Michelle Yeoh had no intention of acting career

Michelle Yeoh never dreamed of becoming an actress

Michelle Yeoh, full name Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng, is a Malaysian actress, producer, and former beauty queen. She was born on August 6, 1962, in Ipoh, Malaysia. Yeoh is widely regarded as one of the most successful and internationally recognized Asian actresses.

Yeoh initially gained prominence as a martial arts film star in Hong Kong cinema during the 1990s. She starred in several action films, showcasing her impressive martial arts skills, grace, and versatility as an actress. Some of her notable Hong Kong films include “Yes, Madam!” (1985), “Police Story 3: Super Cop” (1992), and “Tai Chi Master” (1993).

Internationally, Yeoh achieved widespread recognition for her role as Wai Lin, a Chinese spy, in the 1997 James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies.” Her performance in the film received critical acclaim, and she became the first Asian Bond girl in the franchise’s history.

In 2000, Yeoh gained further acclaim for her role in the martial arts film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” directed by Ang Lee. The film was a global success and earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress. She demonstrated her martial arts prowess and garnered praise for her emotional depth in the role.

The 60-year-old star made history earlier this year by becoming the first Asian to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ but admitted that she had actually aspired to own a dance studio when she was younger.

“I never dreamt of being on the silver screen. My world was always around dance, and I wanted to have my own school. I wanted to always be dancing with music and all that.”

The actress explained that being in the movie industry was simply an “opportunity that came by”.

Yeoh recalled: “And then I thought, well, you know, nothing ventured, nothing gained. And thankfully I loved it. And here I am today.”

The star revealed that the “best thing” about her awards success is that she is no longer only getting scripts for “Asian-looking” characters.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival recently, Michelle said: “The best thing that has happened is I receive a script that doesn’t describe the character as a Chinese or Asian-looking person.

“We are actors. We are supposed to act. We are supposed to step into roles that are given to us and do our job as best we can. That, for me, is the biggest step forward.”

Michelle reflected on her first time at Cannes over 20 years ago with ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and said she felt it was “quite obvious” Hollywood wasn’t ready to celebrate Asian actors at the time.

She said: “There were so many great Asian, Chinese movies that came out at that time.

“But if you look at all the films that get nominated here in Cannes and get awards, very rarely, especially at the Oscars…they would nominate best director, best film, everything. You wonder how do you get there without the actors? So, it seems a little odd.

“When ‘Crouching Tiger’ came out, people were saying, ‘No one in America will watch this film because they don’t know how to read subtitles.’ But guess what? Americans do know how to read.”

Yeoh has since appeared in numerous international films, showcasing her range as an actress. Some of her notable works include “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005), “The Lady” (2011), where she portrayed Burmese democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, and “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018), a romantic comedy that garnered critical acclaim for its representation of Asians in mainstream Hollywood.

Aside from acting, Yeoh has taken on producing roles and has been actively involved in various humanitarian and charitable endeavors. She has received numerous awards throughout her career for her contributions to the film industry and her philanthropic work.

Michelle Yeoh is known for her elegance, poise, and ability to tackle diverse roles in both action and dramatic films. Her international success has made her an influential figure in the entertainment industry and a role model for aspiring actors.

Michelle Yeoh’s net worth is estimated to be about $40 million