Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng, PSM (杨紫琼; born 6 August 1962) is a Malaysian actress who rose to fame in 1990s Hong Kong action films and is best known internationally for her roles in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), along with recent international English films and series.

Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng PSM (杨紫琼) was born on August 6, 1962, in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Her father, Yeoh Kian-teik, was a Malaysian Senator and Chairman of the Perak Bar Association, while also founding “Sri Maju,” an intercity coach service. Yeoh grew up in a multicultural environment, speaking English with her father and understanding some Malaysian Cantonese. Despite her Hokkien and Cantonese ancestry, she only became fluent in Cantonese in the 1980s and learned some Mandarin in the 2000s.

Yeoh started ballet at age four and attended Main Convent Ipoh and The Hammond School, Chester, in the UK. A spinal injury ended her aspirations to become a professional ballet dancer, leading her to focus on choreography and other arts. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1983.

Career

Early Career and First Retirement (1983–1991)

Yeoh’s career took off after winning the Miss Malaysia World contest in 1983. She represented Malaysia at the Miss World 1983 pageant and won the Miss Moomba International pageant in 1984. Her first acting job was in a commercial with Jackie Chan, which led to an offer from Hong Kong’s D&B Films. She began her acting career with action and martial arts films, performing her own stunts. Her first lead role was in “Yes, Madam” (1985), using the stage name Michelle Khan. In 1987, she married Dickson Poon and temporarily retired from acting.

Return and Establishment as Action and Martial Arts Star (1992–2001)

Yeoh returned to acting in 1992 with “Police Story 3: Super Cop.” She changed her stage name back to Michelle Yeoh for her Hollywood debut in “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997), where she starred alongside Pierce Brosnan. Her role in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) earned her international acclaim and a BAFTA nomination.

Career Fluctuations (2002–2016)

Yeoh’s career saw varied roles in films like “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005) and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” (2008). She portrayed Aung San Suu Kyi in “The Lady” (2011) and was blacklisted by the Burmese government for her role.

Supporting Roles (2017–2020)

Yeoh appeared in “Star Trek: Discovery” (2017–2020) and “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018). She also had roles in “Last Christmas” (2019) and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021).

Award Success (2021–present)

Yeoh starred in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022), earning critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress. She became the first Asian and first Malaysian to win in this category. She also appeared in “American Born Chinese” (2023) and was announced to star in “The Brothers Sun” and “A Haunting in Venice.”

Activism

Michelle Yeoh is actively involved in various social and charitable endeavors. She has worked extensively on global road safety campaigns, wildlife conservation, and as a UNDP ambassador for sustainable development goals. Her commitment to environmental issues and health and well-being initiatives has been widely recognized.

Personal Life

Yeoh was married to Hong Kong entrepreneur Dickson Poon from 1988 to 1992. Since 2004, she has been in a relationship with Jean Todt, with whom she got engaged in 2004. The couple reportedly married in July 2023. Yeoh does not have children and has spoken about the importance of diversity and against racial stereotyping in Hollywood.

Filmography and Accolades

Michelle Yeoh’s extensive filmography includes significant roles in both Asian and Western cinema. She has received numerous awards and honors, including a Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) title from Malaysia, the French title of Knight of the Legion of Honor, and inclusion in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in 2022. Yeoh’s contribution to the film industry was recognized with an honorary doctorate from the American Film Institute, making her the first Asian artist to receive this honor.

Michelle Yeoh Filmography

Poster for the movie "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Everything Everywhere All at Once

When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bewildering dangers from the multiverse, as the fate of everything hangs in the balance. A film from Daniels and starring Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., with James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Poster for the movie "Moonlight Express"

Moonlight Express

On the eve of her Japanese wedding, Hitomi (Takako Tokiwa) loses her fiance, Tatsuya, to a car accident. She travels to Hong Kong seeking solace and meets undercover cop Karbo — a dead ringer for Tatsuya. The duo is forced to take it on the lam when a corrupt colleague frames Karbo, and Hitomi soon finds herself torn between her love for Tatsuya and her blossoming feelings for her fellow fugitive.

Poster for the movie "Wonder Seven"

Wonder Seven

Wonder Seven, a secret group of well-trained government agents in China, has been assigned a case of a computer disc robbery. At first, everything seems to go smooth, when a disastrous national conspiracy unravels. Seven get caught and are forced to strike back. Meanwhile, the leader of Seven, Yip, develops a forbidden romance with a mysterious Japanese lady…

Poster for the movie "Holy Weapon"

Holy Weapon

During the Ming dynasty, Mo Kake takes an invincibility drink to defeat the best Japanese warrior, Super Sword. Three years later, the samurai returns, determined to take the power of 7 Maidens to defeat Mo Kake.

