Nuyen was discovered on the beach by Life photographer PhilippeHalsman while working as a seamstress in 1955. Nuyen became a motion picture actress in 1958. She appeared in a third-season episode of Star Trek, playing the title characterElaan of Troyius (1968); and in an episode of Kung Fu (1974). Her other films including The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961) Satan Never Sleeps (1962), A Girl Named Tamiko (1962), Diamond Head (1963), Dimension5 (1966), Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) and The Joy Luck Club (1993). She was featured on the cover of 6 October 1958 issue of Life.
In 1986, Nuyen earned a master's degree in clinical psychology and began a second career as a counsellor for abused women and children, and women in prison. She received a Woman of the Year award in 1989 forher psychology work.
These Kodachromes were found by Poav Sek as taken on the set of 'South Pacific' by American photographer DonOrnitz around 1957 and 1958.
