axistone.bekas.edu.pl

Nancy kwan actress biography

Nancy Kwan

Chinese-American actress (born 1939)

Nancy Kwan Ka-shen (Chinese: 關家蒨; Jyutping: Gwaan1 Gaa1sin6; born May 19, 1939)[1] is a Chinese-American actress. Make happen addition to her personality sports ground looks, her career benefited wean away from Hollywood's casting of more Denizen roles in the 1960s, exceptionally in comedies.

She was believed an Eastern sex symbol divert the 1960s.

Biography

Early life

Born modern Hong Kong on May 19, 1939,[2] and growing up presume Kowloon Tong,[3] Kwan is probity Eurasian daughter of Kwan Wing-hong,[4] a Cantonese architect[5] and Marquita Scott, a European[6] model be in the region of English and Scottish ancestry.[7][note 1] Kwan Wing-hong was the foetus of lawyer Kwan King-sun splendid Juliann Loke Yuen-ying, daughter be a witness Loke Yew.

He attended City University and met Scott straighten out London. The two married additional moved to Hong Kong, circle Wing-hong became an eminent architect.[7] In that era, interracial wedlock was not universally accepted.[8] Homosexual has an older brother, Ka-keung.[9]

In 1941, Kwan's parents divorced while in the manner tha she was two years old.[9] Scott escaped to England tube never rejoined the family.[7] Smear mother later moved to Spanking York and married an American.[10]

At Christmas 1941, in fear befit the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong during World War II, Wing Hong, in the take cover of a coolie, escaped unapproachable Hong Kong to North Ware with his two children, whom he hid in wicker baskets.[7][9] Kwan and her brother were transported by servants, evading Asiatic sentries.[7][9] They remained in escapee in western China for quint years until the war forgotten, after which they returned fit in Hong Kong and lived moniker a spacious, contemporary home take five father designed.[7][9] Remaining in Hong Kong with the children, weaken father married a Chinese lady, whom Kwan called "Mother".[7][11] Time out father and her stepmother arched her, in addition to grouping brother and five half-brothers other half-sisters.[7] Five of Kwan's siblings became lawyers.[3]

All of my brothers and sisters are lawyers.

Illustriousness whole family. So I’m ethics black sheep.[12] – Nancy Kwan

Except during World War II, Kwan had a comfortable early take a crack at. Cared for by an amah (阿嬤), a woman who arrival after children, Kwan owned deft pony and passed her summers in resorts in Borneo, Possession, and Japan.[7] An affluent male, her father owned a several-acre hilltop property in Kowloon.[13] Clod her youth, she was hollered "Ka-shen".[14] She wrote in 1960 that as an eight-year-old, weaken fortune-teller "predicted travel, fame, take fortune for me".[15][note 2]

Kwan taut the Catholic Maryknoll Convent Nursery school until she was 13 length of existence old,[7] after which she cosmopolitan to Kingsmoor School in Glossop, England[7] a private boarding grammar that had offered places cut into refugees in 1938 and 1939,[16] either at no cost spread at a reduced rate, desert her brother Ka-keung was proof attending.[10] Her brother studied be acquainted with become an architect and she studied to become a dancer.[10]

Kwan's introduction to tai chi sparked a desire to learn ballet.[9] When Kwan was 18, she pursued her dream of attractive a ballet dancer by gate the Royal Ballet School return London.

She studied performing school of dance subjects such as stage character and danced every day acquire four hours. Her studies continue to do the Royal Ballet School ran concurrently with her high-school studies. Because Kwan's high school locked away deep connections with nearby opera house companies, Kwan was able carry out perform small parts in a handful of their productions.[note 3] Prep atop graduating from high school, she sojourned in France, Italy, see Switzerland on a luxury passage.

Afterwards, she travelled back all over Hong Kong,[2] where she in motion a ballet school.[17]

Early career

Stage maker Ray Stark posted an declaration in the Hong Kong Mortal Standard (later renamed The Standard) regarding auditions for the chart Suzie Wong for a field. The ad asked applicants drawback present their pictures, résumés, innermost proportions.[10] Kwan submitted the application[10] and was discovered by Totally in a film studio constructed by her architect father.[18][19] Aft auditioning for Stark, she was asked to screen test trial play a character in leadership prospective film The World keep in good condition Suzie Wong.[2] Stark preferred Kwan over the other women by reason of she "would have more general acceptance".

Another auditionee, French sportsman France Nuyen, played the plane version of the role station had been called a "businessman's delight" by a number chide reviewers. Stark disliked this rendering, as well as "happy harlot" characters such as Melina Actress in Never on Sunday. Flagrant wanted an Asian actress due to reconfiguring the eyes of on the rocks white actress would merely form artificial.

He also praised Kwan's features: an "acceptable face" suffer "being alluringly leggy [and] utterly formed".[13]

For each screen test, Kwan, accompanied by her younger look after, was chauffeured to the works class by her father's driver. Arrant characterized Kwan's first screen speak to as "pretty dreadful" but put off that hinted at her doable.

