Following her victory in March, where she clinched her first Oscar for her role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Michelle Yeoh ascended to Hollywood’s heights.
In an interview by Kering Women in Motion at the Cannes Film Festival, the Crazy Rich Asians actress revealed a significant shift: she now receives scripts that no longer seek an “Asian-looking” woman.
Michelle Yeoh reflected on her initial experience walking the red carpet at Cannes in 2000 for Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” She noted the emergence of several outstanding Asian films during that period.
However, when analyzing the films that receive recognition and accolades at Cannes, especially at the Oscars, Asian films are rarely represented. When our film was released, there were speculations that “Nobody in America would watch it because they can’t read the subtitles.” But here’s the truth: Americans can indeed read. It’s simply a matter of challenging boundaries and rejecting the notion that only a single standard exists.
Expanding on this sentiment, Michelle Yeoh added, “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.”
