Luise Rainer was offered the role of O-Lan in the movie The Good Earth. The movie revolves around a poor Chinese farmer, who shows humility and bravery, and his new lifestyle when he marries O-lan. The role was originally going to go to another actress, Anna May Wong, but was quickly revoked due to Anti-miscegentation laws which prohibited interracial relationships.

 

MGM studios offered Anna May Wong a role as the enemy of O-Lan, but she refused. She stated that: "...I won't play the part. If you let me play O-lan, I'll be very glad. But you're asking me – with Chinese blood – to do the only unsympathetic role in the picture featuring an all-American cast portraying Chinese characters."