Los Angeles: Michelle Yeoh created history at the Oscars by becoming the first Asian woman to win the 'Best Actress' award. Yeoh won her first Academy Award for best actress for her performance in "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once." The award followed a long career in martial arts and action films such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Yes, Madam."
"For all the little boys and girls, who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities," Yeoh said from the stage, as per Variety. "This is proof that dreams do come true. And ladies, don't let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime. Never give up."
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Michelle Yeoh makes history as the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar. #Oscars95 https://t.co/35YGivGFhF
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 13, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Michelle Yeoh makes history as the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar. #Oscars95 https://t.co/35YGivGFhF
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 13, 2023Michelle Yeoh makes history as the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar. #Oscars95 https://t.co/35YGivGFhF
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 13, 2023
Yeoh dedicated the award to her mom and all the mothers in the world. "They are superheroes, and without them, none of us will be here tonight". According to Variety, Yeoh is only the third Asian woman to win an Oscar for acting, following Yuh-Jung Youn for "Minari" and Miyoshi Umeki for "Sayonara," and the first in the lead category.
Yeoh defeated Cate Blanchett for "Tar," Michelle Williams for "The Fabelmans," Andrea Riseborough for "To Leslie," and Ana de Armas for "Blonde" to win the award. Before exiting the stage, she shouted, "Thank you to the Academy -- this is history in the making!" "I wouldn't be standing here tonight with the Daniels, without the amazing cast and crew (and) everyone involved with "Everything Everywhere All at Once," she said.
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Celebrating the groundbreaking career of Oscar–winning Best Actress Michelle Yeoh 💥 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/9P3I7taQma
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) March 13, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Celebrating the groundbreaking career of Oscar–winning Best Actress Michelle Yeoh 💥 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/9P3I7taQma
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) March 13, 2023Celebrating the groundbreaking career of Oscar–winning Best Actress Michelle Yeoh 💥 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/9P3I7taQma
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) March 13, 2023
"Also, my extended family in Hong Kong, where I started my career. Thank you for letting me stand on your shoulders." The zany sci-fi adventure, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, centres on Yeoh's Evelyn Wang, a middle-aged laundromat owner who discovers she must connect with versions of herself from parallel universes to prevent cataclysmic destruction while being audited by the IRS.
Meanwhile, Michelle Yeoh’s mother cried for joy for her “little princess” when the Malaysian performer became the first Asian to win the best actress Oscar. Yeoh’s family and two Cabinet ministers were among the supporters roaring with joy at Yeoh's win during a special Academy Awards viewing party in Malaysia on Monday morning. Her trophy for her performance as a laundromat owner was one of seven Oscars for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” including best picture.
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The first black winner of the award handing that same award to the first Asian winner while the first Ginger winner watches… that’s history https://t.co/UOYXuouCNt
— oomf magazine (@oomfmagazine) March 13, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">The first black winner of the award handing that same award to the first Asian winner while the first Ginger winner watches… that’s history https://t.co/UOYXuouCNt
— oomf magazine (@oomfmagazine) March 13, 2023The first black winner of the award handing that same award to the first Asian winner while the first Ginger winner watches… that’s history https://t.co/UOYXuouCNt
— oomf magazine (@oomfmagazine) March 13, 2023
Janet Yeoh, 84, praised the actor as intelligent and hardworking and a filial daughter. “I love my daughter and she has made Malaysia proud,” Yeoh told a news conference after the viewing at a cinema in Kuala Lumpur. "Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia Can)!” Janet Yeoh said she was immensely proud of “my little princess,” who wanted to be a ballerina before entering the movie world. Yeoh said she pushed her daughter out of her cocoon despite protests from her late husband, a lawyer whom she described as “old-fashioned.”
“Coupled with this achievement, Michelle’s illustrious and exemplary career in this field will certainly continue to be a source of great inspiration and motivation to our homegrown actors and actresses and provide even greater impetus to the growth of our local industry,” Anwar said in a statement. “Way to go, Michelle!”.
Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who was at the viewing, immediately posted on social media: “Most inspiring quote for all of us aunties - ‘Ladies, don’t let anybody ever tell you that you are past your prime’ - Michelle Yeoh.” Lawmakers Sim Tze Sin and Wee Ka Siong thanked Michelle Yeoh for “breaking glass ceilings" for Asian and Malaysian women. They praised her for being an icon of resilience and perseverance.
Michelle Yeoh, 60, learned ballet before turning to act. Her first major Hollywood role was playing a Chinese spy in the Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies” in 1997 alongside Pierce Brosnan. She gained renown for her role in the 2000 martial arts masterpiece “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," a best-picture nominee that won the Oscar for best foreign language film. Yeoh had more recent success in the 2018 movie “Crazy Rich Asians” and Marvel's “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" in 2021. “We are incredibly proud. We hope she goes to break more records and win more awards,” her nephew Kelvin Yeoh said. (With agency inputs)