Poster for the movie "Executioners"

Executioners

Set some time after The Heroic Trio (1993) the city has been devastated by a nuclear attack. An evil deformed villain controls the city’s scarce water supply, exerting influence over both a popular leader and a militarist colonel. The trio of Chat the Thief catcher, Ching, and Wonder Woman (along with her young daughter) have to avert a military takeover and find clean headwaters to save the city.

Poster for the movie "The Heroic Trio"

The Heroic Trio

An invisible woman is kidnapping newborn babies who are destined to be emperors and delivering them to the mysterious subterranean supernatural Evil Master. The police are powerless, and the city must be saved by three very different women who share a terrible past. Anita Mui plays the mild-mannered wife of a police inspector who’s also the mask-wearing, sword-slinging and knife-throwing crime fighter, Wonder Woman. Maggie Cheung plays the shotgun-toting, hard-boiled bounty hunter, Thief Catcher. Michelle … Read more

Poster for the movie "The Stunt Woman"

The Stunt Woman

A few years in the life of Ah Kam, starting with her joining action director Master Tung’s team of regulars.

Poster for the movie "Crazy Rich Asians"

Crazy Rich Asians

An American-born Chinese economics professor accompanies her boyfriend to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding, only to get thrust into the lives of Asia’s rich and famous.

Poster for the movie "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The movie, based on Marvel Comics, will focus on Shang-Chi; ‘The Master of Kung-Fu’.

Poster for the movie "Master Z: Ip Man Legacy"

Master Z: Ip Man Legacy

After being defeated by Ip Man, Cheung Tin Chi is attempting to keep a low profile. While going about his business, he gets into a fight with a foreigner by the name of Davidson, who is a big boss behind the bar district. Tin Chi fights hard with Wing Chun and earns respect.

Poster for the movie "Silver Hawk"

Silver Hawk

Michelle Yeoh plays Lulu Wong, a much-idolized rock star and philanthropist by day, and a superheroine, Silver Hawk, who fights injustice in the skin-tight black leather outfit as her alter-ego. Richie Ren plays police detective Richman, who has an uncanny instinct and incredible wit, but he hates Silver Hawk for being always two steps ahead of the police. Both of them, however, join hands to fight a baddie, Wolfe (Luke Goss) who wants to dominate … Read more

Poster for the movie "Yes, Madam"

Yes, Madam

Asprin (Mang Hoi) and Strepsil (John Shum), two petty thieves who inadvertently become involved in a murder case when they steal items belonging to a murdered man. The man had hidden an important microfilm in his passport, which the thieves pass onto a forger friend Panadol (Tsui Hark). Inspector Ng (Michelle Yeoh) is assigned to the case, along with Inspector Morris (Cynthia Rothrock) from Scotland Yard! The investigation leads the cops to the bumbling crooks … Read more

Poster for the movie "Reign of Assassins"

Reign of Assassins

Set in ancient China, Zeng Jing is a skilled assassin who finds herself in possession of a mystical Buddhist monk’s remains. She begins a quest to return the remains to its rightful resting place, and thus places herself in mortal danger because a team of assassins is in a deadly pursuit to possess the remains which holds an ancient power-wielding secret.

Poster for the movie "True Legend"

True Legend

Su Qi-Er, a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, Su dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero known as the “King of Beggars.”

Poster for the movie "The Soong Sisters"

The Soong Sisters

The Soong family was a political dynasty in China that reached the highest levels of power. This film follows the lives of the three Soong daughters, who were educated in America and returned to China. Ai-ling (the oldest) married a wealthy and powerful businessman. Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary founder of modern China. Mei-ling (the youngest) married Chiang Kai-shek, China’s l

Poster for the movie "The Children of Huang Shi"

The Children of Huang Shi

About young British journalist, George Hogg, who with the assistance of a courageous Australian nurse, saves a group of orphaned children during the Japanese occupation of China in 1937.

Poster for the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman’s daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.

Poster for the movie "The Touch"

The Touch

A sister and brother, the last heirs of a family of acrobats, are called upon by a Buddhist monk sect to retrieve an artifact that their ancestors have protected throughout the ages.