Michelle Yeoh Opens Up On Her Career And Being An Inspiration To Young Asian Actors

Almost 40 years after her debut as an actress, Michelle Yeoh is receiving international recognition and fantastic reviews for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at once.” With this success, the actress is paving the way for the younger generation of Asian actors to shine.

In a recent interview, Yeoh spoke about her decades-long career and how excited she is about the new opportunities for Asians in the film industry. Read on to find out what she said, how her new movie has performed, and how she is an inspiration to the new generation.

During a recent interview with People magazine, 59-year-old Yeoh spoke about the different facets of her that she brings to each project. She said, “Every time I make a movie, I hope the audience discovers something new about me.”

She also said, “What I really enjoyed doing (in Everything Everywhere All at Once) was the physical comedy, which I’ve not really done before. You’ve seen me in martial arts films — I’m always serene. I know exactly what I’m doing. I am the teacher, the mentor.”

“And suddenly in this one, my character, Evelyn Wang, she knows nothing,” Yeoh continued, “She’s a very ordinary, aging housewife who’s got so many troubles in her head. It was really fun.”

Yeoh is a famous and very successful actress best known for her iconic roles such as Yu Shu Lien in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” Wai Lin in “Tomorrow Never Dies,” Eleanor Young in “Crazy Rich Asians,” and Ying Nan in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”

When asked how she feels about her career now, Yeoh revealed that she is excited and encouraged about where she is as an actress. She was extremely happy about the opportunities she has had in her career and what it means for the future of other Asian actors in the industry.

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

“We have to stand up for ourselves and be courageous enough to have a voice. We deserve a voice,” she continued, “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.”

Yeoh also said that she prefers to go with the flow when it comes to her career and what she would like to accomplish in the future instead of making to-do lists and worrying endlessly about it.

She said, “When I was younger, I used to make that to-do list and cross it off and feel like I had accomplished something. But now I find that limiting. Sometimes you stop listening or seeing the things that are around you. So that’s what I do now: I go with the flow… I don’t make lists anymore.”

Yeoh also said, “I have to appreciate the ride I’ve been on because I believe if you sit back and keep thinking, ‘Oh, how I could have done that (differently)...’ No. You have to think forward. If you made a mistake, how do you make sure you don’t do it again? It’s by letting go and moving forward.”

During the interview, Yeoh also made it clear that she enjoyed tackling all the challenges that came with filming “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” One of the many good things the film gave her was her friendship with co-star Jamie Lee Curtis.

Curtis has also had nothing but good reviews about Yeoh. She said, “Michelle gives one of the great performances onscreen ever. Her ability to dodge in and out of multiple dialects and physical comedy and real drama and wacky sci-fi martial arts stuff — all seemingly effortlessly — is really quite jaw-dropping and thrilling to behold.”

Yeoh has also called Curtis “the most generous, amazing woman, not just a brilliant artist talent.” She also said, “She brings her heart and soul, and she’s so giving and always kind and thoughtful to everyone around her.” The two women are terrific friends, and it shows in their onscreen chemistry.