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Anna May Wong

(1905-1961), Actress

Sitter in 36 portraits
Born Wong Liu Tsong in Chinatown, Los Angeles, Wong was the first Chinese American film star and enjoyed a long, varied and international career - making over sixty films. Her first lead role was in the early Technicolor feature The Toll of the Sea (1922). Following performances in Douglas Fairbanks's The Thief of Bagdad (1923) and various 1920s mystery films, she travelled to Europe in 1929. Whilst in London, E. A. Dupont directed Wong in the silent film Piccadilly (1929) from a script and story by Arnold Bennett. She also co-starred with Laurence Olivier on stage in Circle of Chalk (1929). Her most celebrated role was appearing with Marlene Dietrich in Josef von Sternberg's Shanghai Express (1932).

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Anna May Wong, by Atelier Gudenberg, published by  Ross-Verlag - NPG Ax160193

Anna May Wong

by Atelier Gudenberg, published by Ross-Verlag
hand-coloured bromide postcard print, 1920s
NPG Ax160193

Anna May Wong, by E.O. Hoppé - NPG x134423

Anna May Wong

by E.O. Hoppé
hand-coloured postcard print, 1926
NPG x134423

Anna May Wong, by Atelier Jacobi - NPG x160611

Anna May Wong

by Atelier Jacobi
bromide postcard print, late 1920s
NPG x160611

Anna May Wong, by Ruth Harriet Louise (Ruth Goldstein) - NPG x137073

Anna May Wong

by Ruth Harriet Louise (Ruth Goldstein)
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 25 July 1928
NPG x137073

Anna May Wong, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x180036

Anna May Wong

by Paul Tanqueray
whole-plate glass negative, 1929
NPG x180036

Anna May Wong, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x180042

Anna May Wong

by Paul Tanqueray
whole-plate glass negative, 1929
NPG x180042

Anna May Wong, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x25986

Anna May Wong

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1929
NPG x25986

Anna May Wong, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x27480

Anna May Wong

by Dorothy Wilding
chlorobromide print on tissue and card mount, 1929
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x27480

Anna May Wong, by Dudley Glanfield - NPG x139816

Anna May Wong

by Dudley Glanfield
half-plate glass negative, 25 April 1929
NPG x139816

Anna May Wong, by Dudley Glanfield - NPG x139817

Anna May Wong

by Dudley Glanfield
half-plate glass negative, 25 April 1929
NPG x139817

Anna May Wong, by Dudley Glanfield - NPG x139818

Anna May Wong

by Dudley Glanfield
half-plate glass negative, 25 April 1929
NPG x139818

Anna May Wong, by Dudley Glanfield - NPG x139819

Anna May Wong

by Dudley Glanfield
bromide print, 25 April 1929
NPG x139819

Anna May Wong, by Fred Daniels - NPG x193441

Anna May Wong

by Fred Daniels
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 30 October 1929
NPG x193441

Anna May Wong, by Sasha (Alexander Stewart) - NPG x193442

Anna May Wong

by Sasha (Alexander Stewart)
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 20 March 1929
NPG x193442

Anna May Wong, by Fred Daniels - NPG x32924

Anna May Wong

by Fred Daniels
vintage bromide print on red card mount, 1929
NPG x32924

Anna May Wong, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x126211

Anna May Wong

by Paul Tanqueray
vintage bromide print, 1929
NPG x126211

Anna May Wong, by Dorothy Wilding, hand-coloured by  Beatrice Johnson - NPG x44636

Anna May Wong

by Dorothy Wilding, hand-coloured by Beatrice Johnson
hand-coloured bromide print, 1929
NPG x44636

Anna May Wong, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x26341

Anna May Wong

by Dorothy Wilding
chlorobromide print on card mount, 1929
NPG x26341

Anna May Wong, by Madame d'Ora (Dora Philippine Kallmus) - NPG x126767

Anna May Wong

by Madame d'Ora (Dora Philippine Kallmus)
cream-toned postcard print, circa 1929
NPG x126767

Anna May Wong, by Dudley Glanfield - NPG x126862

Anna May Wong

by Dudley Glanfield
modern bromide print from original negative, 25 April 1929
NPG x126862

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