Six months after she was immortalized with a U.S. quarter, Asian American Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong has received another accolade affirming her icon status — her own Barbie.
This image released by Mattel shows a Barbie doll in the image of Asian American Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong, part of their Inspiring Women Series. The doll is dressed in a frock inspired by Wong's appearance in the 1934 movie “Limehouse Blues,” a red gown with a shiny golden dragon design and cape. (Mattel via AP)
Mattel announced Monday the release of an Anna May Wong doll for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
The figure has her trademark bangs, eyebrows and well-manicured nails. The doll is dressed in a red gown with a shiny golden dragon design and cape, inspired by her appearance in the 1934 movie "Limehouse Blues."
Wong's niece, Anna Wong, gave her blessing and worked closely with the brand to develop the Barbie's look.
"I did not hesitate at all. It was such an honor and so exciting," Wong said. "I wanted to make sure they got her facial features and clothing correct. And they did!"
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As a child, Anna Wong owned a Barbie and Skipper doll (Barbie's little sister) and a Barbie dream house and car. She loves the idea that Asian children will now have a doll who looks like them.
The doll is part of the Barbie "Inspiring Women" series, which features dolls in the likeness of pioneering women. Past inspirations include aviator Amelia Earhart and artist Frida Kahlo.
This image released by Mattel shows a Barbie doll in the image of Asian American Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong, part of their Inspiring Women Series. The doll is dressed in a frock inspired by Wong's appearance in the 1934 movie “Limehouse Blues,” a red gown with a shiny golden dragon design and cape. (Mattel via AP)
"As the first Asian American actor to lead a U.S. television show, whose perseverance broke down barriers for her gender and AAPI community in film and TV, Anna May Wong is the perfect fit for our Barbie Inspiring Women Series," Lisa McKnight, an executive vice president at Mattel, said in a statement.
Born in Los Angeles, the Chinese American actor is considered the first major Asian American movie star. She started out during the silent movie era in the 1920s and gained international notice in films like "The Thief of Bagdad" as well as for her fashion sense. In the 1930s, Anna May Wong was acting opposite stars like Marlene Dietrich in "Shanghai Express." But in 1937, she lost the lead role of a Chinese villager in "The Good Earth" to Luise Rainer, a white actor who went on to win a best actress Oscar.
In the ensuing decades, Anna May Wong went to Europe to act. But she later returned to the U.S. In 1951, she led her own television show, "The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong." The short-lived mystery series was believed to be the first with an Asian American lead.
In another first, she was the first Asian American woman to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for acting in 1960. She died a year later at age 56.
Photos from the life of movie star Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong, one of the first Chinese-American actresses is shown on Jan. 22, 1946. Her first motion picture appearance in 1922 was "Chinese Parrot." Location is not given. (AP Photo/Carl Nesensohn)
Anna May Wong, star of screen, stage, and radio, is now ready for her debut in television and is shown on August 25, 1951 with director William Marceau discussing the first program. The Chinese-American star will have the title role of a new adventure series, "The Gallery of Mme. Liu-Tsong," which will begin August 27,1951 over station WABD. The authentic bronze Egyptian idols she is holding are over 2,000 years old and will be used as props for the first show. (AP Photo)
Anna May Wong (right), well-known Chinese-American film star, now visiting Beijing on August 25, 1936, is shown with the adopted Chinese daughters of Miss Helen Burton, prominent North Dakotan woman, who is engaged in the antique business in Beijing, China (AP Photo)
Anna May Wong, right, American-born Chinese film actress, talks to actress Gale Sondergaard at the benefit dance and showing of Chinese films she sponsored at a Hollywood hotel on March 10, 1938 for the benefit of destitute in China’s war-torn cities. Many members of the movie colony attended. (AP Photo)
Marlene Dietrich, Anna-May Wong and Leni Riefenstahl pose at a ball in Berlin, Germany, 1928. (AP Photo/Alfred Eisenstaedt)
Anna May Wong, famous Chinese-American actress is shown in this undated photo. No other information available. (AP Photo)
Anna May Wong, famous Chinese-American actress is shown in this undated photo. No other information available. (AP Photo)
Anna May Wong , Chinese-American actress whose Hollywood film career spanned three decades, died of a heart attack at her Santa Monica, California home on Feb. 4, 1961. This photo is from 1956. (AP Photo)
