Anna May Wong

2022 - 10 - 18

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NPR"

Anna May Wong will become the first Asian American to be on U.S. ... (NPR)

Dubbed Hollywood's first Asian American movie star, Wong championed the need for more representation and less stereotypical roles for Asian Americans on ...

The U.S. Mint is expected to produce [more than 300 million](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/us/anna-may-wong-quarter.html?partner=slack&smid=sl-share) Wong quarters at facilities in Philadelphia and Denver. [celebrates](https://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1044023494/maya-angelou-sally-ride-anna-may-wong-historical-women-quarters-us-mint) five female trailblazers in American history each year between 2022 and 2025. Mint will begin shipping coins featuring actress Anna May Wong on Monday, the first U.S. Dubbed Hollywood's first Asian American movie star, Wong championed the need for more representation and less stereotypical roles for Asian Americans on screen. "We are not like that." For Shanghai Express, Wong earned $6,000 while Marlene Dietrich made $78,166. [the first woman to design a coin](https://americanart.si.edu/artist/laura-gardin-fraser-1648) for the U.S. Wong is featured on the fifth coin released this year. She told the Anna May Wong will become the first Asian American to be on U.S.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Anna May Wong Will Be the First Asian American on US Currency (The New York Times)

The film star had a trailblazing career, but also struggled to secure meaningful roles as an Asian American actress in Hollywood a century ago.

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). We’ll be sharing more travel tips in upcoming editions of the newsletter. At the busy intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street was a star highlighting in gold “Anna May Wong,” an honor the actress was awarded in 1960, one year before her death. In her speech, Liu thanked Wong for charting a path for her and other actors. Representative Barbara Lee, the California Democrat who sponsored a bill promoting the coins’ creation, said in a statement that she was proud to have led an effort honoring the “phenomenal” women who are often overlooked in American history. “Decades before the civil rights-generated category of Asian American existed, Wong grappled with how to be an Asian American actress,” Shirley Jennifer Lim, a Stony Brook University history professor, wrote in [her book about Wong’s career](https://tupress.temple.edu/books/anna-may-wong). (Wong famously said that she had “died a thousand deaths” because she was killed in every film she acted in.) (The actress who eventually got the role, Luise Rainer, Wong was widely considered to be one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, but often could not play romantic leads because of laws prohibiting actors of different races from kissing each other onscreen. “I would worm my way through the crowd and get as close to the cameras as I dared. Mint is expected to create more than 300 million Wong quarters, and she will become the first Asian American to be on U.S. Over the decades-long career that followed, she rose to become the first Asian American film star in Hollywood.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Hill"

Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong to be first Asian American on ... (The Hill)

The coin honors May's trailblazing career, which was limited due to stereotyping and racism. Hollywood's first Chinese American movie star Anna May Wong will be ...

“The fifth coin in our American Women Quarters Program honors Anna May Wong, a courageous advocate who championed for increased representation and more multi-dimensional roles for Asian American actors,” said Mint Director Ventris C. The United States Mint facilities in Philadelphia and Denver will begin to ship quarters with Wong on Oct. A design featuring Wong surrounded by bright lights with her head resting on her hand, will be placed on the tails side of some U.S.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Anna May Wong will be 1st Asian American featured on U.S. currency (NBC News)

Wong, who is considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, is the fifth and final woman to be individually featured on a quarter this year.

She was cast in her first role at 14 as an extra in the film “The Red Lantern” and continued to take on smaller parts until her lead role in “The Toll of the Sea” in 1922. She continues to inspire actors and filmmakers today,” the U.S. “She is remembered as an international film star, fashion icon, television trailblazer, and a champion for greater representation of Asian Americans in film. [said in a ](https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-to-begin-shipping-fifth-american-women-quarters-program-coins-october-24)statement. [will enter general circulation](https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-to-begin-shipping-fifth-american-women-quarters-program-coins-october-24) on Monday, will feature President George Washington on one side and Wong on the other. Wong, who is considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, is the fifth and final woman to be individually featured on a quarter this year.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Actor Anna May Wong will be first Asian American featured on U.S. ... (CBS News)

Wong will appear on the coin as part of the U.S. Mint's American Women Quarters Program.

In 1951, she became the first Asian American woman to lead a U.S. television show, which was called "The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong," the U.S. Over the course of her career, Wong appeared in more than 60 movies, including one of the first films made in Technicolor, achieving international recognition. Her family gave her the English name Anna May. 3, 1905, in Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Mint's American Women Quarters Program](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/here-are-the-women-who-will-be-appearing-on-quarters-in-2022/), which was first announced in January 2022 and features women who have made contributions in a variety of fields including suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space and the arts.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "PEOPLE.com"

Trailblazing Movie Star Anna May Wong Will Be the First Asian ... (PEOPLE.com)

Anna May Wong, considered to be the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, is getting her own quarter.

