Nancy Kwan - Definition

Nancy Kwan on the cover of Life Magazine 1960

Nancy Kwan (關家蒨, pinyin: Guān Jiāqiàn, Cantonese (linguistics): Kwan Ka Shen, born May 19 1939) was born in Hong Kong to a Chinese father and British/Scottish mother. She was studying dancing at the Royal Ballet School in England when producer Ray Stark spotted her. Then, at the age of 18, she received the starring role of a free-spirited Hong Kong prostitute who captivates artist Robert Lomax (William Holden) in the film adaptation of The World of Suzie Wong (1960).

She followed it up the next year with the hit musical The Flower Drum Song (1961) and became one of Hollywood's most visible Asian actresses. She spent the 1960s commuting between America and Europe for film roles, only to return to her native Hong Kong in 1972 to be with her critically ill father. Upon returning to the USA in 1979, she has had guest appearances and co-starring roles on numerous TV Productions. Today she is politically active as the spokeswoman for the Asian American Voters Coalition.

Selected Filmography

• The World of Suzie Wong (1960)
• The Flower Drum Song (1961)
• The Main Attraction (1962)
• Tamahine (1963)
• Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. (1966)
• The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969)
• Night Creature (1977)

Bibliography

• A Celebration of Life, Memories of My Son.

External links

• Official Site (http://www.nancy-kwan.com/)
• Internet Movie Database:Nancy Kwan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0477088/)