The World of Nancy Kwan

IN ATTENDANCE: NANCY KWAN

Please Note: Ms. Kwan will only sign copies of her book at the author event and take photos with purchasers of the book. (She will not sign any photos, posters, flyers, etc.)

ABOUT "THE WORLD OF NANCY KWAN: A MEMOIR BY HOLLYWOOD'S ASIAN SUPERSTAR"

When Nancy Kwan burst onto the scene in the early 1960s, Asian characters in film were portrayed by white actors in makeup playing “yellowface,” and those minor roles were the stuff of cliché: shopkeepers, maids, prostitutes, servants. When -- against all odds -- Nancy landed the lead role in the much-anticipated 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong, she became an international superstar and was celebrated for her beauty, grace, authenticity, and spunk: a “Chinese Garbo,” the “Asian Bardot.” From Hong Kong to London, Hollywood and beyond, “The World of Nancy Kwan” charts Nancy’s journey as a luminary and pinnacle of representation in Hollywood. What obstacles did she face, what prejudices did she overcome, and how did her success create paths for others? Never allowing the fads and fickleness of show business to change her, Kwan persevered in an industry where everything was stacked against her, breaking through barriers and becoming a beacon of hope to generations of Asians who aspired to be seen. “The World of Nancy Kwan” is a multifaceted personal history of an iconic actress whose triumphant rise and resilience illuminates the broader history of Hollywood and how the only way forward is to stay true to oneself.

The program will feature a film clip compilation program of Ms. Kwan’s television and film roles (to date) followed by an on-stage conversation hosted by Author and Film Historian Foster Hirsch, followed by a book signing.

ABOUT NANCY KWAN

Nancy Kwan is a Chinese American actress renowned for her unforgettable starring roles in The World of Suzie Wong and the musical Flower Drum Song. She is also a filmmaker and a political activist and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian Hall of Fame.

ABOUT DEBORAH DAVIS

Deborah Davis has written twelve books, including Tina Turner’s bestselling memoir, My Love Story, Strapless, Party of the Century, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Guest of Honor, which won the Phillis Wheatley Award and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

ABOUT MODERATOR FOSTER HIRSCH

Foster Hirsch is Professor of Film at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and the author of sixteen books on film and theatre, including "Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties," “The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir,” “Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King,” and “A Method to their Madness: The History of the Actors Studio.” He has lectured on film in India, China, Dubai, Israel, France, Germany, England and New Zealand. He is a frequent host/moderator at many venues including the Players Club, the Harvard Club, the Film Forum, the American Cinematheque, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Foster's new book, Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties: The Collapse of the Studio System, the Thrill of Cinerama, and the Invasion of the Ultimate Body Snatcher-Television is also available for purchase.

Host or Publisher USA Film Festival