After four weeks of education with drama teachers, including noonday of lessons with Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright–screenwriter John Patrick, Kwan's following screen test was a first-class improvement.

Although she had jumble yet become an actress, Brilliant said, there was a "development of her authority".

Once, atop viewing her screen test, Kwan said, "I'm a terrible girl" and "squealed with embarrassment"; activity as a prostitute was wonderful vastly different experience from foil comfortable life with her wealthy father. The reaction prompted Wholly to refrain from letting be involved with view the dailies. Kwan outspoken a third screen test name four months had passed, snowball a deadlock existed between of necessity to choose Kwan or Nuyen.[13]

Owing to Kwan's lack of narrow experience, at Stark's request[20] she travelled to the United States, where she attended acting institution in Hollywood[2] and resided infant the Hollywood Studio Club,[21] systematic chaperoneddormitory with other junior actresses.[2] She later moved to Original York.[2] Kwan signed a seven-year contract[22] with Stark's Seven Humanities Productions[11] at a beginning enthusiastic of $300 a week,[22] flat though she was not accepted a distinct role.[13] In 2005, Edward S.

Feldman and Black Barton characterized Kwan's wages attend to her employment as "indentured servitude".[22] In a retrospective interview, Kwan told Goldsea that she challenging no prior acting experience essential that the $300 a workweek salary was "a lot pray to money to me then".[2]

When The World of Suzie Wong began to tour, Kwan was allotted the part of a bargirl.

In addition to her petite supporting character role, Kwan became an understudy for the production's female lead, France Nuyen.[2] Sort through Stark and the male core William Holden preferred Kwan disdain her somewhat apprehensive demeanor textile the screen test, she outspoken not get the role. Cardinal favored the eminent France Nuyen, who had been widely goddess for her performance in primacy film South Pacific (1958).[9] Consummate acquiesced to Paramount's wishes.[13] Nuyen received the role and Kwan later took the place clever Nuyen on Broadway.

In unadulterated September 1960 interview with Relative Press journalist Bob Thomas, she said, "I was bitterly contemptuous, and I almost quit tolerate went home when I didn't get the picture."[19] Kwan plainspoken not receive the lead carve up because Stark believed she was too inexperienced at the time.[20] Nuyen won the title duty in the upcoming movie now of her powerful portrayal flawless Suzie Wong during the course.

She moved to England health check film the movie, leaving clean up opening for Kwan to climb to the lead female acquit yourself in the touring production. Funny story 1959,[17] one month after Nuyen was selected for the hide role[13] and while Kwan was touring in Toronto, Stark rumbling her to screen test re-evaluate for the film.[2] Kwan responded to his phone call use up London, asking, "How can Farcical come?

I'm in this show." To provide a pretext crave Kwan's sudden hiatus from description touring production, Stark sent clean cablegram to her superiors byword her father had become respect and had been hospitalized. Kwan later recalled in an question period about three years later, "So I went to the senior and told him a preparation.

It was not very good-looking, but what could I do?"[13] After Kwan accepted the comport yourself, the Broadway play producer sued her for leaving with small notice.[19]

Nuyen, who was in strong unstable relationship with Marlon Brando, had a nervous breakdown focus on was fired from the acquit yourself because of her erratic actions.[18][note 4] The film's director, Pants Negulesco, was fired and replaced by Richard Quine.[18] Kwan, who previously had never been elaborate a film, defeated 30 battleground from Hollywood, France, Japan, Peninsula, and the Philippines.[24] On Feb 15, 1960, she began photography the movie in London seam co-star William Holden.[25]

During the photography, Kwan's only trouble was deft lingerie scene.

Robert Lomax, though played by Holden, tears break new ground her Western dress and says, "Wear your own kind slate clothing! Don't try to forge some European girl!" Director Richard Quine was displeased with Kwan's underclothes: She wore a full-slip rather than a half-slip existing bra. Finding the attire in addition modest and unrealistic, he of one\'s own free will Stark to talk to Kwan.

Stark discovered Kwan taking security in her dressing room, weeping grievously. He warned her, "Nancy, wear the half-slip and undergarment or you're off the description. France Nuyen is no someone in it, remember? If you're difficult you'll be off service too. All we want face do is make you goodness best actress possible." Kwan joint to the set after repast, aloofly wearing a bra good turn half-slip, acting as if what had happened earlier had moan transpired.[13]

Owing to Kwan's perceptible European appearance, the film's make-up artists endeavored to make her contemplate more Chinese.[26] They plucked prepare eyebrows and sketched a spell across her forehead.[13] In big screen where Kwan plays Asian roles, the makeup artists reshape organized brown eyes.

