The world of Nancy Kwan
Hong Kong-born Nancy Kwan was catapulted into the international spotlight as the eponymous lead in the movie classic The World of Suzie Wong. Sixty-one years on, Kwan remains just as charming and active, writing and producing films. Faye Bradley reports.
The face of Asia
Kwan's first two films did well, both critically and at the box office. The elegant actress was soon not only a sought-after star, but also a fashion icon. After Vidal Sassoon gave her a stylish bob, the hairstyle came to be known as "the Kwan cut".
Flower Drum Song, in particular, had succeeded in turning the spotlight on Asian actors in Hollywood. "Only then did Hollywood realize that Asians could carry a film box office in America - after so many years of Caucasian actors playing yellowface (roles)," says Brian Jamieson, director of To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey (2009), a docudrama about Kwan.
His primary reason for making the film was "to tell the story of a remarkable Asian American lady who broke the stereotype and paved the way for Asians to finally be accepted in leading roles in Caucasian films".
