July 16, 2026

Chin Han | Journey From Lion City

Show Notes

I sit down to chat with actor Chin Han from "Mortal Combat" and Netflix's "Avatar: The Last Airbender" to discuss his career, and personal stories.

We chat about his unique childhood growing up in Singapore, blending local theater and film with a steady diet of American blockbusters, British television, and Hong Kong martial arts epics. Chin talks about his early days deciding whether to fully commit to acting, balancing his parents' hopes for a traditional profession with his genuine love for the arts, and the ultimate push he gave himself after finishing his degree.

Chin also shares some incredible stories from the sets of films, including his overwhelming first day shooting "The Dark Knight" with Christopher Nolan, Gary Oldman, and Aaron Eckhart. We wrap up by talking about his favorite comfort foods – specifically his love for a perfect bowl of rice – and his appreciation for the quiet moments in used bookstores.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[03:12] | Watching Singapore rapidly evolve through the 1970s and 80s

[05:52] | How having parents as educators influenced his early cinematic tastes

[08:00] | The unique mix of global television that fueled his love for storytelling

[15:59] | Discovering heavy, visceral cinema like "The Godfather" at a young age

[20:00] | The fast-paced, guerrilla-style filmmaking of Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion"

[25:52] | Pushing for volume and authenticity in Asian-American on-screen representation

[29:32] | The massive global reach of the American film industry

[33:17] | Working with his cinematic heroes on the set of "The Dark Knight"

[38:45] | Building a performance from the outside in using wardrobe and armor

[42:25] | The Seven Questions