Nancy Kwan

Born May 19, 1939 Ka Shen Kwan or Nancy Kwan as she is known in film circles, was only 18 when she stared in The World of Suzie Wong (1960) alongside William Holden. In 1961 she was the star in the hit Flower Drum Song and Nancy became one of Hollywood's most important Asian actresses. She was born in China and spent the 1960s filming in America and Europe. When she returned to Hong Kong in 1972 to take care of her father, Nancy faded from the Hollywood scene.
Nancy worked in the Southeast Asian film market producing and directing commercials and acted in Fear (1977). She married her third husband, Norbert Meisel and returned to the US in 1979 to give her son a broader education.
Upon her return to the US Nancy appeared in Miracle Landing (1990), Noble House (1988) and numerous TV series. Nancy Kwan is active in the Asian American Voters Coalition and still does commercial directing and producing. She also appears in Oriental Pearl Cream television infomercials. In 1993 Nancy turned down a major part in the Joy Luck Club due to a script disagreement.
Kwan was trained as a ballet dancer in Great Britain and has been listed by Goldsea Asian American Daily as a "100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans" for her acting and political works. When not filming, Nancy makes her home in Los Angeles, California.