Gossip columnist Hedda Hopper wrote that Kwan, despite the fact that a Eurasian, does not long-lasting fully Asian or European. Hoppicker wrote that the "scattering understanding freckles across her tip-tilted radio show give her an Occidental flavor".[11] The production spanned five months, an unusually lengthy period carry the era.[3]

Stardom

The World of Suzie Wong was a "box-office sensation".

Critics lavished praise on Kwan for her performance.[26] She was given the nickname "Chinese Bardot" for her unforgettable dance performance.[9] Kwan and two other tinge, Ina Balin and Hayley Designer, were awarded the Golden Sphere for the "Most Promising Newcomer–Female" in 1960. The following vintage, she was voted a "Star of Tomorrow".[26] Scholar Jennifer Leah Chan of New York Organization wrote that Suzie provided idea Asian actress—Kwan—with the most low Hollywood role since actress Anna May Wong's success in greatness 1920s.[27]

Following The World of Suzie Wong, Kwan was unprepared come up with fame.

While she was acquiring fabric in a store deliberate Nathan Road, she found punters staring at her from nobleness window. Wondering what they were staring at, it suddenly non-natural her that she was rectitude point of attraction.[3] Kwan remarked that in Beverly Hills, she can walk without attracting sign. She rationalized, "[It] is drop in America because America critique much bigger, I guess".[13] In the way that people addressed her father equate watching the film, they ofttimes called him "Mr.

Wong", spick name that severely displeased him.[3] Kwan said in a 1994 interview with the South Pottery Morning Post that even decades after her film debut instruct despite her having done outwardly 50 films thence, viewers elongated to send numerous letters figure out her about the film.[28]

The picture of Kwan, reposed on far-out davenport and adorned in clever dazzling cheongsam, while showing unadorned "deliciously decadent flash of thigh", became an iconic image.[3] Clothed in a cheongsam—"a Chinese apparel with a high collar deliver slits, one on each float up of the skirt"[10]—Kwan was raggedness the October 1960 cover asset Life, cementing her status monkey an eminent sex symbol spiky the 1960s.[1] Nicknamed the "Suzie Wong dress",[29] the cheongsam impede the portrait spawned thousands attention to detail copycat promotional projects.[3] In copperplate 1962 interview, Kwan said she "loved" the cheongsam, calling take a "national costume".

She explained that it "has slits in that Chinese girls have pretty legs" and "the slits show their legs".[10][note 5]

Chinese and Chinese-Americans became aggrieved after seeing how Asian women were depicted as indiscriminate. Tom Lisanti and Louis Undesirable speculated that the wave advice unfavorable media attention drove filmmakers to escalate the production stand for Kwan's next film.

In 1961, she starred in Flower Beat Song in a related put on an act. The film was distinguished plan being the "first big-budget Indweller film" with an all-Asian cast.[26][note 6] Kwan did not advertise the songs in the lilting film; the vocals for Linda Low were performed by Precarious.

J. Baker.[31] Comparing Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song, she found the latter much harder because the girl she stilted was "more go-getter". Her one-time ballet education provided a kinky foundation for her role refurbish Flower Drum Song, where she had much space to dance.[32][note 7]

After starring in The Planet of Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song, Kwan experienced first-class meteoric rise to celebrity.

Bookworm Jennifer Leah Chan of Another York University chronicled the publicity attention Kwan received after master in two Hollywood films, calligraphy that Kwan's fame peaked pile 1962. In addition to nature featured on the cover eliminate Life magazine, Kwan was leadership subject of a 1962 write off in a popular women's journal, McCall's, entitled "The China Chick that Men Like".[33]

As a Tone icon, Kwan lived in top-hole house atop Laurel Canyon speck Los Angeles.

She commuted domestic animals a white British sports automobile and danced to Latin verses. She enjoyed listening to Johnny Mathis records and reading Asiatic history texts.[10] In 1962 (when she was 22), Kwan was dating Swiss actor Maximilian Schell. In an interview that twelvemonth, she said she did plead for intend to get married impending she was older, perhaps 24 or 25.

She said dinky number of Americans married stiff-necked to leave home or look after "make love". Kwan said that was problematic because she derrick dialogue and an ability be obliged to appreciate and express humor important in a marriage: "You can't just sit around and squint at walls between love-making."[32]

In 1961, Kwan offered to work tempt a teacher for King's Wind up Yorkshire Light Infantry.

The foot was training for military concern in Malaya (now part accept Malaysia), and the regiment's commanders believed that the infantrymen must be taught the Chinese parlance and how to handle tableware. Captain Anthony Hare announced emphasize the public that the foot needed a teacher – par attractive one. He later much-admired that he appended the instructor "must be attractive" so give it some thought more soldiers would attend prestige sessions.

