Known For
Acting
Known Credits
81
Gender
Female
Birthday
January 3, 1905 (121 years old)
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
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.
| 2020 | Searching for Anna May Wongas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2020 | Asian Americansas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2019 | Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywoodas (archive footage) | |
| 2013 | Golden Gate Girlsas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2007 | Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legendas Herself (archive footage) | |
| 1961 | Dragon by the Tailas A-Hsing | |
| 1960 | The Barbara Stanwyck Showas A-Hsing | |
| 1960 | Danger Manas Miss Lee | |
| 1960 | Portrait in Blackas Tawny | |
| 1960 | Just Joeas Peach Blossom | |
| 1960 | The Savage Innocentsas Hiku | |
| 1959 | Adventures in Paradiseas Lu Yang | |
| 1956 | The Letteras The Woman | |
| 1955 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earpas | |
| 1954 | Producers' Showcaseas Chinese Woman | |
| 1954 | Climax!as Clerk | |
| 1954 | Climax!as Mayli | |
| 1951 | The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsongas | |
| 1949 | Impactas Su Lin | |
| 1942 | Lady from Chungkingas Kwan Mei | |
| 1942 | Bombs Over Burmaas Lin Ying | |
| 1941 | Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mysteryas Lois Ling | |
| 1939 | Island of Lost Menas Kim Ling | |
| 1939 | King of Chinatownas Dr. Mary Ling | |
| 1938 | When Were You Bornas Mei Lei Ming | |
| 1938 | Dangerous to Knowas Madame Lan Ying | |
| 1937 | Daughter of Shanghaias Lan Ying Lin | |
| 1937 | Hollywood Partyas Herself | |
| 1936 | My China Filmas self | |
| 1934 | Limehouse Bluesas Tu Tuan | |
| 1934 | Tiger Bayas Lui Chang | |
| 1934 | Java Headas Princess Taou Yuen | |
| 1934 | Chu Chin Chowas Zahrat | |
| 1933 | A Study in Scarletas Mrs. Pyke | |
| 1932 | Hollywood on Parade No. A-3as Self | |
| 1932 | Hollywood on Paradeas Self | |
| 1932 | Shanghai Expressas Hui Fei | |
| 1931 | Daughter of the Dragonas Ling Moy | |
| 1930 | Flame of Loveas | |
| 1930 | The Road to Dishonouras Hai-Tang | |
| 1930 | The Flame of Loveas Hai Tang | |
| 1930 | Elstree Callingas Herself / Katherina in Taming of the Shrew | |
| 1929 | Pavement Butterflyas Hai-Tang | |
| 1929 | Piccadillyas Shosho | |
| 1928 | Songas Song | |
| 1928 | Chinatown Charlieas Mandarin's Sweetheart | |
| 1928 | The Crimson Cityas Su | |
| 1928 | Across to Singaporeas Singapore Saloon Girl (uncredited) | |
| 1928 | Souvenirsas The Captain's Chinese Love | |
| 1927 | Streets of Shanghaias Su Quan | |
| 1927 | The Devil Danceras Sada | |
| 1927 | The Chinese Parrotas Nautch Dancer | |
| 1927 | Old San Franciscoas A Flower of the Orient | |
| 1927 | Why Girls Love Sailorsas Delamar (scenes deleted) | |
| 1927 | The Honorable Mr. Buggsas Baroness Stoloff | |
| 1927 | Mr. Wuas Loo Song | |
| 1927 | Driven from Homeas | |
| 1926 | The Desert's Tollas Oneta | |
| 1926 | The Silk Bouquetas Dragon Horse | |
| 1926 | A Trip to Chinatownas Ohati | |
| 1926 | Fifth Avenueas Nan Lo | |
| 1925 | His Supreme Momentas Harem Girl in Play (uncredited) | |
| 1925 | Forty Winksas Annabelle Wu | |
| 1924 | Peter Panas Tiger Lily | |
| 1924 | The Alaskanas Keok | |
| 1924 | The Fortieth Dooras Zira | |
| 1924 | The Thief of Bagdadas The Mongol Slave | |
| 1924 | Lilies of the Fieldas | |
| 1923 | Thundering Dawnas Honky-Tonk Girl | |
| 1923 | Driftingas Rose Li | |
| 1923 | Mary of the Moviesas Anna May Wong (uncredited) | |
| 1923 | The Toll of the Seaas Lotus Flower | |
| 1921 | The White Mouseas | |
| 1921 | Bits of Lifeas Toy Sing, Chin Chow's Wife | |
| 1921 | Shameas Lotus Blossom | |
| 1921 | Mother o' Mineas (uncredited) | |
| 1921 | A Tale of Two Worldsas | |
| 1921 | The First Bornas | |
| 1921 | Outside the Lawas Chinese Girl (uncredited) | |
| 1920 | Dintyas Half Moon | |
| 1919 | The Red Lanternas Eurasian woman (uncredited) |
| 1936 | My China Film...Director | |
| 1936 | My China Film...Producer |