FILM ACTRESS
Michelle Yeoh
Since Winning the EMMA Award
Michelle Yeoh is a Malaysian Actress who starred in the sci-fi cult classic Sunshine and the survival epic film Far North. A return to her Hong Kong fighting roots in 2010 with Reign of Assassins was well-received, as was her portrayal of Burmese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011’s The Lady.
In 2018, she starred in Crazy Rich Asians, Hollywood’s first all-Asian-headlined production since The Joy Luck Club in 1993.
In 2023, she became the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the critically acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All at Once and the first Malaysian to be nominated for and win an Academy Award (Oscar). Michelle also earned the Excellence in Asian Cinema honors at the 2013 Asian Film Awards and was named in the Time 100 and BBC 100 Women of the Year lists in 2020.
In 2024, Michelle received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then US President Joe Biden and starred in the film adaptation of the iconic musical Wicked.
Michelle is a WildAid ambassador for endangered animals and a United Nations Development Programme ambassador for sustainable development. Michelle has successfully broken down many barriers and stereotypes throughout her career, paving the way for future generations of women and people of color to succeed in Hollywood. Michelle’s ability to create relatable characters that resonate with audiences worldwide has led to her global success.
Background (Before 2001)
Michelle Yeoh was born in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, and attended the Royal Academy of Dance in London, but a back injury ended her dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer.
Michelle’s mother entered her in the Miss Malaysia beauty pageant and the Miss Moomba beauty pageant in Melbourne, Australia during the early 1980s. Michelle’s first on-camera work was a 1984 commercial with martial arts star Jackie Chan. Credited as Michelle Khan in her early films, she rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s after starring in several Hong Kong action and martial arts films.
In 1997, People chose her as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” She later became known to Western audiences thanks to roles in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and the phenomenally successful film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
