In 2018 , " Crazy Rich Asians " made story . Aside from being thehighest - gross romantic comedy in a decade , the moving-picture show featured an all - Asian cast , progress to it the first Hollywood output to do so in 25 class .
Perhaps more mind - blowing is that star Constance Wu becamethe first Asian actress in 44 yearsto be nominate for a lead actress Golden Globe . Many have reckon the achievements of the cast and crew as groundbreaking triumph for the onscreen theatrical performance of Asiatic civilization . But the accolades and recognition are long overdue considering the pioneering study of industry icons like Anna May Wong .
On Jan. 22 , 1922 , audiences set eyes on Wong in her first star role , as " Lotus Flower " in the film , " The Toll of the Sea . " The Los Angeles - born actress would go on to look inmore than 60 moviesthroughout her career and leave a hold out bequest as Hollywood ’s first Taiwanese - American picture show star .
But a calling onstage and projection screen ( admit a use in one of the very first Technicolor movies ) did n’t number easy for Wong , and it certainly did n’t come without important struggle and forfeit that has shaped the entertainment industry and paved the way for more modern success stories .
Born Jan. 3 , 1905 , Anna May Wong was thesecond of eight childrenand mention Wong Liu Tsong , which translate to " Frosted Yellow Willows . " She afterward incorporated her English moniker , Anna May , into her stage name .
Wong ’s grandfather , Leung Chew Wong , hademigrated to the United Statesin the 1850s from Taishan , China , and her Padre married a fellow California - born descendent of Chinese emigrants . The couple opened a launderette in L.A. , and begin a family . Wong initially serve California Street public school but transferred to the Chinese Mission School due to the racial prejudice and bullying she and her sibling faced .
In the 1910s , the film industry began migrating from New York to California , and Wong became fascinated by the world of cinema . She skipped schoolhouse to chew the fat yield circle and see movies , and in 1919 , attended a throw call for a movie called " The Red Lantern " and hit a part as an extra .
Two years subsequently , Wongdropped out of in high spirits schooland began act full - metre . At 17 , she landed her first starring role in " The Toll of the Sea , " a silent interlingual rendition of the film " Madame Butterfly . " snag the part was a major victory , but it did n’t essay to be the career kickstarter Wong had go for for ; due to United States anti - miscegenation law that preventedinterracial marriageand even on - screen kissingbetween actors of different backwash , Wong was n’t capable to land any part as a romantic lead .
Wong left Hollywood for Europe in 1928 . There she was a huge success and star in several notable stage productions and films , including " Piccadilly " in 1929 . She used her newfound celebrity to preach for both political and Chinese - American causes , and for effective film roles .
But by the 1930s , Paramount Studios came call and promised Wong lead roles if she come back to the U.S. The deal sound fresh , but Wong was mostly relegated to bet stereotypical Asian roles . She accepted the work solely on the deal that she would be able-bodied to take on more racy roles in the time to come .
In 1932 , she appeared in " Shanghai Express " alongside her friend , Marlene Dietrich , and decennary by and by , she became the first Asiatic American to lead a U.S. television show in the 1951 show , " The Gallery of Madame Liu - Tsong . "
But it was losing out to the German actress Luise Rainer for the large role of oxygen - Lan in the flick adaption of Pearl S. Buck ’s " The Good Earth " that was perhaps her self-aggrandising disappointment . She ’d planned to move around to China but put off her trip in Leslie Townes Hope to play O - Lan .
The studio , however , advertize for Wong to play the cliched part of Lotus , the wicked concubine instead . Wong refused . She told Doris Mackiein a 1933 interview for Film Weekly " I was so tired of the parts I had to encounter . There seems short for me in Hollywood , because , rather than real Chinese , producers prefer Hungarians , Mexicans , American Indians for Chinese roles . "
Wong did finally travel to China , where she was alsocriticized by the Chinesewho aver her films degraded Chinese women . Despite having studied Mandarin Chinese , Wong felt she was too American to execute in traditional Taiwanese theater . ironical , given that in Hollywood , she was considered not American enough for most roles there .
In 1960 , she obtain a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame . But in 1961 , catastrophe strike when the actress and trailblazerdied of a spirit attackat the young age of 56 . She was posthumously accredit by the Asian American Arts Awards and the Asian Fashion Designers group , which both have named yearly awards in her honor .
Today , Wong is still remembered as one of the most important Asiatic American loss leader in the amusement industry and beyond .
