6 Things You May Not Know About "The Whale" Star Hong Chau

Born in Thailand, Chau moved with her parents to the United States as refugees following the Vietnam War, according to Rolling Stone. As she grew up, she lived with her two brothers in subsidized housing and relied on subsidized lunches at school, but these experiences only motivated her to be strong and independent. "My parents didn't baby me, even though I was their only daughter . . . If anything, my mom encouraged me to be really strong and not rely on other people," Chau explained to the magazine.