Sadly, as of yet I have never seen a movie that stars Nancy Kwan. But I could tell from the time that she was announced to be a guest at the Hollywood Show taking place on February 12, 2011, that she was kind of a big deal. More importantly to her actual film roles in the likes of films such as The World of Suzie Wong, Flower Drum Song, Disney’s Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N, and more recently Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, was the fact that she paved the way for Asian actors in Hollywood films.
Becoming a huge sex symbol of the 1960’s, her face adorned the covers of movie magazines such and even a famous cover of Life, as well as a featured spread in McCall’s. Through her popularity, she became known as the “Chinese Bardot”.
So even though I wasn’t really all that familiar with her work, I got the sense that I was meeting someone legendary – and that I’d regret it if I bypassed her. Therefore I plunked down the $35 for the autograph and photo op combo to her handler Marvin Paige – and continue to be pleased that I did.
Celebrities of the Winter 2011 Hollywood Show will conclude in the next posting…
Let us of course not forget her making out with McGarrett in the original “Hawaii Five-O” Pilot.
Peter
June 18th, 2012