[The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/us/anna-may-wong-quarter.html), the U.S. [died in 1961](https://people.com/movies/google-honors-chinese-american-movie-star-anna-may-wong/), got the first leading role of her career in the 1922 silent film The Toll of the Sea. [championed for increased representation](https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-to-begin-shipping-fifth-american-women-quarters-program-coins-october-24) and more multi-dimensional roles for Asian American actors," Mint Director Ventris C. The actress went on to make history in 1951 with her role in The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong, becoming the first Asian American lead in a U.S. "This quarter is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of accomplishments by Anna May Wong, who overcame challenges and obstacles she faced during her lifetime." The late star's quarter, which is set to begin shipping on Oct.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Axios"

Anna May Wong becomes first Asian American featured on U.S. ... (Axios)

Wong, who is known as the first Chinese American Hollywood star, appeared in over 60 movies throughout her career.

[Wong Liu Tsong](https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/anna-may-wong-americas-first-chinese-american-star) in Los Angeles Chinatown in 1905, 23 years after the U.S. [over 60 movies throughout her career](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0938923/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm), will go into circulation starting Monday, [according to the U.S. - Wong died in 1961 of a heart attack at 56 years old. - She was also shut out of playing lead roles in romance films due to anti-miscegenation laws at the time that barred interracial marriages in the U.S. She did return to the U.S. [opened doors for Asian actors today](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/05/lucy-liu-walk-of-fame-speech#:~:text=On%20Wednesday%2C%20Lucy%20Liu%20became,the%20way%20for%20her%20career.). Gibson said in a statement. [The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong](https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/the-search-for-the-gallery-of-madame-liu-tsong.html)," which made her the first Asian American to lead a TV show in the U.S. [famously said](https://twitter.com/sagaftra/status/1258799515026456576). Mint](https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-to-begin-shipping-fifth-american-women-quarters-program-coins-october-24). [honoring distinguished women and their contributions](https://www.axios.com/2022/01/10/maya-angeou-quarters-mint). [Economy & Business](https://www.axios.com/economy-business)

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Variety"

Hollywood Star Anna May Wong to Be First Asian American ... (Variety)

The U.S. Mint has begun printing quarters with late actress Anna May Wong's likeness on it in a new initiative that includes writer Maya Angelou and ...

Angelou was the first Black woman featured on U.S. The printed quarter shows an image of Wong resting on her hand, serving as a tribute to what most consider the first Chinese American movie star. [Anna May Wong](https://variety.com/t/anna-may-wong/), star of movies such as “Shanghai Express,” by making her the first Asian American featured on U.S.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Hyperallergic"

Anna May Wong Becomes the First Asian American on US Currency (Hyperallergic)

Regarded as Hollywood's first Chinese American movie star, Wong faced racism and discrimination during her career.

[Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882](https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/anna-may-wong-chinese-american-perpetual-foreigner) prohibited the immigration of Chinese workers, and anti-miscegenation laws forbade the on-screen representation of interracial marriages and intimacy. Most devastatingly, she [lost](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/us/anna-may-wong-quarter.html?) the role of a fictional Chinese character in an adaptation of Pearl S. [confessed](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/us/anna-may-wong-quarter.html?) that she would skip school just to ogle at assistants, actors, directors, and cameramen. Each year, as part of the program, up to five new coin reverse designs will be announced celebrating women who have made significant contributions to American history. [Ken Lum Holds Up a Mirror to the World ](https://hyperallergic.com/770294/ken-lum-holds-up-a-mirror-to-the-world/) [Sandra Payne’s Bling Manifesto](https://hyperallergic.com/764115/sandra-paynes-bling-manifesto/) Despite the challenges Wong faced, her career in acting was prolific. [Nine NYC Museum Restaurants to Dine at (or Skip)](https://hyperallergic.com/770009/nine-nyc-museum-restaurants-to-dine-at-or-skip/) Despite the celebrity she gained from her performance in that role, and the critical acclaim she received, she found it difficult to secure further leading roles because of Hollywood’s reluctance to cast an Asian actress. Wong is the fifth woman to be recognized as part of the American Women Quarters Program, which launched this year and will continue through 2025. Beginning next Monday, October 24, the United States Mint will begin making quarters imprinted with the face of Anna May Wong, commonly regarded as Hollywood’s first Chinese-American movie star. She will be the first Asian-American person to be honored on any US currency.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNN"

Groundbreaking movie star Anna May Wong to be first Asian ... (CNN)

Anna May Wong, who broke into Hollywood during the silent film era, will become the first Asian American to appear on US currency, a century after she ...

