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Anna May Wong

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
81

Gender
Female

Birthday
January 3, 1905 (121 years old)

Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA

Anna May Wong

Biography

Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress whose long career spanned both silent and sound films, television, stage, and radio. Apart from being recognized as the the first Chinese-American movie star, as well as the first Asian-American to become an international star, she was also seen as an acclaimed fashion icon due to her being the one of the early stars to embrace the flapper look.

Born near the Chinatown neighborhood of Los Angeles to second-generation Chinese-American parents, Wong became infatuated with the movies at an early age and quit education to focus on beginning an acting career. After landing parts as uncredited extras in silent films, she had her first leading role in The Toll of the Sea (1922), one of the first movies made in color. Her role in Douglas Fairbanks' The Thief of Bagdad (1924) helped her achieve international stardom. Tired of being offered stereotypical supporting roles, she left Hollywood for Europe in the late 1920s, where she starred in several plays alongside notable names like Laurence Olivier. She made her final silent film in Britain titled Piccadilly (1929), which earned her wide praise. Her first talkie, The Flame of Love (1930), was recorded in three languages: English, French and German. She spent the first half of the 1930s traveling between the United States and Europe for film and stage work. Wong was featured in films of the early sound era, such as Daughter of the Dragon (1931) and Daughter of Shanghai (1937), and with Marlene Dietrich in Josef von Sternberg's Shanghai Express (1932). These films brought her more and more fame, which she used to express her staunch political views. Although she advocated for Chinese-American causes and criticized the stereotypical roles she played, Chinese press and critics continued to view her as a disgrace to the country. After experiencing the most severe disappointment of her career, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer refused to consider her for the leading Chinese role in the film The Good Earth (1937), and instead chose a white German actress in yellowface, Wong spent the a year touring China, visiting her family's ancestral village, and studying Chinese culture. Returning to Hollywood, she starred in several B movies that portrayed Chinese-Americans in a positive light in the late-1930s.

As World War II rolled around, she focused less on her film career and decided to devote her time and money in helping the Chinese against Japanese invasions. Returning to the public eye in the 1950s with several television appearances, she started her own detective mystery television show titled The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong (1951), the first U.S. television show starring an Asian-American. She was scheduled to return to film in Flower Drum Song (1961) but she died of a heart attack.

For decades after her death, Wong was remembered mostly for the stereotypical roles she was given although critics have begun to reevaluate her life and career. In 2022, Wong became the first Asian-American to be depicted on American coinage when the quarters with her image on them went into circulation. In 2023, Mattel released a Barbie doll modeled on Wong in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Known For

Acting

2020Searching for Anna May Wongas Self (archive footage)
2020Asian Americansas Self (archive footage)
2019Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywoodas (archive footage)
2013Golden Gate Girlsas Self (archive footage)
2007Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legendas Herself (archive footage)
1961Dragon by the Tailas A-Hsing
1960The Barbara Stanwyck Showas A-Hsing
1960Danger Manas Miss Lee
1960Portrait in Blackas Tawny
1960Just Joeas Peach Blossom
1960The Savage Innocentsas Hiku
1959Adventures in Paradiseas Lu Yang
1956The Letteras The Woman
1955The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earpas
1954Producers' Showcaseas Chinese Woman
1954Climax!as Clerk
1954Climax!as Mayli
1951The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsongas
1949Impactas Su Lin
1942Lady from Chungkingas Kwan Mei
1942Bombs Over Burmaas Lin Ying
1941Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mysteryas Lois Ling
1939Island of Lost Menas Kim Ling
1939King of Chinatownas Dr. Mary Ling
1938When Were You Bornas Mei Lei Ming
1938Dangerous to Knowas Madame Lan Ying
1937Daughter of Shanghaias Lan Ying Lin
1937Hollywood Partyas Herself
1936My China Filmas self
1934Limehouse Bluesas Tu Tuan
1934Tiger Bayas Lui Chang
1934Java Headas Princess Taou Yuen
1934Chu Chin Chowas Zahrat
1933A Study in Scarletas Mrs. Pyke
1932Hollywood on Parade No. A-3as Self
1932Hollywood on Paradeas Self
1932Shanghai Expressas Hui Fei
1931Daughter of the Dragonas Ling Moy
1930Flame of Loveas
1930The Road to Dishonouras Hai-Tang
1930The Flame of Loveas Hai Tang
1930Elstree Callingas Herself / Katherina in Taming of the Shrew
1929Pavement Butterflyas Hai-Tang
1929Piccadillyas Shosho
1928Songas Song
1928Chinatown Charlieas Mandarin's Sweetheart
1928The Crimson Cityas Su
1928Across to Singaporeas Singapore Saloon Girl (uncredited)
1928Souvenirsas The Captain's Chinese Love
1927Streets of Shanghaias Su Quan
1927The Devil Danceras Sada
1927The Chinese Parrotas Nautch Dancer
1927Old San Franciscoas A Flower of the Orient
1927Why Girls Love Sailorsas Delamar (scenes deleted)
1927The Honorable Mr. Buggsas Baroness Stoloff
1927Mr. Wuas Loo Song
1927Driven from Homeas
1926The Desert's Tollas Oneta
1926The Silk Bouquetas Dragon Horse
1926A Trip to Chinatownas Ohati
1926Fifth Avenueas Nan Lo
1925His Supreme Momentas Harem Girl in Play (uncredited)
1925Forty Winksas Annabelle Wu
1924Peter Panas Tiger Lily
1924The Alaskanas Keok
1924The Fortieth Dooras Zira
1924The Thief of Bagdadas The Mongol Slave
1924Lilies of the Fieldas
1923Thundering Dawnas Honky-Tonk Girl
1923Driftingas Rose Li
1923Mary of the Moviesas Anna May Wong (uncredited)
1923The Toll of the Seaas Lotus Flower
1921The White Mouseas
1921Bits of Lifeas Toy Sing, Chin Chow's Wife
1921Shameas Lotus Blossom
1921Mother o' Mineas (uncredited)
1921A Tale of Two Worldsas
1921The First Bornas
1921Outside the Lawas Chinese Girl (uncredited)
1920Dintyas Half Moon
1919The Red Lanternas Eurasian woman (uncredited)

Production

1936My China Film...Director
1936My China Film...Producer