Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Happy Birthday, Michelle Yeoh!The newly minted (andnewly married!)Oscar winnercelebrates her 61st birthday on Aug. 6, 2023, and to celebrate, we’re taking a look at her long and illustrious career in photos.
Happy Birthday, Michelle Yeoh!
The newly minted (andnewly married!)Oscar winnercelebrates her 61st birthday on Aug. 6, 2023, and to celebrate, we’re taking a look at her long and illustrious career in photos.
01of 13’Yes, Madam!,' 1985EverettThe buddy cop film — starring two females, Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock (left), somewhat of a first — was just Yeoh’s second feature.“The first hurdle I had to go through was the guys accepting me to the boys' club,“she toldThe Hollywood Reporter.She joined the stuntmen at the gym, asking them to teach her their ways.“I think it was quite refreshing for them,” she added. “Humility goes a long way.”
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‘Yes, Madam!,’ 1985
Everett
The buddy cop film — starring two females, Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock (left), somewhat of a first — was just Yeoh’s second feature.
“The first hurdle I had to go through was the guys accepting me to the boys' club,“she toldThe Hollywood Reporter.She joined the stuntmen at the gym, asking them to teach her their ways.
“I think it was quite refreshing for them,” she added. “Humility goes a long way.”
02of 13’Tai Chi Master,' 1993EverettThe 1993 action film paired Yeoh with another big name — Jet Li — and put the stunt training she began onYes, Madam!to good use.
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‘Tai Chi Master,’ 1993
The 1993 action film paired Yeoh with another big name — Jet Li — and put the stunt training she began onYes, Madam!to good use.
03of 13’The Soong Sisters,' 1997EverettYeoh starred in the true story of three influential Chinese sisters. “Every time I make a movie, I hope the audience discovers something new about me,“the star told PEOPLEof the parts she takes.
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‘The Soong Sisters,’ 1997
Yeoh starred in the true story of three influential Chinese sisters. “Every time I make a movie, I hope the audience discovers something new about me,“the star told PEOPLEof the parts she takes.
04of 13’Tomorrow Never Dies,' 1997MGM"I was quite surprised when they did cast me,“she toldEW.“When I did get the role I remember going to do the audition with Pierce [Brosnan] and it’s like oh my god — phew! — and he is the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful gentleman. We had such a great time filming. The most fun is when I was going through immigration and you have to explain why you are coming to London and what movie you are doing. and I said, ‘Oh I’m going to be in a Bond movie,’ and you could see [the officials'] face change. It was so great.”
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‘Tomorrow Never Dies,’ 1997
MGM
“I was quite surprised when they did cast me,“she toldEW.“When I did get the role I remember going to do the audition with Pierce [Brosnan] and it’s like oh my god — phew! — and he is the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful gentleman. We had such a great time filming. The most fun is when I was going through immigration and you have to explain why you are coming to London and what movie you are doing. and I said, ‘Oh I’m going to be in a Bond movie,’ and you could see [the officials'] face change. It was so great.”
05of 13’Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' 2000EverettFor director Ang Lee’s epic, the actress had to learn Mandarin and perform wire stunts. “That was probably the most memorable, the most happy, the most painful, the most emotional,“she toldEWof the Oscar-winning film. “I have the greatest love and respect for [Ang Lee]. I literally waited for him for two years, I didn’t do another film. It was worth the wait.”
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‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ 2000
For director Ang Lee’s epic, the actress had to learn Mandarin and perform wire stunts. “That was probably the most memorable, the most happy, the most painful, the most emotional,“she toldEWof the Oscar-winning film. “I have the greatest love and respect for [Ang Lee]. I literally waited for him for two years, I didn’t do another film. It was worth the wait.”
06of 13’The Touch,' 2002EverettThe Touchput Yeoh’s martial arts skills to the test, and brought her to some very unique locations, including the mountains of Nepal.
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‘The Touch,’ 2002
The Touchput Yeoh’s martial arts skills to the test, and brought her to some very unique locations, including the mountains of Nepal.
