The Malaysian-born star, Michelle Yeoh, has bagged the title of Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards, making history by becoming the first native Asian actress to win the Oscar for best actress. Her role in the science-fiction movie ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ got her this title.
At age 60, Michelle Yeoh won an Oscar in the Best Actress category for her performance as Evelyn Wang in the film Everything Everywhere All At Once. It was not her first Oscar, but she is also the first Asian actress to bag one.
Her inspiring speech began with her addressing the little girls and boys. In her address, she said that winning the title is a “beacon of hope and possibilities” for the little girls and boys who look like her and are watching her tonight. It is essential to dream big, as they do come true. She motivated the ladies by saying that they should disregard any sceptics who claim that their time has passed.
She acclaimed her gratitude by saying that she would not be standing there on the stage if not for Daniels, A24, her “amazing cast and crew”, and everyone involved in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Addressing her mother as a “superhero”, Yeoh dedicated her title to her mother. She asserted that she dedicates the award to not only her mom but every mom in the world and addressed them as superheroes. She continued by saying that their presence at the Oscars is possible because of the moms. Her mother is 84, and Yeoh was sure her mother was watching her then from Malaysia with her family and friends. She said she loved her and was bringing the award “home to you”.
She also expressed her gratitude towards her extended family in Hong Kong. It is there where she started her career. She thanked them for “letting me stand on your shoulders, giving me a leg up so I could be here today.”
She ended her speech by thanking her family and the Academy.
Yeoh is the second woman of colour to win the title of Best Actress, following in Halle Berry’s footsteps, who received the same award in 2001.
Yeoh joined the stage with teary eyes as she was greeted with a standing ovation by the audience and her teammates, which included Jamie Lee Curtis, winner of best supporting actress for a role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Who is Michelle Yeoh?
In the city of Ipoh, 200 kilometres north of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, Michelle Yeoh was born on August 6, 1962, to a Malaysian-Chinese couple. With a fervour for dance from a very tender age, she also has a specialization in ballet which she studied in England.
Her accidental beauty pageant journey began when her mother without taking Michelle’s opinion, enrolled her name for the Miss Malaysia contest.
Due to a back injury in the 1980s, Yeoh had to give up her career in dancing. Instead of losing hope, she used her skills to appear beside Jackie Chan and other big names.
In the James Bond instalment “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) her role as a Chines spy opposite Pierce Brosnan helped her climb the ladder of global fame. Her other successful movies are Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha.
Jean Todt, the ex-head of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), is her partner who lives with.