Anna May Wong Biography

Fast Facts

• Was the first Chinese American to become a movie star and the first Asian American actress to become popular internationally
• Got her big break as the star of the 1922 film "The Toll of the Sea," which was the first Technicolor feature to be produced in Hollywood
• Made her screen acting debut in the film "The Red Lantern" in 1919
• Began starring in European films at the age of 23 and took on roles in English, German, and French when sound was introduced
• Best known for her role as Hui Fei in "Shanghai Express" and as Shosho in "Piccadilly․"
• Played the role of Tiger Lily in a 1924 film adaptation of J․M․ Barrie's story "Peter Pan․"
• Would often hang around film sets in her home town of Los Angeles and particularly enjoyed films featuring her favorite actor, Crane Wilbur, with whom she would later star with on Broadway in 1930
• Was a dialogue coach for the film "Disputed Passage" in 1939