For many years, when it comes to Hong Kong action movies, Michelle Yeoh's name is always hidden behind those internationally renowned male action stars; when it comes to literary films, she is often not the one who performs the best. But that's okay. Yeoh sticks to her own. Now that she has grown up, she can control action, comedy, sci-fi, romance, and family film. In this world, no one is more qualified than her for the role of Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Stuck in Hollywood
Michelle Yeoh had her moment when receiving her first Golden Globe shortly before her Oscar. When the music urged her to leave the stage, Michelle Yeoh responded directly, "Shut up, please! I can beat you up, okay? And that's serious." She explained later in an interview, “That was my first time on that stage, my first time receiving a Golden Globe. You can’t throw me off the stage.”
After all, actor Michelle Yeoh waited 25 years before the moment came when this Asian face could have their voice in Hollywood.
In 1997, Michelle Yeoh filmed her first Hollywood film, "Tomorrow Never Dies". At the time, it was a good start. She was the first Bond girl from Asia, who was not just a vase but a partner with Bond on a mission. After the film was released, some American media commented on Michelle Yeoh, "With her great combat skills, she made a fortune in Hollywood." It was a year when Michelle Yeoh was just 35.
However, in the following two years, Michelle Yeoh never received a satisfactory role that did not fall into female stereotypes. For a long time, combat skills were her strength and characteristic, but also a label that bound her. In Hollywood, the protagonist hero in an action movie is often a male character. Even if a woman appears occasionally, it will not be an Asian face.
Fortunately, not long after, Ang Lee appeared with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Ang Lee commented on Michelle Yeoh, "In terms of acting, she is a special case. She has been in the film industry for many years but never acted in any good movies, so she is a star who still has innocence. I think she has been waiting for the role of Yu Xiulian all her life."
When Ang Lee was preparing for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, he had regarded Michelle Yeoh as Yu Xiulian, a chivalrous woman who shoulders heavy moral responsibility. “She has been preparing for the role of Yu Xiulian all her life, so it must be her.”
In the end, Michelle Yeoh's performance moved Ang Lee. When Li Mubai died in the film, Yu Xiulian hugged him and cried. Li An said, "She was heartbroken. I know she cried not only for the grievance of Yu Xiulian but also how much bitterness she has...I can understand her feelings."
However, for a long time, Michelle Yeoh still did not get enough work in Hollywood to show her talent, although she had shown a great performance except for her combat skills in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Although she has acted in standard "Hollywood blockbusters" such as "The Mummy 3" and "Guardians of the Galaxy 2", and even served as an executive producer and producer for some films, she has never been able to come up with significant work and enter the mainstream of Hollywood.
Over these years, she was arranged to act in some functional roles. No matter how good her combat skills are, it is difficult to stand out. In Crazy Rich Asians in 2018, Michelle Yeoh played an evil mother-in-law. Although criticized for Asian stereotypes, it was the best role she could get.
During a Crazy Rich Asians promotional interview, a reporter said, "My mother is very excited when I know I'm coming to interview you." Behind the statement is Michelle Yeoh's real dilemma. Her audience seems to stay within the generation influenced by Hong Kong action movies. For many young audiences, Michelle Yeoh is a culture symbol. "I have heard the name, but I don't know her".
Michelle Yeoh was born into a wealthy businessman family in Malaysia, and her father holds the title of Malaysian Datuk. From she was 4, Michelle Yeoh began to receive ballet education and was admitted to the Royal Academy of Dance when she was 15. When she was young, she never dreamed of being an actress. Her wish was to open a ballet school in Malaysia.
But a serious spinal injury at 17 cut off her ballet dream. In 1983, she became the "Miss Malaysia" champion and entered the Hong Kong entertainment industry after receiving the attention of Poon Dickson, the owner of D & B Films Co. Ltd. In her first screen appearance, she shot a commercial with Jackie Chan. Then She shot her first movie "The Owl vs Bombo", in which the male actors did all the fighting scenes, and Michelle Yeoh was responsible for playing a weak female teacher.
Later, Michelle Yeoh said in the interview, "Save me" was enough to shout once. She is unwilling to play as a vase, but it is difficult to get important roles because of her bad Cantonese. With more than ten years of ballet skills, she is confident in her body control. She decided to join the Hong family's class and practice hard martial arts. Finally, she transformed into an action movie star.
No one believed the former beauty pageant champion was willing to practice kung fu. When men saw a woman standing opposite them, their fists always came softly. Michelle Yeoh understood that only when she was cruel to herself first, can others be true to her. For a simple shot of pulling out a gun from the car window, the director said that she was not strong enough, so she used all her strength, which blackened her whole arm.
But in real life, Michelle Yeoh is not a staunch rebel. She has also chosen to live a traditional life. When she was 26, Michelle Yeoh married Dickson Poon and took a break at the peak of her career. However, the marriage lasted only 3 years. "Being a traditional woman taking care of her husband and children is not me. I was never a traditional woman from the beginning, and I already accepted myself."
