Michelle Yeoh: Meet the First Asian Best Actress Oscar Nominee

Michelle Yeoh: Meet the First Asian Best Actress Oscar Nominee
Source: Los Angeles Times
  • Michelle Yeoh is a Malaysian actress who rose to prominence after appearing in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), and other films
  • She has been nominated for an Oscar for the first time at the 95th Academy Awards
  • Yeoh is honored in the Best Actress category for the film, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Michelle Yeoh received the first Oscar nomination of her career

Michelle Yeoh, 60, has been nominated for an Oscar for the first time at the 95th Academy Awards, which will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023.

The Malaysian-born actress is honored in the Best Actress category for Everything Everywhere All at Once. The film led the nominations, receiving a total of 11 Oscar nods including one for best picture.

Each of the core cast members earned individual recognition for their performance including the writing/directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheiner as the best director and original screenplay.

Michelle Yeoh has been nominated for an Oscar for the first time at the 95th Academy Awards
Michelle Yeoh has been nominated for an Oscar for the first time at the 95th Academy Awards (Source: Variety)

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Similarly, Ke Huy Quan has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor whereas Stephanie Hsu, and Jamie Lee Curtis for Best Supporting Actresses.

The film also received nods for its costume design and film editing.

Yeoh is competing with Cate Blanchett for Tar, Ana de Armas, for Blons, Andrea Riseborough for Leslie, and Michelle Williams for The Fabelmans.

Michelle Yeoh is an inspiration for any Asian actors

Michelle Yeoh has become the first Asian woman to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress.

She has attained the most elevated accolade so far in more than 40 years of her acting career.

Yeoh told PEOPLE last year that she feels inspired and enthusiastic about her career at this point, both because of the variety of opportunities she has received and what it implies for other Asian performers.

She explained,

“What [is special about] this moment in my career is having so many people who look like me, especially the younger generation [of Asian actors], come up to me and say, ‘Finally, I can see myself doing all these kinds of things because you are doing it,”

Michelle Yeoh is honored in the Best Actress category for Everything Everywhere All at Once
Michelle Yeoh receives the honor in the Best Actress category for Everything Everywhere All at Once (Source: Entertainment Weekly)

“We have to stand up for our+selves and be courageous enough to have a voice. We deserve a voice. I think at this point in my career, that is what I’m really enjoying: the fact that we are getting more opportunities and the opportunities we deserve.”

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Michelle Yeoh’s reaction to her 2023 OSCAR nomination

Michelle Yeoh issued a statement on Tuesday, January 25, in response to her nomination for best actress for “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.”

She began,

“I am overwhelmed and overjoyed with happiness! Every single person who worked on this film poured their heart and soul into it, and we are all so grateful to the Academy for recognizing so many from our EEAAO family,”

Michelle Yeoh has become the first Asian woman to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress
Michelle Yeoh has become the first Asian woman to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress (Source: Just Jared)

Michelle went on to say, “Playing Evelyn Wang has been one of the great privileges of my 40-year career.” She declared it to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Last but not least she concludes her statement by thanking Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for believing in her and providing her with the opportunity.

“I will forever cherish this moment”

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Short bio on Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh is a Malaysian actress. She gained popularity by appearing in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Crazy Rich Asians, and more.

She is part of upcoming big-budget projects such as The Witcher: Blood Origin, Avatar 3, Avatar 2, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Her work led her to win the Asian Media Award (1998), the ShoWest Award for International Star of the Year (2001), and the Outstanding Contribution to Asian Cinema (2013). See more

 

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