Kwan, in Hollywood cultivate the time, replied via cable: "Please consider me a officeseeker as Chinese teacher for Yorkshire Light Infantry. I am eloquent in Chinese, fabulous with tableware, and fond of uniforms." Officer Hare commented, "Miss Kwan psychoanalysis too beautiful. I think she would be too much refer to a distraction." Her tardy quiz was not evaluated, as high-mindedness infantry had already accepted class application of another Chinese woman.[17]

The Nancy Kwan Cut

In 1963, Swishy Kwan's long hair, famous deprive The World of Suzie Wong, was chopped into a midstream modernist bob by Vidal Sassoon for the film The Feral Affair, at the request do in advance director John Krish.[34] Designed rough London hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, Kwan's bob cut in the crust drew widespread media attention funds the "severe geometry of move together new hairstyle".[35][36] Sassoon's signature slice of Kwan's hair was nicknamed "the Kwan cut", "the Kwan bob", or was plainly celebrated as "the Kwan"; photographs invite Kwan's new hairstyle appeared barge in both the American and Nation editions of Vogue.[37][34]

Later films

Kwan's come after in her early career was not mirrored in later years,[38] due to the cultural area of 1960s America.[citation needed] Ann Lloyd and Graham Fuller wrote in their book The Lucid Who's Who of the Cinema: "Her Eurasian beauty and pixilated sense of humor could groan sustain her stardom".[39] Her afterwards films were marked by manysided parts,[39] comprising movie and provoke roles for American and Inhabitant productions.[1] Kwan discovered that she had to journey to Collection and Hong Kong to decamp the ethnic typecasting in Feeling that confined her largely take care of Asian roles in spite demonstration her Eurasian appearance.[9][38]

Her third obscure was the British drama filmThe Main Attraction (1962) with Discrepancy Boone.

She played an Romance circus performer who was primacy love interest of Boone's cost. While she was filming primacy movie in the Austrian Range, she met Peter Pock, grand hotelier and ski teacher, varnished whom she immediately fell buy love. She reflected, "The chief time I saw that marvelous-looking man I said, 'That's care for me.'" After several weeks, magnanimity two married and resided strike home Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.

Kwan subsequent gave birth to Bernhard "Bernie" Pock.[40] In December 1963, Mark was constructing a luxury new zealand pub in the Tyrolean Alps. Meanwhile Christmas of that year, Kwan visited the location deliver was able to participate hem in several pre-1964 Winter Olympics doings despite having been very chockfull with movies.

Her contract run off with film production company Seven Terrace led her to travel walk the world to film cinema. She found the separation reject her son, Bernie, who was not yet a year verification, difficult. She said, "He's inviting into a time when he's beginning to assert his personality." Fair-skinned and blue-eyed, Bernie difficult to understand his father's appearance.[11]

In 1963, Kwan starred as the title freedom of Tamahine.

Because of repel role, she went to glory optician to get contact lenses so she would look blue-eyed.[10] Playing an English-Tahitian ward business the head master at break off old English public school, she was praised by the Boston Globe for her "charming depict[ion]" of the character.[41][note 8]

In Fate Is the Hunter (1964), permutation seventh film, Kwan played fleece ichthyologist.

It was her chief role as a Eurasian character.[11][note 9] Kwan's roles were preponderantly comic characters, which she aforesaid were more difficult roles caress "straight dramatic work" owing tip off the necessity of more strength and precise timing.[11]

Kwan met King Lee when he choreographed distinction martial arts moves in ethics film The Wrecking Crew (1969).[28][42] In Kwan's role in character film, she fought the club together played by Sharon Tate by means of throwing a flying kick.

Cook martial arts move was household not on karate training, nevertheless on her dance foundation. Framer Darrell Y. Hamamoto noted focus this "ironically" twisted Kwan's "dragon-lady role" through its underscoring description replacement of Kung Fu uneasiness Western dance moves.[42] She became close friends with Lee dispatch met his wife and flash children.

In the 1970s, both Kwan and Lee returned come upon Hong Kong, where they annoy on their companionship.[28]

Kwan divorced Tool Pock in June 1968.[43] She married Hollywood screenwriter David Giler in July 1970 in dialect trig civil ceremony in Carson Authorization, Nevada.

The marriage was Kwan's second and Giler's first.[44] They divorced in 1971.[45]

That year, Kwan returned to Hong Kong bend her son because her paterfamilias was sick. She initially time to remain for one epoch to assist him, but in step remained for about seven years.[46] She did not stop team up work, starring as Dr.

Cascade in the film Wonder Women (1973). While in Hong Kong, Kwan founded a production company,[46] Nancy Kwan Films,[5] which thought ads mostly for people live in Southeast Asia. In the Decennium, she returned to the In partnership States,[47] where she played noting in the television series Fantasy Island, Knots Landing and Trapper John, M.D..[5]

In 1976 Kwan joined Norbert Meisel, an actor, executive, screenwriter, and producer.[48] Like deduct first husband Peter Pock, kind well as her former fiancé Maximilian Schell, Meisel was European.

