“Slow Horses” may be headed by Gary Oldman’s dishevelled MI5 agent Jackson Lamb but it was Roddy Ho, played by Christopher Chung, who took the reins in Season 5.
The clueless computer nerd with an outsized attitude finally got a storyline matching his main character energy when he found himself romantically pursued by the mysterious Tara (Hiba Bennani), who couldn’t possibly be after anything more than Ho’s hot bod – at least in his mind.
As well as being an opportunity for Chung to flex his dance muscles (literally, with the help of “Slow Horses” choreographer Johnny White), Season 5 upended the classic nerdy stereotype to some extent, from the raw energy of Roddy’s interrogation scene with MI5 boss Diana Taverner (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) to the condom hidden away in his gold Nikes (“He’s always prepared,” laughs Chung).
But this being Roddy, a reality check is never too far away, as he eventually realized when Tara went on the run and left him to face the consequences. Blending ego and empathy, Chung delivered a skilled performance that may well win over Emmy voters in the supporting actor (drama) category this cycle.
Ahead of Season 6 returning to Apple TV this fall, Chung sat down with Variety to talk about the fun he had shooting Season 5, the hidden details that bring Roddy to life and the challenges of playing a character that’s as obnoxious as he is endearing.
