Nancy Kwan
publicity photo of Nancy Kwan c. 1971
Place of Birth: Hong Kong
Date of Birth: May 19, 1939
Ethnicity:
*father – Cantonese Chinese
*mother – English, Scottish
Nancy Kwan is an American actress. She had a pivotal role in the acceptance of Asian-American actors in Hollywood.
Nancy was born in Hong Kong, the daughter of Marie Marquita/Maraquita (Scott/Oliver), a model, and Kwan Wing Hong, an architect. Her Chinese father met her mother, who was of English and Scottish descent, while studying in England. Nancy was raised in Kowloon Tong and mainland China, and moved to the U.S. in the 1950s.
Nancy is married to Norbert Meisel, with whom she writes and directs films about Asian-Americans. She has a son with her former husband, hotelier and ski teacher Peter Pock.
Nancy is said to be related to writer Kevin Kwan, who wrote the novel Crazy Rich Asians.
Nancy’s maternal grandfather was named Charles/Cárlos Enriquez Oliver Burrons (the son of George Oliver). Cárlos was born in Chile.
Nancy’s maternal grandmother was named May Scott.
Source: Birth record of Nancy’s maternal grandfather, Charles/Cárlos Enriquez Oliver Burrons, from the Chile Registro Civil, 1885-1932 – https://www.familysearch.org
I believe I found her grandfather Carlos/Charles’ birth record from Chile:
“Chile, Registro Civil, 1885-1932,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q245-GHPV : 4 October 2021), Cárlos Enriquez Oliver Burrons, Birth Registration ; citing p. 8, certificate #15, Registro Civil Archivo General (Civil Registry General Archives), Santiago; FamilySearch digital folder 004696937.
This matches up with his (very hard to read) British Army service record. He was 20 years old when he enlisted in 1915 and listed his father George as next of kin.
@Avarita, are you sure she isn’t part Hispanic through Carlos Oliver born in Chile?
Her mother was Marie Maraquita (Marquita) Oliver Scott, who lived a very interesting life. She married Nancy’s father in 1936 in London. She seems to have been married several times, as her last names on her SSA application (she died in the US) include Conine, Kwan, and Torres. It appears she was born out of wedlock, as her parents are listed on that SSA application as Charles or Carlos Oliver and May Scott, and indeed, her British birth record shows she was born with the last name Scott, mother’s maiden name also Scott.
Charles/Carlos Oliver seems to be the man of the same name KIA in World War I, on 1 Jul 1916. He was married to another woman.
She was very beautiful back in the day. She still looks attractive for her age.