holier than the rest of them, but under the guise of being quite the sage. Or, as Roddy would put it, kind of like a Yoda Jedi,” Chung says.

Chung’s willing to offer one spoiler: “ I can probably say that I get a tattoo,” he says. “And I think that has a really strong meaning throughout the season, so watch that closely.”

The tattoo, for Chung, was temporary. But he walked away from filming “My Brilliant Career” with one lasting physical change. “They permed my hair for the part. And a year later I’m still perming it,” Chung says. “These parts, they change us.” 

Chung grew up in Australia, where his interest in acting grew out of seeing the touring musicals that would stop through Melbourne and watching his sister perform. He originally aspired to be a singer, but later moved toward drama. “ I don’t think that my parents ever thought that taking me to see musicals or going to watch my sister do drama was going to lead to a career of me doing this,” he says.

In September, Chung will head to the Toronto Film Festival for the season premiere of “Slow Horses,” and shortly after land in Los Angeles for the Emmy Awards, where the show is nominated for nine awards. The actor received a nomination for best supporting actor at the BAFTA TV awards in 2025.

“I’ve been to the Emmys for the past two years. It’s always really exciting,” he says. “Both years we didn’t think we were gonna [win] anything. In the first year, Will [Smith] won for writing, and last year Adam [Randall] won for directing,” he adds. “They have all these websites where they rank or predict who’s gonna win. He was the last percent on Gold Derby — and he took it.”

“There’s nothing more ‘Slow Horses’ than that.”