Kieu Chinh
Kieu Chinh (born c. 1937) is a Vietnamese-American actress, producer, and humanitarian whose career in film spans over six decades, beginning in Vietnamese cinema and extending to prominent roles in Hollywood productions.[1][2]
Born in Hanoi, she debuted in 1957 with The Bells of Thien Mu Temple and rose to prominence in Southeast Asian films, earning Best Actress awards from South Vietnam in 1969 and the Asian Film Festival in Taipei in 1973, before the fall of Saigon in 1975 compelled her exile first to Canada and then to the United States under the sponsorship of actress Tippi Hedren.[1][2]
In America, Chinh portrayed Suyuan Woo in The Joy Luck Club (1993) and appeared in television series such as MAS*H, China Beach, and ER, accumulating over 45 credits while receiving lifetime achievement awards from festivals including the Vietnamese International Film Festival (2003) and San Diego Asian Film Festival (2006).[1][2]
Beyond acting, she co-founded the Vietnam Children’s Fund in 1993, which has constructed 50 schools and supports education for more than 25,000 students annually in Vietnam.[2]