Henry Rowley on his debut short film role as Julien in ‘Chinese Takeaway’ by Jessica Hof

3 June 2026 | By Molly Lipson

Henry Rowley is best known for his brilliant comedy sketches that have helped him build a huge audience online. They combine observational character comedy with mild mayhem and the result is a searingly real portrayal of, often, the worst kinds of people.

In the last few years, Rowley has been dipping his toe in the TV and film industry, bagging his first series role as Will Gamewell in MGM's Robin Hood. Earlier this year, he shot Chinese Takeaway, the new short by Jessica Hof, where he plays Julien, a French student who moves into a university house share with two girls, who soon discover he's been keeping a pretty big secret.

Here, he speaks to Short Stuff about this move from social media to the big screen, why he was drawn to Chinese Takeaway and what he wants to do next.

Interview by Molly Lipson | Video by Natalia Albin | Video edits by Katy Moore

Henry Rowley models the Short Stuff cap | Photos by Julia Black Jackson