Nancy Kwan's remarkable journey began at the tender age of 18, when she was studying dance with the esteemed Royal Ballet School in England. It was during this time that she was spotted by renowned producer Ray Stark, who was so impressed by her talent that he offered her the starring role of a free-spirited Hong Kong prostitute in the 1960 film "The World of Suzie Wong", opposite the legendary William Holden.
This breakout performance was swiftly followed by another hit, the musical "Flower Drum Song", in 1961, cementing her status as one of Hollywood's most visible Asian actresses. Born in China to a Chinese father and British mother, Kwan's early life was marked by a unique blend of Eastern and Western influences.
Throughout the 1960s, Kwan commuted between film roles in America and Europe, including the pilot for the popular TV series "Hawaii Five-O" in 1968. However, her career in the West began to fade from view when she returned to her native Hong Kong in 1972 to care for her critically-ill father. This decision marked the beginning of a decade-long hiatus from the Hollywood scene.
During her time in Hong Kong, Kwan established herself as a successful businesswoman, serving as managing director of her own production company and producing and directing numerous commercials for the Southeast Asia market. She also acted in a string of films tailored to Southeast Asian audiences, including the 1977 thriller "Fear", which introduced her to filmmaker Norbert Meisel, her future husband.
In 1979, Kwan and her husband returned to the United States, where her teenage son Bernie Pock could complete his education. A martial-arts master, fluent in Chinese, and well-versed in the art of stunt coordination, Bernie tragically passed away at a young age.
After her return to the US, Kwan continued to appear in a range of TV series, including the NBC miniseries "Noble House" in 1988 and the CBS made-for-TV movie "Miracle Landing" in 1990. She has also been an outspoken advocate for the Asian-American community, serving as the spokeswoman for the Asian-American Voters Coalition and promoting Oriental Pearl Cream, a beauty product, in TV commercials.
In 1997, Kwan attended the ceremonies in Los Angeles at Hollywood Park, where the Asian community gathered to witness the handover of Hong Kong to the government of China. Throughout her remarkable career, Kwan has remained a trailblazing figure in the entertainment industry, paving the way for future generations of Asian actresses and entrepreneurs.
