Anna May Wong

In episode 20 of the Heroine City podcast host Lynsey Shaw chats with Professor Yunte Huang about film star, Anna May Wong, and his new book, ‘Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History.’

The Los Angeles born daughter of a laundry owner, Anna May Wong became the first Chinese-American film star of golden age Hollywood at the age of 17. Frustrated and vocal about the limiting roles she was given, as well as the ones she was looked over for, as a woman of colour in the Hollywood system, her reaction was to leave for a successful working stint in Europe. Wong continued to work throughout her four decade career achieving more firsts, as the first Asian-American lead in a TV series in 1951’s The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong. More recently, she became the first Asian-American to appear on US currency.

Yunte and Lynsey discuss Wong's life, achievements, travels and work.

Warning:

This episode contains discussion of suicide.

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