Culture writer Mayukh Sen reclaims the story of the pioneering South Asian actress, capturing her glittering yet complicated life and enduring impact on Hollywood.

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Merle Oberon was born Estelle "Queenie" Thompson in Bombay. Raised in poverty with dreams of stardom, she was discovered by film mogul Alexander Korda, who renamed her and fabricated a backstory, claiming she was of European descent. Amid Hollywood’s racial exclusions and restrictive immigration policies, she ascended to fame while passing as white—a secret that could have ended her career. She made history in 1936 as the first South Asian actress nominated for a Best Leading Actress Oscar. In the new biography, Love, Queenie, Mayukh Sen delves into the complexities of Oberon's life, revealing her struggles with identity and her rise to stardom under a false persona.

Through original research, Sen offers an intimate portrait of reinvention and resilience, and sheds light on the intersection of race, gender, and power in early-20th-century Hollywood.

To join | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open around 1:30 PM. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Mayukh Sen is the James Beard Award-winning author of Taste Makers. He is a 2025 Fellow at New America, and has written on film for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and the Criterion Collection. He teaches journalism at New York University and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Mayukh Sen © C.J. Marteran