Win Min Than, a remarkable individual, was born and raised in Rangoon, Burma, during the British Raj era. As the daughter of a government official, she was exposed to a life of luxury and privilege. However, her life took a dramatic turn when the Japanese occupied Burma during World War II, and her family was forced to flee to India.
Win Min Than's early education was marked by her attendance at a convent school, where she learned English until she was 14 years old. In 1951, her family sent her to London to pursue her passion for dance at Marie Rambert's prestigious dance school. However, she soon realized that she was not cut out for a career in dance and returned to Burma, where she married the renowned politician Bo Setkya, also known as Thakin Aung Than, who was nearly 20 years her senior.
In 1954, a friend of American director Robert Parrish visited Win Min Than's home and took a photograph of her, which he sent to Parrish. At the time, Parrish was planning to adapt H.E. Bates' novel "The Purple Plain" into a film and was searching for an Asian actress to play the lead role. Seeing Win Min Than's picture, Parrish was convinced that she would be perfect for the part, despite her lack of acting experience. He flew to Burma to persuade her to accept the role, and after some convincing, she agreed to take on the part.
The UK premiere of "The Purple Plain" took place in September 1954, and Win Min Than's performance received critical acclaim. She was then convinced to travel to the United States in the spring of 1955 to promote the film. During her time in the US, she received several offers to star in other films, but she declined them all, stating that a film career would conflict with her role as a wife. After a few weeks, she returned to Burma and her husband, never to act again.
Tragedy struck when the military coup in 1962 forced the couple to flee to Bangkok, Thailand. Bo Setkya passed away in 1969, leaving Win Min Than to navigate the challenges of life alone. Despite the ups and downs of her life, Win Min Than's story remains a testament to her strength, resilience, and determination.
