Nancy Kwan Ka-shen (; born May 19, 1939) is a Chinese-American actress whose career benefited from Hollywood's casting of more Asian roles in the 1960s, especially in comedies. She was considered an Eastern sex symbol in the 1960s.

Biography

Early life

thumb|Nancy Kwan and her father, Kwan Wing-hong, 1956

Kwan was born in Hong Kong on May 19, 1939, and grew up in Kowloon Tong district. Kwan's father was Kwan Wing-hong, a Cantonese architect and her mother was Marquita Scott, a White British model of English and Scottish ancestry. Kwan did not have any songs in the musical; the vocals for Linda Low were performed by B. J. Baker. Comparing Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song, she found the latter much harder because the girl she played was "more go-getter". Her prior ballet education provided a strong foundation for her role in Flower Drum Song, where she had much space to dance.