Anna May Wong - due recognition

While Martin’s upstairs recording a comics (sorry, graphics novel) podcast with his American pal, I’m downstairs, sat with a cat on my lap (no change there then) reading about Anna May Wong, who you may have, or not heard of.  

Anna May Wong (1905-1961) was Hollywood’s first Chinese American film star, spanning both the silent and talkie eras, who coincidentally, was very much discriminated against (no surprise there then!). 

She had a real acing talent which was, because of her ethnicity never fully appreciated. Primarily, she was relegated to playing oriental parts and sometimes even being passed over, in favour of a white actress playing an oriental character in ‘yellow face’. She also often got paid less than many ‘white’ actresses, even though they had lesser acting credentials.

That’s said, she did get some good film parts which she played the lead in, such as ‘Picadilly’ (1928) and ‘Daughter of the Dragon (1931), which we are currently watching.

Additionally, she one of Hollywood’s first stars to take up the flapper look and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best dressed women of the 1920s and 30s. 

In 1951, Wong made history with her television show The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong, the first-ever U.S. television show starring an Asian-American.

More recently, her acting talents have been recognised, including, appearing on a US quarter dollar coin in 2022.

If you are interested in old Hollywood history, here’s a link to some information about Anna May Wong..

Here’s hoping you have enjoyed Sunday.