The world of Nancy Kwan

Hong Kong-born actress Nancy Kwan Ka-shen - often called the Chinese (Brigitte) Bardot for her exquisite talent and grace - was the first actress of Chinese heritage since Anna May Wong in the 1920s to make her mark in Hollywood. Her debut as the eponymous lead in The World of Suzie Wong (1960), directed by Richard Quine and produced by Ray Stark, caused a sensation. Based on Richard Mason's 1957 novel of the same name, the film tells the story of a Wan Chai prostitute who falls in love with an American artist, played by William Holden. The release of Suzie Wong put an end to Kwan's original career path: she had been studying at England's Royal Ballet School when Stark discovered her. An overnight star at 21, Kwan branched out in the years that followed into writing and producing films.

Sixty-one years after her big break, the Eurasian actress, who resides in Los Angeles, continues to appear at events held in her honor. Having received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian World Film Festival in 2019, Kwan was this year inducted into the (California-headquartered) Asian Hall of Fame. Now 82 (although she doesn't look it) - and a daily practitioner of tai chi and qigong - Kwan recently finished her latest screenplay, Dragon's Breath, an action romance that touches on the subject of feng shui. "The story takes place in San Francisco and has an all-Asian-American cast," she explains.