The Best Vintage Photos of Old Hollywood Actress Anna May Wong

Widely considered to be the first Chinese-American movie star, Anna May Wong was an early advocate for diversity in film. Born Wong Liu Tsong to second-generation Chinese-American parents, Wong swiftly carved out a space for herself in Hollywood's mainstream. She acted in countless movies, appeared in stage productions in theaters across the U.S., Europe, and China, and became the first Asian-American to star in her own television show.

However, these milestones did not come without hardship. Wong was often typecast and forced to act out caricatures of Asian people, rather than nuanced and complex characters. She was barred from many roles, as it was taboo for an Asian actress to kiss a white male lead. This included the lead role in The Good Earth, where Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer chose a white actress to play a Chinese character. Despite these setbacks, there's no doubting that Wong made history, and paved the way for greater diversity in the entertainment industry.

The new Netflix series, Hollywood, follows Wong (portrayed by Michelle Krusiec) through the disappointment of The Good Earth and a striking new opportunity. Before watching the series, scroll through for some of the real-life Wong's greatest moments.