Who is Gemma Chan? Humans star, Jack Whitehall’s former girlfriend and Oxford law graduate
GEMMA Chan is a model turned actress, but she prefers to be known simply as an actress — modelling was just something she did to pay for drama school after abandoning a career in law.
The Londoner's "sensible" parents were concerned about the change in career direction, but Gemma soon proved she had made the right decision. Here's all we know.
Who is Gemma Chan, and what's her background?
Gemma Chan was born November 29, 1982 - making her 35 years old.
Her maternal grandparents, a nurse and a teacher, fled Communist China with their two children just before the Cultural Revolution. They wound up in Greenock, Scotland, the first Chinese family to live there.
Gemma's mum worked as a pharmacist at Guy's Hospital in London, where Gemma was born.
Meanwhile, her dad is an engineer from Hong Kong.
She grew up near Sevenoaks, Kent, with her little sister. As a youngster, Gemma swam competitively at a national level, learned ballet and played piano and violin. She is an avid football fan and has supported Arsenal all her life.
Speaking on the Lorraine show Gemma revealed that some fans are SO convinced she is a real-life Synth they approach her and try to switch her off under the chin.
The star's theatre credits include London productions of Turandot, The Sugar-Coated Bullets of the Bourgeoisie, Yellow Face and Our Ajax.
Who has Gemma dated?
Gemma and comedian Jack Whitehall started dating in 2011 when they met on the set of Fresh Meat.
On their first date, they went to Nando's (and split the bill).
However, the Sun exclusively revealed in December 2017 that the pair parted ways after struggling to make their relationship work around their hectic filming schedules.
A source said: “Jack and Gemma secretly pulled the plug on their relationship but remain good friends.
“For the past couple of years, they’ve both been finding it difficult to make proper time for one another and, with their schedules showing no signs of slowing down, have decided to go their separate ways.
“It’s sad but they remain supportive of one another.”