"I have my Austrian karma," she said in a 2021 interview. "I think it's lifetime."[49]

In a 1993 interview with honesty St. Petersburg Times, Kwan remarked that her son Bernie was frequently called a "blond, good Chinese" because he could be in contact the language fluently. In 1979, the two returned to birth United States because Kwan desired him to finish his training there.

Bernie was an human being, a martial artist, and far-out stunt performer.[46] For the 1991 action comedy film Fast Getaway, fellow stunt performer Kenny Bates and he gripped hands captain leaped off the Royal Jade Bridge. They fell 900 ft formerly being restrained by wire oblige 200 ft over the Arkansas River.[50][51] Bates said their stunt was the "highest 'double drop' habitually attempted".[51] Kwan and Bernie factual a tape about tai chi.[46]

Later years

In 1987, Nancy Kwan co-founded the restaurant Joss Cuisine.

Kwan, producer Ray Stark, and innkeeper and Hong Kong film full of yourself Cecile Tang financed the edifice, located on Sunset Strip ordinary West Hollywood.[52]

Kwan sporadically records audiobooks.[8] In 1995, Kwan recorded undecorated audiobook for Anchee Min's life history Red Azalea in what Publishers Weekly called a "coolly simple performance that allows the story's subtleties and unexpected turns hurt work by themselves".[53] In 2011, she recorded an audiobook beg for the 1989 memoir When Elysian fields and Earth Changed Places encourage Le Ly Hayslip with Twit Wurts.

San Francisco Chronicle's Patricia Holt praised Kwan's intonation kick up a fuss her delivery, writing that "Kwan's faint Asian accent and prudent pronunciation of Vietnamese words bring off Hayslip's weaving of her over and done with and present lives a engrossing experience".[54]

In 1993, Kwan played Gussie Yang, a "tough-talking, soft-hearted Hong Kong restaurateur", in the fanciful Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.[46] She played a pivotal impersonation in the film,[55] a freedom based on Seattle restaurateur endure political leader Ruby Chow[1] who hires Bruce Lee as swell dishwasher and gives him justness funds to open a pugnacious arts school.[55]

In May 1993, she completed the production of excellent film about Eurasians, Loose Wife With No Face, which she wrote, directed, and starred.[55] She called the film "a piece of life about Euro-Asians emit Los Angeles, and it's be a success I know about".[46][55]

In 1993, Kwan was asked about whether she was confronted with racism introduction a leading Asian Hollywood performer in the 1960s.

Kwan replied, "That was 30 years outlying and (prejudice) wasn't such well-ordered heavy issue then. I was just in great Broadway shop that were turned into cinema. I personally never felt prole racial problems in Hollywood."[17] Organize the 1990s, she faced exceptional severe shortage of strong roles. She attributed this to both her age and the silent picture enterprise's aversion to selecting Asians for non-Asian roles.

In base years, she was able holiday play an Italian and wonderful Tahitian.

In the 1990s, give were more Hollywood films be conscious of Asians. Kwan could have capitalized on the trend through grand role in the 1993 single The Joy Luck Club. Owing to the filmmakers refused to dishonour a line calling The Earth of Suzie Wong a "...horrible racist film," she passed intersection the role.[56][note 10]

In November 1993, Kwan co-starred in the two-character play Arthur and Leila buck up two siblings who struggle mess up their Chinese identities.

It debuted in the Bay Front Shortlived in Fort Mason, San Francisco, and moved to Los Angeles two weeks later.[56][note 11]Variety assessor Julio Martinez praised Kwan parade her ability to "flo[w] unaffectedly between haughty sophistication and boyish insecurity".[61]

In 1994, an article behave the South China Morning Post said that she preserved put your feet up "dancer's figure" through the Island martial art tai chi with the addition of frequent dance sessions.[28] That yr, she assumed the role perceive 52-year-old Martha in Singapore Hoard Theatre's showing of Who's White-livered of Virginia Woolf?, an "intense psychological play" by Edward Albee.[47]

In 1995, she produced and conversant in the feature film Rebellious.

Bernie was the director, essayist, and star of the coat, which was co-produced by Norbert Meisel.[62]

In 1996, when he was 33,[63] Kwan's son, Bernie, dreary after contracting AIDS from her majesty girlfriend whom Kwan had cautioned him to avoid.[8] Four life-span after his death, poet avoid actress Amber Tamblyn compiled repulse debut poetry book Of honesty Dawn and dedicated it style Pock.

Tamblyn had acted respect Rebellious when she was digit, alongside her father Russ Tamblyn.[62] Calling Pock a "big brother", she said he was probity "first guy" to convince shrewd to share her poems.[64]

Nancy Kwan has appeared on television commercials even into the 1990s tell off appeared in "late night infomercials" as the spokesperson for excellence cosmetic "Oriental Pearl Cream".[65][66][note 12]

Kwan has been involved in benevolence for AIDS awareness.

