The story of Asian and Asian American women in Hollywood is one of perseverance, talent, and breaking through barriers. From the earliest days of the silver screen to today’s streaming era, these trailblazers have challenged stereotypes, shattered ceilings, and reshaped what it means to be a leading woman on screen. Here’s a look in reverse at ten of the most groundbreaking Asian women in Hollywood.
10. Michelle Yeoh – From Martial Arts Star to Oscar Winner
Michelle Yeoh’s journey from Hong Kong action films to global superstardom is the stuff of legend. From wowing audiences with her martial arts skills in Yes, Madam and Police Story Part III, to becoming an international icon in films like Tomorrow Never Dies as Wai Lin and in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Michelle Yeoh made history in 2023 when she became the first Asian to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Bold choices, commanding presence, and a trailblazing career have inspired filmmakers and fans all over the world.
9. Ali Wong – Comedy Meets Emmy History
Ali Wong’s humor and honesty have made her a household name, but it was her dramatic work in Beef that cemented her place in Emmy history. She became the first Asian woman to win a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie in 2024 and also took home an award as executive producer. Wong’s win shattered stereotypes about what Asian American stories can be: complex, nuanced, and unforgettable.
8. Ming-Na Wen – Disney Legend & Representation Pioneer
Ming-Na Wen has built an extremely diverse career, from The Joy Luck Club to voicing Disney’s first Asian princess in Mulan and starring in Marvel and Star Wars projects. Honored as a Disney Legend in 2019 and with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2023, Wen has always championed Asian representation. She describes the voice work in Mulan as magical because it was her opportunity to help bring a Chinese story to audiences across the globe.
7. Lucy Liu – A Trailblazer on Screen and Beyond
Lucy Liu has been a film and television star for more than two decades, starring in roles on Ally McBeal, Kill Bill, Charlie’s Angels, Kung Fu Panda, and Elementary. In 2019, she became only the second woman of Asian heritage to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Liu named the challenge of being the first, or only, person of color in the room as she rose to success, crediting the Asian American collective.
6. Lana Condor – Redefining the Teen Lead
The performance of Lana Condor as Lara Jean Covey in the movie To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was, for sure, groundbreaking. For many Asian American teens, it was revolutionary to see someone like them at the center of a romantic story. Subtle yet meaningful ways in which Condor claimed her cultural identity on-screen helped further normalize the representation in teen rom-coms.
5. Miyoshi Umeki – Hollywood’s First Asian Oscar Winner
In 1958, Miyoshi Umeki became the first Asian actor to win an Academy Award, earning Best Supporting Actress for Sayonara. She would go on to star in Flower Drum Song, earning Tony and Golden Globe nominations. Despite being repeatedly typecast into stereotypical roles, Umeki brought professionalism, dignity, and grace to every part she played, leaving behind a legacy that helped pave the way for future generations.
4. Jocelyne LaGarde – One Role, Historic Recognition
Having only acted in one movie, Hawaii in 1966, Jocelyne LaGarde was nominated for an Academy Award and went on to win a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. This first recognition of an Indigenous and Polynesian actor at this level made the achievement of her status all the more remarkable, as it underlined how infrequent Indigenous representation had been in mainstream Hollywood films.
3. Anna May Wong – Hollywood’s First Chinese American Star
Anna May Wong was the first Chinese American movie star, working in silent films, talkies, and early television. She often faced stereotypical roles, while white actors played Asian characters in yellowface. Wong persevered, earning a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1960 and later recognition through the American Women Quarters Program. Her career was a constant fight for dignity and visibility.
2. Merle Oberon – Hidden Heritage, Historic Oscar
Merle Oberon was born in Bombay, India, and was the first Asian actress nominated for an Academy Award for The Dark Angel in 1935. She had to hide her heritage to succeed in the racist industry at that time. Her nomination broke racial barriers in Hollywood’s Golden Age, even as she navigated the impossible choice of hiding her identity to achieve recognition.
1. The Legacy of Representation
Each of these women has cut her own path, but the work is far from complete. It continues in the fight for honest representation, complex stories, and opportunities for Asian and Asian American women. Today’s surge in Asian-fronted films, series, and theater projects points back to the seeds these women have planted. Their stories aren’t about breaking barriers but about creating worlds where anyone can see themselves as the hero, the lead, or the legend.