After an illustrious career spanning four decades, Michelle Yeoh finally became an Oscar winner two months ago for Everything Everywhere All At Once . She says Asian artists have been overlooked for too long but remains hopeful for the future.
Speaking at the Kering Women in Motion panel at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Michelle Yeoh recalled the first time she came to the prestigious film festival with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon more than 20 years ago.
Star Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh made it clear that Hollywood was not ready to recognize Asian actors at the time. Lee’s film was a box office hit, earning more than $200 million worldwide and earning 10 Oscar nominations, including best picture, director and screenplay. But none of the actors were nominated.
"There were a lot of great Asian and Chinese films coming out around the time Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon came out. But if you look at the films that were nominated at Cannes, especially at the Oscars, they would nominate for best director, best picture, everything... but it's very rare for Asian actors to get nominated," Michelle Yeoh added.
She continued: "When Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon came out, people said, 'No one in America will see this movie because they can't read subtitles.' But guess what? Americans can read."
Crazy Rich Asians became a global success in 2018, and Michelle Yeoh said Hollywood executives finally took notice. But if Crazy Rich Asians hadn't turned a profit, she said, "I wouldn't be sitting here today."
Michelle Yeoh commented on the standards in the entertainment business, where men are given more opportunities than women, even when financially unsuccessful.
"There are blockbusters that lose money like crazy, but they keep making them," the actress said. "The studios think that's their comfort zone: the bigger the budget, the more violent, the more CGI, the better the blockbuster. But that's not the truth. It's storytelling."
Michelle Yeoh revealed there will be no sequel to Everything Everywhere All At Once during a conversation with Variety at the Cannes Film Festival.
Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All At Once
"The best thing that happened was that I got a script that didn't portray a character as Chinese or someone who looked Asian. We're actors. We have to play the roles we're given and do our job the best we can. For me, that was the biggest step forward," she added.
For the Oscars, Michelle Yeoh hopes to create a path forward not only for herself to negotiate higher pay and better roles, but for others as well.
"The most important thing the award has done is to create pride among our people," said the Malaysian-born actress, referring to the history-making aspect of her win as the first Asian actress to receive the Best Actress Oscar and the second woman of color to receive the award after Halle Berry's win in 2002.
"Honestly, the day I won the Oscar, I heard cheers from somewhere in the world. This opened a door that had been closed behind me... Now we have to change our mindset. If I can do it, you can do it too," Michelle Yeoh admitted.
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