Hollywood's Burmese Actress: Win Min Than

It would be rare to find someone who appeared in just one film, became a famous movie star with that single performance, reached as far as Hollywood, and yet remained humble despite all that success. While such individuals are certainly possible, they are exceedingly rare. The fact that a Burmese actress, Win Min Than, was among these rare few is something we should take great pride in.

However, among the current generation, very few people know about Win Min Than, the Burmese actress who made it to Hollywood. In fact, she has been almost completely forgotten. Some might even think there couldn't possibly be any connection between a Burmese actress and Hollywood. But this isn't their fault. The current state of Myanmar's film industry is far from being able to compete at such a level. As a result, the once-glorious history of Myanmar cinema has become almost like a bedtime story.

So, I'd like to present what I've gathered about Win Min Than, the Burmese actress who was once offered more roles in Hollywood.

The Extraordinary Girl from Pegu

Win Min Than was born on November 30, 1932, in Pegu (now Bago), before Myanmar gained independence. Her father was an Australian national who worked as a manager in the transportation department, while her mother was Burmese. As someone of mixed Western heritage, Win Min Than's birth name was Win Win Myint, and her English name was Helga Johnson. When the Japanese invaded Myanmar, the family fled to India. She continued her education in India. After the war, they returned to Myanmar, where she continued her studies at St. John's Convent.

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In 1951, at her parents' request, she went to England and attended Marie Roberts' dance school in London to study dance. However, due to her lack of interest and her belief that she couldn't become a dance artist, she returned to Myanmar after completing her studies. She didn't pursue any work related to the arts.

Nevertheless, she had read and enjoyed the original novel "The Purple Plain," which led to her decision to become an actress despite having no prior involvement in the arts, according to accounts written about her.

It All Began with a Photograph

Director Robert Parrish was selecting an actress for the film adaptation of H.E. Bates' famous novel "The Purple Plain" from numerous applicants across Asia.

The movie centered on a love story between a British Air Force officer and a Burmese woman. Hollywood star Gregory Peck was cast in the leading role. Despite having over 200 actress applicants from all over Asia, the director wasn't satisfied with any of them.

At that time, a photograph of Win Win Myint from Pegu fortuitously reached Director Robert Parrish. It seems like a stroke of fate that a photograph of a woman from distant Myanmar would reach a Hollywood film director in America.

The photographer who took Win Win Myint's picture was a friend of Director Robert Parrish. He had visited Win Min Than's home in Myanmar and taken her photograph. With her permission, he sent the picture to the director.

When Director Robert Parrish saw the photograph of Win Win Myint, who had distinctly Burmese beauty, he was so impressed that he immediately selected her as the lead actress for "The Purple Plain." He even came to Myanmar personally to persuade her to take the role.

And so, without submitting an application or having any prior acting experience, the girl from Pegu became the lead actress in a Hollywood film.

Win Win Myint, Win Myint Than, Win Min Than

Before becoming the actress Win Min Than, Win Win Myint from Pegu fell in love with Bo Setkya, one of the Thirty Comrades. When they met, Bo Setkya was 39 years old, while Win Win Myint was only 21. Bo Setkya had divorced his first wife at that time. His first wife was Dr. Khin Hla Hla, with whom he had three children: Thurain Setkya, Sani Setkya, and Tara Setkya. Bo Setkya and Win Win Myint met after his divorce due to marital difficulties.

When Win Win Myint was selected as the actress for "The Purple Plain," they weren't married yet. During Win Win Myint's travel abroad for filming, Bo Setkya accompanied her, and they got married in Rome.

She changed her name from Win Win Myint to Win Myint Than, following her husband's name, Thakin Aung Than (Bo Setkya). Hollywood news outlets also referred to the actress who would star alongside Gregory Peck in "The Purple Plain" as Win Myint Than.

However, there were difficulties in pronouncing her Burmese name "Win Myint Than" correctly. Those responsible for promoting the film couldn't pronounce "Win Myint Than" accurately.

So, after consultation with the producer and the film crew, and with the consent of Win Myint Than herself, her name was changed from "Win Myint Than" to "Win Min Than."

A Film Set in Foreign Soil

In the original novel "The Purple Plain," the setting was based around Shwebo, the Shan mountains, the confluence of rivers, and the Mu River. The story centered on a love affair between a British Air Force officer stationed in Meiktila, Burma, and a Burmese Christian woman. As a result, the production team planned to film in Myanmar.

Newspapers in Myanmar, including the Burmese Era, reported on this film. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs denied permission to film in the country, stating that the story depicted a romance between a foreigner and a Burmese woman.

As a result, the filming location was moved to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). In the film, only Win Min Than and three or four others were Burmese; the rest were Sri Lankan nationals. While the military base and surrounding fields didn't show much difference, the pagodas and people were noticeably not Burmese. Even the children riding British military jeeps looked nothing like Burmese children.