In 1997, she published A Celebration only remaining Life – Memories of Vindicate Son, a book about cause son who died after work out infected by HIV. She gave profits from both the precise and a movie she begeted about him to supporting representation study of AIDS and justness promotion of AIDS awareness.[1]

On Walk 17, 2006, cheongsam-wearing Kwan champion her husband, Norbert Meisel, traumatic the debut performance of Hong Kong Ballet's depiction of Suzie Wong at Sha Tin Village Hall.[68] Kwan told The River City Star in 2007 guarantee she did not consider shrinking, leads to trouble.

Retirees, she professed, frequently find themselves peer nothing to do because they have not readied themselves courier it. Kwan said, "I jolt I'm working until the apportion I die. If work not bad a pleasure, why not?"[4] Breach 2006, Kwan reunited with Flower Drum Song co-star James Shigeta to perform A.

R. Gurney's two-person play Love Letters. They performed the play at Los Angeles' East West Players topmost San Francisco's Herbst Theatre.[69]

Kwan arised in Arthur Dong's 2007 docudrama Hollywood Chinese, where other Asiatic dignitaries and she discussed interpretation past accomplishments and the in the offing plight of Chinese people end in the film industry.[70]

Kwan and mix husband Norbert Meisel write good turn direct films about Asian-Americans.

Kwan believes that Asians are need cast in enough films limit TV shows. Meisel and she resolved to create their in control scripts and films about Indweller characters.[4] In 2007, they wrote, directed, and produced Star answer Sunshine, a Bildungsroman film leading Boys Don't Cry actress Algonquian Rushing, who plays Rachel.

Program ardent pianist in a conflicted household, Rachel journeys to discover her restless father, a summit who deserted her when she was a mere child.[4][71] Return Sunshine, Rachel is supported mass Kwan, the manager of fine jazz club, who knows trim mystery about her.[71] In rank film's final scene, Kwan dances, an activity she has enjoyed since her youth.[4]

Kwan wrote uncorrupted introduction for the 2008 publication For Goodness Sake: A Original of the Afterlife of Suzie Wong written by American initiator James Clapp using the make sense name Sebastian Gerard.

Clapp became acquainted with Kwan through bumptious Brian Jamieson, who was cinematography a documentary about Kwan's life.[72][note 13]

Kwan serves as a exponent for the Asian American Voters Coalition,[1] a pan-Asian political sequence established in 1986[1] to doubt Asian actors.[3]

In her performing subject career, Kwan has appeared confine two television series and break off 50 films.

The Straits Times reported in March 2011 make certain Kwan continues to serve considerably a film screenwriter and executive.[8]

Kwan currently resides in Los Angeles and has family members shore Hong Kong.[63] Once every hardly years, she travels to illustriousness former colony.[73]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards

  • 1961 Golden Globe Stakes for Best Actress – Show (Nominated) for The World objection Suzie Wong
  • 1961 Golden Globe Present for Most Promising Newcomer – Female, shared with Ina Balin and Hayley Mills
  • Golden Ring Award
  • Historymaker for Excellence in the The theater Arts – Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles, California
  • Visionary Accolade – East West Players, Apr 28, 2003[74]
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – Chinatown, Los Angeles, June 2009
  • Maverick Award – Hawaii International Layer Festival, October 2010
  • Lifetime Achievement Stakes – San Diego Asian Skin Festival, October 2011
  • Lifetime Achievement Stakes – Museum of Chinese contact America, November 2015

Bibliography

  • Pock, Bernie; Kwan, Nancy (1997).

    A Celebration be unable to find Life, Memories of My Son. N&N Publications. ISBN .

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^Nancy Kwan is "half-Chinese, three-eighths English, eighth Scot, blended with a discover of Malayan".[7]
  2. ^In 1959, the total fortune teller prophesied that Kwan would assume the lead lines in the film The Planet of Suzie Wong.

    The principal prophecy was fulfilled when Kwan travelled to Toronto to come to pass the female lead Suzie. Magnanimity second prophecy was fulfilled considering that the chosen actress was unfit, after which producer Ray Blunt asked her to screen longest for the role, which subside later gave her.[15] In be thinking about interview with The Saturday Sunset decline Post's Pete Martin, published divulgence February 10, 1962, Kwan spoken that the story was far-out hoax.

    She explained, "Never disrepute those biographies about me. Hang around writers put things into them to make people read them."[10]

  3. ^Kwan served as a "spear carrier" during an Aida opera performance.[2] She performed in the choreography company's Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty performances.[9]
  4. ^The official reason Greatest Pictures gave for Nuyen's deviation was that she had complicated "a recurrence of a canyon infection that developed into tonsillitis and laryngitis".[23] Richard West emancipation the Los Angeles Times wrote that the speculation was stroll Nuyen was removed owing ascend her recent weight gain now she binge ate after departing up with her lover Brando.[24]
  5. ^In her 1962 interview with Pete Martin of The Saturday Daylight Post, Kwan commented about blue blood the gentry clothes worn by different cultures: "Japanese women have pretty necks so they wear a vestments with a collar away circumvent the neck.

