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Nancy Kwan
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Nancy Kwan was a ballet dancer in London before she made her acting debut in the hit movie The World of Suzie Wong (1960, with William Holden). Her second movie, Flower Drum Song (1961), was ... a critical and popular success, and Kwan became internationally famous as Hollywood's first Eurasian female star. Kwan grew up in Hong Kong, the daughter of a British model and a Chinese architect. She studied dance in England as a teenager and spent four years with the Royal Ballet in London. After her first two movies, her career tapered off a bit, but Kwan continued to work steadily in features, often in light comedies such as Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN (1966, with Dick Van Dyke), Arrivederci, Baby (1968, starring Tony Curtis) and The Wrecking Crew (1970, starring Dean Martin). She also ran her own production company in Hong Kong in the 1970s.
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A native of Hong Kong, Nancy Kwan's starring roles in the films The World of Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song made her one of the most visible Asian actresses in Hollywood. Since then, she has starred in more than 40 films including Honeymoon Hotel, Lt. Robinson Crusoe USA, The Wrecking Crew and Dragon: The Life of Bruce Lee. Kwan has ... appeared in television series such as Fantasy Island, Knots Landing, Kung Fu, Hawaii 5-0 and ER. Her stage credits include LOVE LETTERS at English Theatre (Vienna, Austria) and Singapore Repertory Theatre; originating the role of "Leila" in ARTHUR AND LEILA at Bay Front Theatre (San Francisco) and East West Players; and "Martha" in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF at Singapore Repertory Theatre.
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Nancy Kwan is luminous in the role of Suzie. This was a star making turn for her and led to other good roles over the years. She is sexy, with a street-smart veneer that covers her open and trusting heart. She rises to the many emotional challenges of Suzie and succeeds in carrying the viewer through the film as only an accomplished actress can. The camera falls in love with her, as does the reluctant Robert.
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Actress Nancy Kwan was born in Hong Kong to a Chinese father and English mother. Raised in England, Kwan studied and performed with the Royal Ballet, then returned to Hong Kong to maintain her own dance school. She achieved film stardom when she replaced the ailing France Nuyen in The World of Susie Wong (1961); ironically, the makeup men were obliged to make her look "more Chinese." She followed this box-office success with Flower Drum Song (1961), where she sang (or perhaps lip-synched) the Rodgers and Hammerstein standard "I Enjoy Being a Girl." Roles tapered off in quality over the next few years, and by 1967 her career was dwindling. Nancy Kwan has since sustained her movie career in Hong Kong-produced cheapies, and has recently made a TV comeback of sorts promoting a line of cosmetics on a series of late-night infomercials.
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Nancy Kwan, the daughter of a prominent architect, was born in Hong Kong and educated in England, where she ... studied dancing at the Royal Ballet School. By chance, while on vacation from school in Hong Kong, she was spotted by famed American producer Ray Stark, who was looking for an oriental beauty to star in the film version of The World of Suzie Wong. After a number of screen tests Nancy Kwan finally got the part, starring opposite William Holden. For this role Ms. Kwan was nominated for Best Actress and International Star of Tomorrow by the Hollywood Foreign Press. Ms. Kwan's second starring role, which allowed her to capitalize fully on her dancing talents, was in the Rodgers & Hammerstein smash musical hit, Flower Drum Song. And, with this role a star was truly born.
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Nancy is a 4th year co-op student, majoring in Psychology at UBC. This summer, she is working for the Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security. Although she is based out of New Westminister, as a Program Officer, she has ample opportunity to experience ever changing environments by working out of different offices every week and driving around to different areas to perform residency checks with her partner. During the last school term, Nancy was co-chair of the ACSA Mentorship Team. As a part of this team, she worked to recruit mentors and mentees and match them up. This past year the Mentorship team was able to match 28 mentees, incoming Arts Co-op students, with mentors, experienced Arts Co-op students.
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Nancy Kwan