Abby Connolly
Therefore, she often wasn’t cast in any romantic leading roles. It was common for white women to play Asian women on screen, so Anna had to compete with non-Asian women for Asian roles.
Anna attempted to open her own production company to make films about her life and culture in 1924, which, unfortunately, failed due to her business partner. She grew tired of the discrimination she faced in her line of work in America and decided to travel to Europe and work there.
In Europe, she starred and performed in several different plays and films. One of which was an operetta called Tschun Tschi which was in German and performed in a play alongside Laurence Olivier.
Anna returned to the United States in the 1930s and starred in a Broadway production. She auditioned for the film The Good Earth about Chinese farmers but lost the role to a white actress.
She was devastated and decided to visit China with her family in 1934. She became an advocate for the country and raised money for Chinese refugees during World War II.
Anna continued to be cast in stereotypical Asian roles but worked as hard as possible. When she returned to America in the 1950s, she made history as the first Asian American woman to lead a US television show, The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong.
Although Anna wanted to continue to work, she tragically died after a heart attack in 1961 when she was only 56 years old. Nevertheless, Anna has left quite a legacy and helped bring Chinese American actors to the big screen during a time of discrimination.
Since her death, Anna’s life has greatly inspired writers and artists. Many awards have been named after her, and she even became the first Asian-American put on American currency.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
Here’s How You Can Grow An Avocado Plant With Just A Pit
