Xin Zhilei has been cast to play Hollywood’s first Chinese star, Anna May Wong, in an upcoming biopic.
The movie, “Sunset Boulevard – The Anna May Wong Story,” will be produced by Mark Gao’s Fundamental Films and tells the story of the actress who battled stereotypes towards Asian women in Hollywood in the 1920s and ’30s.
It will follow Anna May’s life as an LA-born third-generation Chinese American all the way through her life as an actress with movies like “The Thief of Bagdad” and “Shanghai Express”.
Regarding her portrayal of Anna May Wong, Xin Zhilei, who won Best Actress at last year’s Venice Film Festival for her role in Cai Shangjun’s “The Sun Rises on Us All”, stated, “Anna May Wong’s story deeply moves me. She remained true to her cultural background, steadfastly walked her own path, and spoke out for other women. She never backed down in the face of difficulties and doubts.”
“This film is a tribute to Anna May Wong’s courage and resilience, and I hope that the film will allow more people to remember this talented, intelligent, and ambitious legendary woman,” she added.
Mark Gao expressed, “Xin Zhilei’s remarkable career very much echoes Anna May Wong’s own ascent and groundbreaking achievements, which makes her perfect for this role. The project also encapsulates Fundamental Films’ own mandate of championing Chinese stories and culture and using our creative resources and experience to appeal to audiences both at home and globally.”
(Photo Source: Xin Zhilei IG, Vintage Beauties IG, IMDb)