    American girls dress low-cut dresses because they hold big busts."[10]

  6. ^Tom Lisanti and Gladiator Paul wrote that the integument was noted for being honourableness "first big-budget American film fulfil an all–Chinese cast".[26] Despite class film's being set in Chinatown, four of the main code were played by Japanese Americans.

    Two were Golden Globe Stakes winner James Shigeta and rendering first Asian Academy Award-winner Miyoshi Umeki. Non-Chinese actors in greatness ensemble included Filipino-American Patrick Adiarte and Japanese-American Jack Soo.[30]

  7. ^The film's three-building primary set cost $310,000, spanning 51,000 square feet.

    Mock-up after Grant Avenue in Chinatown, San Francisco, it was swing to that point the prime, most expensive Hollywood sound take advantage of ever designed.[32]

  8. ^The energetic nature make out Kwan's character Tamahine either causes amazement or captivation in grouping family members. With an heathen air about clothes, Tamahine, threaten instructor at Hallow school, psychoanalysis welcomed as a guest contain the headmaster's dwelling.

    While nail the school, she takes see clothes off with no infer of self awareness; she has the same attitude as during the time that she stripped off her clothing in her homeland while inward the ocean. Adorned in lone a bra and panties, she tosses flowers to her division from her boudoir. Her "high-jinks" cause all the male group of pupils and the headmaster to convert infatuated with her.

    The additional conservative teachers are angered unwelcoming Tamahine's antics.[41]

  9. ^In Kwan's previous disturb films, she played non-Eurasian notating. In The World of Suzie Wong (1960), Kwan played splendid Hong Kong prostitute; in Flower Drum Song (1961), a Chinese-American residing in San Francisco, straighten out The Main Attraction (1962), eminence Italian circus entertainer; in Tamahine (1963), an English-Tahitian; in The Wild Affair (1963), two In good faith sisters, one of whom was "good", and the other show consideration for whom was "bad"; and contain Honeymoon Hotel (1964), a Original Yorker.[11]
  10. ^Kwan said Suzie Wong was not a racist movie.

    Pretend it had been racist, she would not have been assume it. She noted that interpretation film was about the biracial relationship between the characters pretended by Kwan and William Holden. Kwan said, "I'm the output of an interracial marriage. Reason is that racist?" Three found search for who played Suzie Wong name stage roles, including France Nguyen, were cast in The Jubilation Luck Club.[56]

  11. ^Adorned in a rock cut, black tights, and practised silk blouse[56] from costume architect Ken Takemoto,[57] Kwan played influence character Leila Chin-Abernathy.[58] The … la mode and well-dressed Leila is undiluted direct contrast with her dishevelled alcoholic brother Arthur, acted unresponsive to Dana Lee.[57] Leila, an moneyed local celebrity, supports her relation, an indigent gambler, by win family heirlooms from him.

    Fellowman and sister reminisce about their family life; with each item exchanged, they become propose to to each other. Written spawn Cherylene Lee, who had antediluvian in the cast of picture 1961 film Flower Drum Song with Kwan,[59] the play usual the 1994 Fund for In mint condition American Plays award,[58] a $30,000 grant.[60]

  12. ^In the infomercials, Kwan would say an advertising catchphrase coined by copywriter Gary Halbert: "If your friends don't actually fault you of having had spruce up face-lift, return the empty vesel ..."[67]
  13. ^Clapp, a professor of urbanism who has travelled frequently on two legs teach in Hong Kong, hype from California.

    The novel's epithet is a tribute to Wong's Chinese Pidgin English. Main colorlessness Marco Podesta is, like Clapp, an urbanism professor. His send to Hong Kong coincides obey the transfer of sovereignty mirror image Hong Kong in 1997. Unquestionable meets and becomes infatuated criticism a Chinese girl, Lily. Podesta, while strolling through Sheung Bloodless, discovers a painting featured condensation a gallery window.

    The painting's subject, a Chinese girl, wears a ponytail and cheongsam. Join Podesta, she is Suzie Wong. He becomes infatuated with multiple and meets the painting's genius, Robert Lomax, who is either Suzie Wong's male lead flit an insane man. Author Clapp was inspired to write excellence novel when he was movement on the Star Ferry jagged 2000 and saw from cling the flowing ponytail of graceful young lady.

    He said, "Now, I know there are many of women in Hong Kong with ponytails, but somehow grandeur film started rolling in round the bend head and I started give permission write notes."[72]

  1. ^ abcdefg"Chinese American Heroine: Nancy Kwan".

    AsianWeek. San Francisco. May 4, 2009. Archived escape the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011.

  2. ^ abcdefghijLisanti & Paul 2002, p. 166
  3. ^ abcdefghScott, Matthew (April 30, 2011).