If the film had been allowed to be shot in Myanmar, it would have been more authentic and complete. Due to the narrow-mindedness of the Ministry of Home Affairs, an opportunity was regrettably lost.

Anna, the Girl in the Purple Plain

In "The Purple Plain," Win Min Than played Anna, a nurse at a charitable clinic that cared for war-affected civilians. Gregory Peck portrayed Forrester, a pilot who was traumatized and plagued by nightmares after losing his newlywed wife in a bombing during the war, making him disillusioned with life.

One day, Forrester's friend, a military doctor, takes him to a small village near the military base to distract him. In that village, there's a small clinic run by Anna and her team. The military doctor is friends with Anna's group, who can speak English fluently. Through this connection, the heartbroken Forrester visits Anna's home.

Forrester falls asleep in a chair in the front guest room. When he awakens from a nightmare, he finds a Burmese woman by his side holding a glass of lime juice. The close-up shots of Win Min Than in her traditional attire - a longyi covering down to her ankles, a long-sleeved, modest blouse, and her hair neatly pulled back and tied in a traditional bun, giving her a clear, distinctly Burmese beauty - were incredibly captivating.

Just as Forrester is left speechless and mesmerized, viewers of the film would be momentarily captivated by Win Min Than's beauty. The film was truly beautiful, thanks to Gregory Peck's dignified presence and Win Min Than's graceful beauty.

Despite never having acted before, Win Min Than was able to perform seamlessly alongside the veteran actor Gregory Peck. She convincingly portrayed a simple Burmese girl who was drawn to Forrester but hesitant due to him being a foreigner, and as a nurse who helped heal Forrester's emotional wounds.

Although it was a Hollywood production, the two never even shared a kissing scene, only an embrace. The reason for the absence of a kissing scene is both amusing and a testament to the admirable modesty of the Burmese actress Win Min Than. Gregory Peck himself wrote about this as an article for a film magazine.

The Garlic-Scented Actress

According to Gregory Peck, Win Min Than, who spoke English like a native, was sociable, beautiful, graceful, classy, and a talented actress, had one peculiar trait. He said that the scent of garlic would precede her before one could even see her.

During a scene where he had to shield her face with his to protect her from bombs dropped by aircraft, he found the garlic smell so unbearable that he had to stop the shoot. Despite how awful and embarrassing it was, he endured it, fearing that bringing it up would embarrass her.

During casual conversations off-set, he was surprised to find no trace of the garlic smell. No matter how hard he tried to detect it, it was completely absent. Realizing something unusual, he took the risk and asked her directly. Being frank and open, Win Min Than gave him the honest answer.

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She had been chewing raw garlic every time she came to the set because she didn't want her lips to be kissed. As someone who became an actress unexpectedly, Win Min Than hadn't read the script. Since there were romantic scenes in the original novel, she preemptively protected herself by eating garlic.

Gregory Peck then understood and reassured her, "Don't worry baby, there is no lip kiss in the script," and they continued filming without the garlic scent.

Hollywood and the High-Necked Burmese Blouse

After the success of "The Purple Plain," Win Min Than became famous in Hollywood overnight. She was offered roles in more films. However, Win Min Than politely declined all offers, saying that Hollywood film culture didn't align with Burmese culture, and she personally preferred to live as an ordinary housewife.

She even adamantly refused to pose for glamour photos in a swimsuit at a swimming pool for the promotion of her film. Eventually, after much persuasion, she agreed to the shoot but insisted on wearing a traditional Burmese high-necked blouse with a longyi (htamein) instead of a swimsuit. She was notably remembered as someone who posed at a swimming pool in traditional Burmese attire.

Return to the Homeland

After declining to make more films in Hollywood and returning to Myanmar, she was approached by the local film industry to act in Burmese films. However, Win Min Than also refused to act in the Burmese film industry. She lived a simple life as Bo Setkya's wife.

However, life took another turn. When General Ne Win seized power in 1962, Bo Setkya was accused of collaborating with U Nu in an armed rebellion, and they had to flee to Thailand. Bo Setkya passed away in Thailand in 1969 due to heart disease. Thus, Win Min Than became a widow at the age of 37. She was left with a son named Akarsetkya. Later, she moved permanently to Australia with her son, where she continues to live to this day.

While Win Min Than is a milestone in the history of Burmese cinema, her place in Myanmar's film industry is disappointingly dim. The name Win Min Than not only recalls an actress but also suggests the high standard of Burmese cinema and Myanmar as a nation in a bygone era.

Whether the Myanmar film industry will see another Win Min Than in future generations remains to be seen...

By Nu Thit Moe (Y3A)

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