A tawny, sleek, somber-looking actress, of French and Chinese extraction, Nuyen made her film debut at 19 as Liat in the film version of "South Pacific" (1958) and in the 1960s was briefly promoted as an exotic type. She also starred on Broadway in the title role (learned phonetically, because her English was still very shaky) of the popular "The World of Suzie Wong". After making the middling features "Diamond Head" (1962), "A Girl Named Tamiko" (1962) and "Dimension 5" (1966), Nuyen worked largely during the 70s and 80s in forgettable TV-movies like "The Horror at 37,000 Feet" (1973), "Deathmoon" (1978) and "Jealousy" (1984). She had better luck with her role as the dignified, compassionate Dr. Kiem on the final two seasons of the acclaimed NBC medical drama, "St. Elsewhere".
Having completed graduate work in psychology, Nuyen began a second career as a therapist in 1986, but renewed feature film work beckoned in the early 90s, most notably a role as one of four mothers who bond with their daughters over mah jongg in Wayne Wang's "The Joy Luck Club" (1993).
- Also Credited As:
France Nguyen Vannga
- Born:
July 31, 1939 in Marseilles, France
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Job Titles:
Actor, Artist's model, Therapist
Family
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Daughter: Fleur Morell.
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Father: Louis Vannga.
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Mother: Julie Vannga.
Milestones
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1958 Offered title role in the Broadway play, "The World of Suzie Wong" by "South Pacific" director Joshua Logan if she could learn the role in three months; with her English still tentative, Nuyen learned it phonetically and performed onstage for several years (date approximate)
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1958 Photographs submitted to Twentieth Century-Fox; selected from a talent search to make feature film debut in the adaptation of the Broadway musical success, "South Pacific"
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1986 After becoming involved in volunteer work with incest survivors, abused children, and women in prison, pursued graduate degree in psychology; began working as a therapist
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1990 Returned to feature films after 17 years to play a leading role in "China Cry"
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Appeared on the NBC soap "Santa Barbara"
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Moved to New York from Marseilles to begin a career as a model
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Played Dr. Kiem on the last two seasons of the acclaimed NBC drama series, "St. Elsewhere"