Malaysia’s Yong Zheng Xi on the ‘95% hard work’ behind his Bridgerton fame

Malaysian-born actor Yong Zheng Xi.

Photo: Instagram/yongzhengxi From a law lecture hall to Barbie and later the glitzy ballroom of Bridgerton, Malaysian-born actor Yong Zheng Xi is quietly carving out a place for himself on the international stage.

He appeared in the period drama as Lord Barnaby, a role that marks another milestone in a journey shaped as much by persistence as by talent.

Yong, 32, began as a singer but it was only after moving to London to pursue a law degree that his career trajectory shifted. “When I came to London to pursue my undergraduate degree in law, my then singing teacher encouraged me to consider pursuing musical theatre and to watch more shows,” said the Miri-born who has a law degree from King’s College London. “I became inspired when I saw that.

In musical theatre, you could act, sing and dance all at once, which satisfied my multiple interests, so I decided that was what I wanted to do,” he said.

What began as curiosity soon evolved into a commitment to storytelling, a craft he describes as complex and rewarding. “As an actor, you are constantly trying to uncover something about a role that you can never fully grasp.

That is what makes it fascinating,” he said, adding that the profession demands resilience in the face of rejection and uncertainty.

Before stepping into the world of Bridgerton, Yong built his foundation on stage and screen through a series of formative roles.

His first professional break came with the United Kingdom and international tour of Miss Saigon, where he learned the discipline and etiquette required of a working actor.

He later took on his first leading role as Kosei in the West End musical Your Lie in April, an experience that required months of preparation and the stamina to carry an entire production.

His transition to screen included a role in the film Barbie, where he gained insight into working on set and collaborating with directors and crew, experiences he said reinforced the importance of professionalism and humility in the industry. “Forever grateful to be a tiny part of this wonderful film,” he said on social media.

Before stepping into the world of “Bridgerton”, Yong (left) built his foundation on stage and screen through a series of formative roles.

Photo: Instagram/yongzhengxi Landing a role in Bridgerton followed a familiar route, with an audition tape submitted through his agent.

Two weeks later, he received confirmation that he had secured the part.

Aware of the show’s

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