France Nuyen Vannga was born on July 31, 1939 in Marseille
France during World War II to Vietnamese and French parents. Her stunning beauty combined with gritty determination forged
a successful modelling career before breaking into the movies in Hollywood.
In 1958, she truly came onto the world stage by starring
in Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific." She fought constant typecasting pressures from producers who wanted to cast her
in meek subservient roles and maintained a glamorous but dignified presence.
She made numerous appearances in hit movies and tv. Her most memorable
tv appearance was in 1968 in a Star Trek episode called "Elaan of Troyius." In this episode, France plays an arrogant and
reluctant bride scheduled to be married to the son of an opposing leader of another planet, who's been at war with each other
for years. The only way to stop the war was the signing of a peace treaty with the stipulation that the two get married.
France also made appearances in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "The
Joy Luck Club," and the tv show "St. Elsewhere" as Dr. Paulette Kiem. Her appearance in the Joy Luck Club as Ying-Ying was
a terrific performance that illustrated her fabulous talent and what an outstanding role model she is for young Asian American
actresses.