A biopic of the actor's life, which will see her portrayed by "Crazy Rich Asians" star Gemma Chan, is currently in production. She went on to appear in dozens of movies but faced deeply entrenched racism in Hollywood, where she struggled to break from stereotypical roles. Considered the movie industry's first Chinese American star, Wong overcame widespread discrimination to carve out a four-decade career in film, theater and radio.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Who is Anna May Wong, the first Asian American on U.S. currency? (The Washington Post)

A new quarter coin features Wong, who became Hollywood's first Chinese American star at a time of widespread anti-Asian xenophobia.

She was the first Asian American actress to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in 1960. She was criticized at home for perpetuating stale and demeaning stereotypes, and in China, where she toured after “The Good Earth” debacle, she was seen as too American. [survey](https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii_aapi-representation-across-films-2021-05-18.pdf) by the University of Southern California of 1,300 popular films from 2007 to 2019, only 29 featured an Asian lead or co-lead, and 21 had a Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander lead or co-lead, totaling just over 3 percent of the films examined. She gained fame for her roles in silent films like [“The Toll of the Sea”](https://youtu.be/V6ohQAwElCs) (1922) — one of the first Technicolor movies — and “The Thief of Bagdad” (1924). Wong vied for the starring role of O-Lan in the 1937 film “The Good Earth” but was instead offered the role of Lotus, a sex worker who becomes the concubine of O-Lan’s husband. “As the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, she faced constant discrimination, frequently being typecast and passed over for lead roles in favor of non-Asian actresses,” Rep. Wong died in 1961 at the age of 56. “Why is it that the screen Chinese is nearly always the villain of the piece, and so cruel a villain — murderous, treacherous, a snake in the grass. “She is remembered not only as a great actress, but also as an advocate for increased representation of Asian Americans in film and media.” “Wong sought to be valued as an actress, a woman with vision and ambition, and an American, all at a time when U.S. [according](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-12-ca-3279-story.html) to the Los Angeles Times. currency to carry the likeness of an Asian American will begin shipping on Monday, according to the U.S.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "USA TODAY"

Anna May Wong to be featured on US quarter, becoming first Asian ... (USA TODAY)

The actor was a champion for Asian American representation in film. She is one of five women to be featured on new quarter designs this year.

New quarters will be unveiled as part of the series, which the U.S. The reverse or “tails” side will be a close-up image of Wong resting her head on her hand, framed by the lights of a marquee sign, the U.S. The obverse or “heads” side of the coin will feature a portrait of George Washington designed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser in 1932. The first U.S. 24, the U.S. The quarter will depict Anna May Wong, considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Anna May Wong: Actress becomes first Asian American on US ... (BBC News)

She will appear as part of an effort to feature notable women on American quarters. Wong, who is considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood, ...

Her name at birth was Wong Liu Tsong, but later in life she adopted the stage name of Anna May Wong, formed by joining both her English and family names. Native Hawaiian hula teacher Edith Kanaka'ole has been named as one of the selections for 2023. She was cast in her first role at 14 as an extra in the film The Red Lantern and continued to take on smaller parts until her lead role in The Toll of the Sea in 1922.

Anna May Wong to become first Asian American to appear on US ... (The Guardian)

Wong, trailblazing actor of early 20th century who faced discrimination in Hollywood, to have image shown on new quarters from Monday.

When actor Lucy Liu became the She died the next year. Her career also ranged beyond motion pictures, including being the She was often boxed into racist and underpaid roles: in Shanghai Express, for example, Wong was only paid $6,000 while her white, co-star Marlene Dietrich earned $78,166, reported NPR. [first Asian American to lead a television show](https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/american-women-quarters/anna-may-wong), The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong. “We are not like that.”

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Vulture"

Anna May Wong, Groundbreaking Chinese American Actress, to Be ... (Vulture)

Wong was the first Chinese American movie star, starring in films like The Thief of Bagdad and The Toll of the Sea, one of the first ever Technicolor films, ...

One of Wong’s other great successes was the 1951 television show [The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong](https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/the-search-for-the-gallery-of-madame-liu-tsong.html), which saw Wong as the first ever Asian American lead of an American television show. The Anna May Wong Quarter will be the fifth quarter in the American Women Quarters Program, following quarters featuring Maya Angelou, Dr. One of the great successes of Shanghai Express was that Wong’s character lived through to the end. Wong was the first Chinese American movie star, starring in films like The Thief of Bagdad and The Toll of the Sea, one of the first ever Technicolor films, which she starred in at age 17. The role went to Luise Rainer, who received an Oscar for her performance. Actress Anna May Wong will be the first Asian American on U.S.

Explore the last week