07of 13’Memoirs of a Geisha,' 2005EverettThis big-screen adaptation is her mother’s favorite because “I look so glamorous and beautiful,” Yeoh told PEOPLE.
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‘Memoirs of a Geisha,’ 2005
This big-screen adaptation is her mother’s favorite because “I look so glamorous and beautiful,” Yeoh told PEOPLE.
08of 13’The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,' 2008EverettYeoh, here on the set of the hit 2008 action film, relishes the opportunity to do her own stunts whenever possible. “In this [job], you get to do things you will never do in real life,” she said. “It gives you a great sense of achievement.”
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‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,’ 2008
Yeoh, here on the set of the hit 2008 action film, relishes the opportunity to do her own stunts whenever possible. “In this [job], you get to do things you will never do in real life,” she said. “It gives you a great sense of achievement.”
09of 13’Star Trek: Discovery,' 2017-2020Everett"I was very proud to play a captain,“Yeoh toldEW. “And when I came back on in a later part in the series as Emperor Philippa Georgio, it was delicious, I just reveled in it. I had such an amazing time.”
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‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ 2017-2020
“I was very proud to play a captain,“Yeoh toldEW. “And when I came back on in a later part in the series as Emperor Philippa Georgio, it was delicious, I just reveled in it. I had such an amazing time.”
10of 13’Crazy Rich Asians,' 2018Everett"I remember turning the script down,“Yeoh toldEWof her reaction to the character after having also read the book. “The mother was just too superficially mean, there was no depth, there was no love, no connection at all,” she continued.“But I met [director] Jon Chu, we had a Zoom call, so I asked him a very simple question: ‘What kind of movie are you making? Is it going to be aHangovertype of film?’ He said, ‘No, if I did that, my mother would kill me!’ So I said, ‘Okay, maybe we can have a conversation here.’ "
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‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ 2018
“I remember turning the script down,“Yeoh toldEWof her reaction to the character after having also read the book. “The mother was just too superficially mean, there was no depth, there was no love, no connection at all,” she continued.
“But I met [director] Jon Chu, we had a Zoom call, so I asked him a very simple question: ‘What kind of movie are you making? Is it going to be aHangovertype of film?’ He said, ‘No, if I did that, my mother would kill me!’ So I said, ‘Okay, maybe we can have a conversation here.’ "
11of 13’Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,' 2021Marvel"What an incredible trip,“Yeoh toldEWof the Marvel hit. “I could play the sane-sounding, wise, embracing [character]. And I love those kinds of roles, and I love to be able to help these youngsters understand that sometimes it’s okay, it’s all right. And family will always be here for you.”
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‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,’ 2021
Marvel
“What an incredible trip,“Yeoh toldEWof the Marvel hit. “I could play the sane-sounding, wise, embracing [character]. And I love those kinds of roles, and I love to be able to help these youngsters understand that sometimes it’s okay, it’s all right. And family will always be here for you.”
12of 13’Everything Everywhere All at Once,' 2022Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh inEverything Everywhere All at Once(2022).Allyson RiggsYeoh calledEverything Everywhere All at Onceactress and new friend Jamie Lee Curtis (left) “the most generous, amazing woman.“The genre-defying fantasy about a laundromat owner who hops through multiple universes to save the world was one of the actress’s most physically demanding roles ever. It also earned her the best reviews of her career.“Michelle gives one of the great performances onscreen ever,” Curtis told PEOPLE. “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.”
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‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ 2022
Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh inEverything Everywhere All at Once(2022).Allyson Riggs
Yeoh calledEverything Everywhere All at Onceactress and new friend Jamie Lee Curtis (left) “the most generous, amazing woman.”
The genre-defying fantasy about a laundromat owner who hops through multiple universes to save the world was one of the actress’s most physically demanding roles ever. It also earned her the best reviews of her career.
“Michelle gives one of the great performances onscreen ever,” Curtis told PEOPLE. “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.”
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Winning Best Actress, 2023
Michelle Yeoh poses in the press room at the 95th annual Academy Awards.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Everything Everywhere All at Oncewent on to win the2023 Oscar for Best Picture, and Yeoh herself made history as the first Asian woman to win in theBest Actress category.
source: people.com
