Anna May Wong, Daughter of Shanghai
Anna May Wong was more than just a beautiful face – she was a very, very talented actress. You can see the talent in each and every scene. At the risk of sounding melodramatic (to the tune of Garbo-esque melodramatic), the talent is always right there… begging to be trusted with deeper roles than she was often given.
Like a true professional, however, she took what she WAS given and absolutely blew it out of the water. There was a mesmerizing beauty and reserved strength in her portrayals. If you aren’t sure what I mean by this, seek her movies out and watch them. You’ll see right away. The lady was extra special and – while I will forever wish she had been given even more to work with – I am extremely thankful that we have her filmography to enjoy.
Mesmerizing… it’s a word that keeps coming to mind.