Zheng Xi Yong got into running just over a year ago, he tells me, after some “bad situationships”. When we speak, he’s just a few weeks away from running a marathon.

This tracks. The Malaysian actor seems determined to succeed once he sets his mind to something—a quality of grit required in an industry as tough as acting, and in a city as competitive as London. 

Yong’s family is originally from Miri, Sarawak, and he grew up between Malaysia and the UK. He studied Law at King’s College London before winning a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music for a Masters in Musical Theatre.

When he told his parents about his intended career change, he was nervous, to put it mildly. “It was a secret I kept for more than a year,” he said. He’d already started covertly preparing for his Masters by attending workshops. “When I finally told them, I broke down. But they were so supportive.”

“They were like, ‘You’ve done a law degree, you have something to fall back on.’ Which obviously wasn’t the idea in my mind. It was never a thing to fall back on. But they were very supportive, and it was a very touching moment.”

Since getting his first break as an ensemble actor in Miss Saigon in 2019, Yong has tackled an impressively diverse range of roles in theatre, TV and feature films. He notched up small parts in Barbie and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. He has a recurring role in the BBC comedy Boarders, and he recently finished a run of American Psycho—the musical—at the Almeida Theatre.

But it’s Yong’s recent turn as Lord Barnaby in Bridgerton that has his fellow Malaysians buzzing. Bridgerton is after all a global phenomenon. He has appeared in one episode to date, as the love interest of Posy Li, and this has launched him into a very specific spotlight of diaspora pride.  

Still, like many actors, Yong sees his career as a “gradual build”. He is 31 years old. Breakout roles tend to obscure the years of background work. The many auditions, the missed parts, and the side hustles. 

“I'm just kind of stubborn-headed about making this work.”

“I'm just kind of stubborn-headed about making this work,” Yong says. “And I do love it. The acting life is hard, but I can't imagine myself at any point now sending out my CV and emailing law firms.”

To pay the bills between jobs, some emerging actors turn to waitering, others to administrative temp jobs. Yong is a part-time singing teacher. He teaches at a performing arts academy, and takes on private clients. This allows him the flexibility to work around his acting jobs.

It’s an industry built on uncertainty and dreams. Yet Yong has found different ways to put himself out there. For the Summer ahead, he is planning to work on writing and performing his own music. “I’ve always wanted to do it, but I think this year I’m finally taking it seriously,” he says.

He’s already started to share some of his original compositions on Instagram, with his keyboard set up in his bedroom. Also on his Instagram: short comedic skits, where he sardonically lampoons everything from the acting life to social media mannerisms. 

“Sometimes I just enjoy making comedy skits. I also do think it can open doors. I think it used to be frowned upon, especially in the UK, especially for highbrow actors. But if you're writing good stuff, why not?” 

When I ask if he’s considered writing scripts, he says he’s played around with some ideas in the past but deleted them. Then he becomes a slightly pensive, somewhat confessional.

“The issue with me as a person, and as a creative, is that my interests are so broad,” he says. “I love acting, singing, dancing, and I also play the piano. I’ll go through a phase of being more focused on one of these. But I've had spikes in my interest in all of these disciplines.”

“I've always been like, ‘Oh, I want to do everything.’ And then I put so much pressure on myself. Like I have to do everything.” 

By the time this article goes to print, Yong will have completed his marathon. But no doubt he’ll continue running. He also goes to the gym a few times a week and “stretches a lot”. As a singer and dancer, he’s used to staying in good shape, honing muscular technique. 

It’s all training for the long term. The creative life is a marathon, not a sprint. From where we’re standing, Zheng Xi Yong is going the distance.