After the divorce, she threw herself into action movies again. The first film of her comeback filming was with Jackie Chan. Michelle Yeoh personally completed stunts including flying on a motorcycle, and jumping on a train, which made Jackie Chan shocked. "If I perform a stunt, Jackie Chan has to do a better one. Finally, she pulled me aside and said we could not do this anymore. "If you roll off the roof, I have to do the jumping scene; if you jump onto the train on a motorbike, I have to jump off the plane. If you continue, I’m afraid I am going to die.”
At that time, Michelle Yeoh was an international top Kung Fu star. In 1993, she completed 6 action movies, the same as Jackie Chan. In such desperate performances, injuries became common. When filming "Ah Kam" in 1996, Michelle Yeoh jumped off the flyover. Because of the wrong position, she broke three ribs and sprained her neck, back, and waist. After being sent to the hospital, she first called her parents in Malaysia nothing happened. It was just the movie promotion.
For Michelle Yeoh, it was her first starring role in a feature film, showing her ability as an actress rather than a Kung Fu girl.
In a sense, "Ah Kam" is the end of Michelle Yeoh's golden age of Hong Kong action movies. Then she started her more than 25 years Hollywood career.
"It is a role I've rehearsed my whole life for"
If not for the refusal of Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh's "Hollywood Dilemma" would probably continue.
Her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once was originally intended for Jackie Chan, because people are more willing to accept a man traveling through multiple universes. However, Jackie Chan declined the invitation, which is not a surprise for such a low-budget independent film.
The twist changed the fate of the film. Had a man played the leading role, it might have been just a low-budget absurd comedy with wild ideas. But Jackie Chan's resignation made the two directors consider the possibility of a female lead. One of the directors of the film, Daniel Kwan, himself of Asian origin, said in an interview, "We realized that if we were going to make a movie about multiverses, possibilities, and regrets, a role that has passed half your life will make it more powerful." An aging Asian female actor who can be funny and can fight, in Hollywood, I am afraid there is no one more suitable than Michelle Yeoh. "During the writing process, we switched the protagonist from a husband to a wife, and from that moment on, it was for Michelle Yeoh."
"When I read the script, I thought, this is what I've been waiting for." Michelle Yeoh seldom shows intense emotions in public. Even when talking about serious injuries, she often has a smile on her face. But when she talked about the first time she read the script of Everything Everywhere All at Once, she shed a rare tear and tried to restrain her trembling voice and said, "I finally have the opportunity to tell my fans, my family, that I can do everything."
At that time, the two directors met Michelle Yeoh and intended to explain the story but found that she had fully understood after reading the script. Although it is full of unimaginable settings such as bagel black holes and hot dog fingers, the story is only about the situation of an Asian mother who is over half a century old. Nothing is more familiar to Michelle Yeoh, "Every day in the supermarket, in Chinatown, we will see such mothers and aunts walking by, we never pay attention to them. They completely focus on what they are doing, going home, cooking for the family, and doing various things for the husband and children. I have a chance to give these women a voice and make them superheroes." Michelle Yeoh said.
She made only one request to the director, "don't name the main character after herself, Michelle. "Because the role should have her voice. If you give her a name like mine, the audience will think this woman is me. There are so many Evelyns in our lives. They deserve to be seen. "
Before the final release, no one had high expectations for such a movie, but Michelle Yeoh, at the age of nearly 60, finally waited for the moment to prove her actor value after more than 20 years in Hollywood.
It's almost a miracle. On March 12, 2023, Everything Everywhere All at Once swept 7 Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing. According to IGN statistics, Everything Everywhere All at Once has won 336 awards and 691 nominations in various selections this year, becoming the film with the most awards in film history.
And Michelle Yeoh finally waited for her moment. At the age of 60, she swept the awards season, won her first Oscar for Best Actress, and became the first Asian actress in the 95-year history of Oscar. The last time an actress of Asian appeared in the Oscar for Best Actress nomination even dates back to 1935. "Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime, never give up." Michelle Yeoh said in her Oscar acceptance speech.
People analyze why "Everything everywhere all at once" can create miracles. The success is that it tells a story with universal significance through the situation of an immigrant woman. It can be a story of anyone.
As for Michelle Yeoh, she tells a story about an Asian actor finally gaining the right to speak in Hollywood, or a story of a 60-year-old actress breaking through gender and age restrictions.
Last year, the US "Time" selected Michelle Yeoh as the 2022 Icon of the Year. The reporter asked about the "what ifs" in her life: What if she had never been injured as a ballet dancer? What if she has kids... Her answer is always the same. Knowing these "ifs" doesn't make any sense.
Now Michelle Yeoh has confirmed her point. No one's life can go back to the past. Therefore, we can only move forward, just as Michelle Yeoh said, "60 years old is the new golden age."
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