France Nuyen Biography

Fast Facts

• Best known for her role as Liat in the 1958 film "South Pacific․"
• Received the Woman of the Year commendation from the City of Los Angeles in 1989 for working with troubled youths and prostitutes
• Won the Theatre World Award in 1959 for her portrayal of Liat in the Broadway production "The World of Suzie Wong․"
• Attended California State University, Los Angeles and Antioch University, eventually receiving a master’s degree in clinical psychology
• Began working as a seamstress until being noticed by a photographer
• Quote: "When I play a role well, I need to be reassured about it - because I'm not consciously there when it happens․"
• Quote: "When an actor is good․․․it is as if he kills himself in order to bring the character to life․"
• Dated actor Marlon Brando in the 1960s