Anna May Wong

(1905-1961), Actress

Sitter in 36 portraits

Born Wong Liu Tsong in Chinatown, Los Angeles, Wong was the first Chinese American film star and enjoyed a long, varied and international career - making over sixty films. Her first lead role was in the early Technicolor feature The Toll of the Sea (1922). Following performances in Douglas Fairbanks's The Thief of Bagdad (1923) and various 1920s mystery films, she travelled to Europe in 1929. Whilst in London, E. A. Dupont directed Wong in the silent film Piccadilly (1929) from a script and story by Arnold Bennett. She also co-starred with Laurence Olivier on stage in Circle of Chalk (1929). Her most celebrated role was appearing with Marlene Dietrich in Josef von Sternberg's Shanghai Express (1932).



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