Anna May Wong Becomes First Asian American Featured on U.S. Currency

The pioneering actress Anna May Wong will become the first Asian American featured on U.S. currency as part of a program honoring distinguished women and their contributions.

Driving the news: The quarter featuring Wong, who is known as the first Chinese American Hollywood star and appeared in over 60 movies throughout her career, will go into circulation starting Monday, according to the U.S. Mint.

What they’re saying: Wong was “a courageous advocate who championed for increased representation and more multi-dimensional roles for Asian American actors,” Mint director Ventris C. Gibson said in a statement.

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Her life story: Wong was born Wong Liu Tsong in Los Angeles Chinatown in 1905, 23 years after the U.S. enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act during an era of intense vilification targeting Chinese people.

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• Though she was able to overcome barriers to play leading roles in several productions, she was largely limited to typecast roles based on racist stereotypes and tropes — like the “Lotus Blossom.”

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• After a few years, Wong left Hollywood due to the constant discrimination and yellowface and moved to Europe where she starred in several plays and films.

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