Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong
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
Popularity 2.286
Birthday 1905-01-03
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, USA
Also Known As Wong Liu Tsong, Anna Mae Wong, 黃柳霜,
Shanghai Express
1932

Shanghai Express

Golden Gate Girls
2013

Golden Gate Girls

Impact
1949

Impact

The Thief of Bagdad
1924

The Thief of Bagdad

A Study in Scarlet
1933

A Study in Scarlet

Why Girls Love Sailors
1927

Why Girls Love Sailors

Portrait in Black
1960

Portrait in Black

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
1941

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery

Piccadilly
1929

Piccadilly

Bombs Over Burma
1942

Bombs Over Burma

Elstree Calling
1930

Elstree Calling

The Toll of the Sea
1923

The Toll of the Sea

Lady from Chungking
1942

Lady from Chungking

Daughter of the Dragon
1931

Daughter of the Dragon

Daughter of Shanghai
1937

Daughter of Shanghai

Mr. Wu
1927

Mr. Wu

Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legend
2007

Anna May Wong - Frosted Yellow Willows: Her Life, Times and Legend

Peter Pan
1924

Peter Pan

Across to Singapore
1928

Across to Singapore

Tiger Bay
1934

Tiger Bay

Song
1928

Song

Chu Chin Chow
1934

Chu Chin Chow

Limehouse Blues
1934

Limehouse Blues

The Devil Dancer
1927

The Devil Dancer

Island of Lost Men
1939

Island of Lost Men

Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
2019

Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood

Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932

Hollywood on Parade No. A-3

Java Head
1934

Java Head

When Were You Born
1938

When Were You Born

Hollywood Party
1937

Hollywood Party

Dangerous to Know
1938

Dangerous to Know

King of Chinatown
1939

King of Chinatown

The Red Lantern
1919

The Red Lantern

Old San Francisco
1927

Old San Francisco

Outside the Law
1921

Outside the Law

Hollywood on Parade
1932

Hollywood on Parade

The Alaskan
1924

The Alaskan

The Chinese Parrot
1927

The Chinese Parrot

The Flame of Love
1930

The Flame of Love

The Road to Dishonour
1930

The Road to Dishonour

Just Joe
1960

Just Joe

His Supreme Moment
1925

His Supreme Moment

Dinty
1920

Dinty

Pavement Butterfly
1929

Pavement Butterfly

Drifting
1923

Drifting

The Savage Innocents
1960

The Savage Innocents

The Crimson City
1928

The Crimson City

Flame of Love
1930

Flame of Love

The Desert's Toll
1926

The Desert's Toll

Fifth Avenue
1926

Fifth Avenue

Bits of Life
1921

Bits of Life

Shame
1921

Shame

The Fortieth Door
1924

The Fortieth Door

Forty Winks
1925

Forty Winks

Streets of Shanghai
1927

Streets of Shanghai

Mary of the Movies
1923

Mary of the Movies

A Trip to Chinatown
1926

A Trip to Chinatown

The Honorable Mr. Buggs
1927

The Honorable Mr. Buggs

Driven from Home
1927

Driven from Home

The Silk Bouquet
1926

The Silk Bouquet

Souvenirs
1928

Souvenirs

Chinatown Charlie
1928

Chinatown Charlie

Lilies of the Field
1924

Lilies of the Field

Thundering Dawn
1923

Thundering Dawn

The First Born
1921

The First Born

A Tale of Two Worlds
1921

A Tale of Two Worlds

The White Mouse
1921

The White Mouse

Danger Man
1960

Danger Man

The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong
1951

The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

Climax!
1954

Climax!

Adventures in Paradise
1959

Adventures in Paradise

The Barbara Stanwyck Show
1960

The Barbara Stanwyck Show

Climax!
1954

Climax!

Asian Americans
2020

Asian Americans