{"id":4623,"date":"2026-01-06T06:11:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T06:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chinesecanadianmuseum.ca\/program\/chinese-canadian-convos-with-katie-gee-salisbury\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T06:26:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T06:26:56","slug":"chinese-canadian-convos-with-katie-gee-salisbury","status":"publish","type":"program","link":"https:\/\/www.chinesecanadianmuseum.ca\/zh-hant\/program\/chinese-canadian-convos-with-katie-gee-salisbury\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong | Vancouver"},"content":{"rendered":"

In her time, Anna May Wong was a legendary beauty, witty conversationalist, and fashion icon. Plucked from her family\u2019s laundry business in Los Angeles, Anna May Wong rose to stardom in Douglas Fairbanks\u2019s blockbuster The Thief of Bagdad<\/em>. Fans and the press clamored to see more of this unlikely actress, but when Hollywood repeatedly cast her in stereotypical roles, she headed abroad in protest.<\/p>\n

Anna May starred in acclaimed films in Berlin, Paris, and London. She dazzled royalty and heads of state across several nations, leaving trails of suitors in her wake. She returned to challenge Hollywood at its own game by speaking out about the industry\u2019s blatant racism. She used her new stature to move away from her typecasting as the China doll or dragon lady, and worked to reshape Asian American representation in film.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this talk moderated by UBC Professor of English Dr. Mary Chapman, biographer Katie Gee Salisbury will discuss the vibrant, radical career of a groundbreaking artist, bringing an unsung heroine to light and reclaiming her place in cinema history. Also included in this talk is the story of Wong\u2019s first trip to Canada in 1924 and the actress’s experience crossing the border under the U.S. Chinese Exclusion Act. <\/p>\n

Event Details:<\/h3>\n