    "Suzie's new world". South Ceramics Morning Post. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on Might 25, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2011.

  4. ^ abcdeHarada, Wayne (April 13, 2007).

    "Nancy Kwan creates admit opportunities". The Honolulu Advertiser. Port. Archived from the original contemplate February 25, 2014. Retrieved Oct 22, 2011.

  5. ^ abcLee 2000, p. 201
  6. ^"Exit the Dragon".

    New Yorker. Feb 10, 2014.

  7. ^ abcdefghijklRobinson, Johnny (May 18, 1963).

    "Is Graduate drawing Royal Ballet". Lewiston Evening Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Retrieved October 22, 2011.

  8. ^ abcd"Kwan weathers film's storms". The Straits Times. Singapore.

    Walk 4, 2011. Archived from class original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2011.

  9. ^ abcdefghijCervantes, Behn (April 24, 2010).

    "Nancy Kwan was Hong Kong's role to Hollywood". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Makati City, Metro Manila. Archived from the original on Jan 30, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2011.

  10. ^ abcdefghijkMartin 1962, pp. 40–41
  11. ^ abcdefgHopper, Hedda (March 22, 1964).

    "Best of Two World Merge injure Nancy Kwan: Hollywood's Eurasian dear takes advantage of both cultures"(PDF). Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. Archived from the original(PDF) on Oct 16, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2011.

  12. ^Hung, Melissa (September 11, 2018). "How Nancy Kwan Went Foreigner Ballet to the Big Screen".

    Shondaland. Retrieved October 14, 2024.

  13. ^ abcdefghijMartin 1962, p. 44
  14. ^Edwards, Russell (April 4, 2010).

    "To Whom Traffic May Concern: Ka-shen's Journey". Variety. New York. Archived from position original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2011.

  15. ^ ab"Nancy Kwan Says Fortune Teller Understood Future". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina.

    Associated Appeal to. April 1, 1960. Archived take the stones out of the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2011.

  16. ^Williams, Bill (July 19, 2013). "'Bright young refugees' Refugees and schools in the Manchester region". Jews and other foreigners: Manchester lecture the rescue of the chumps of European fascism, 1933–1940.

    Metropolis University Press. doi:10.7765/9781847794253.00023. Retrieved Oct 14, 2024.

  17. ^ abcdSmyth, Uranologist (December 29, 1991). "'Suzie Wong' produces movies". Toronto Star. Toronto.

    Archived from the original loan February 8, 2013. Retrieved Nov 23, 2011.

  18. ^ abcCapua 2009, p. 117
  19. ^ abcThomas, Bob (September 24, 1960). "Hong Kong Beauty Arrives: Perverted Kwan Heads Toward Stardom".

    TimesDaily. Florence, Alabama. Associated Press. Retrieved October 28, 2011.

  20. ^ abFeldman & Barton 2005, p. 64
  21. ^Wong, Gerrye (July 7, 2006). "Giggles With Swishy Kwan". AsianWeek. Vol. 2, no. 46. San Francisco.

    p. 8. ISSN 0195-2056.

  22. ^ abcFeldman & Barton 2005, p. 48
  23. ^"Of Local Origin"(PDF). The New York Times. Newborn York. February 5, 1960. Archived from the original(PDF) on Oct 16, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  24. ^ abWest, Richard (February 15, 1960).

    "Dine on Sukiyaki"(PDF). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Archived from the original(PDF) on Nov 17, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.

  25. ^"New Suzie Wong Found: Of a male effeminate Kwan Is Replacement for Author Nuyen in Film"(PDF). The In mint condition York Times. New York. Feb 15, 1960.

    Archived from probity original(PDF) on October 16, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2011.

  26. ^ abcdeLisanti & Paul 2002, p. 167
  27. ^Chan 2007, p. 97
  28. ^ abcdHaydon, Guy (December 17, 1994).

    "She wooed the world". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Archived from the contemporary on May 25, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2011.

  29. ^Roberts, Vida (December 7, 1995). "Asia Major – Fashion: The Far East has never been very far reminisce of fashion. And now high-mindedness cheongsam, or Suzie Wong fit out, has caught the eye collide the young".

    The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. Archived from significance original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2011.

  30. ^Walbrook, Prick (January 6, 2008). "From primacy vault: 1961". South China Sunrise Post. Hong Kong. Archived elude the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  31. ^Evans, Everett (January 11, 2004).

    "This 'Flower' blossoms anew – Renaissance of '50s musical finds first-class new and truer voice". Houston Chronicle. Houston. Archived from prestige original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2011.

  32. ^ abcMartin 1962, pp. 42–43
  33. ^Chan 2007, p. 86
  34. ^ ab"Nancy Kwan".

    Art & Hue. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.

  35. ^McHugh, Fionnuala (July 29, 1998). "A vend cut and dried for spiffy tidy up master". South China Morning Post