Knockout 8x10-inch color portrait for The World of Susie Wong (1961), boldly signed in black felt-tip marker in-person at a film convention appearance some years ago. In very fine condition. Lovely Hong Kong-born leading lady Nancy Kwan began her career as a ballerina and the proprietor of a successful dance school. Her movie career began with a fluke event in 1961: During the filming of The World of Susie Wong in her native country, actress France Nuyen fell ill and Kwan was discovered in a thrown-together casting call for a replacement. Audiences immediately fell in love with her and she was asked to follow it up with Flower Drum Song (1961), where she so famously sang (that is, lip-synched) the Rodgers and Hammerstein standard "I Enjoy Being a Girl." Roles tapered off in quality over the next few years, and by 1967 her career was dwindling.  Her talents have since been squandered on Hong Kong-produced cheapies like the horror flicks Wonder Women (1973) and Night Creature (1978).

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