For those in the Asian community, Michelle Yeoh broke barriers across the globe when she won Best Actress at the 2023 Oscars. Her performance in the mind-boggling movie Everything Everywhere All At Once truly encompassed the struggle of the modern Asian American while also reflecting the confounding nature of real life. Being one of the 11 awards gifted to the admonished film, her acceptance speech resonated volumes.

During Yeoh’s acceptance speech, she recognized not only her family in Hong Kong but gave great commemoration to her mother for all her support. Even the first Asian actress to win an Oscar needs a support team. Her devotion to her mother shined brightly when Yeoh emphasized the importance that moms hold as the “superheroes” of the world. Yeoh’s message to “all the little boys and girls who look like [her]” cast a “beacon of hope and possibilities” and touched the hearts of all who watched her make history.

Yeoh’s career had a rather unorthodox beginning as her enrollment in a multitude of extracurriculars piqued her interest in ballet. She joined the Royal Academy of Dance in London in pursuit of becoming a professional ballet dancer, however, a back injury put those dreams to a halt. Despite her setback, Yeoh entered the Miss Malaysia pageant where she won the esteemed title. This victory and title introduced her to the world of acting, and she had her first debut in a commercial with Jackie Chan. Yeoh took on the name Michelle Khan as her acting career took flight and she signed on with a Hong Kong production company.

Her acting career had an intense start, to say the least. Starring in the action-drama Mao tou ying yu xiao fei xiang (The Owl vs. Bumbo), Yeoh was cast to fight. This role proved that her background in ballet was not in vain as she recognized the rhythmic nature of the fight sequence paralleled her dance experience. While this film padded her portfolio and opened the door for more roles in martial arts action films, it also led to another setback in Yeoh's career. This role opened the door for a wider range of opportunities, particularly in action movies, but did not come without a cost. As this role set a solid foundation for Yeoh's action movie career, it also led her to yet another setback. During the film, A Jin de gu shi (1996; The Stunt Woman), Yeoh acquired a number of injuries, including almost breaking her back, which led to her contemplation of retirement.

Taking her own advice from her future self, “Never give up”, Yeoh took encouragement from Quentin Tarantino and entered back into the acting world. Her audience grew as she took a role in Tomorrow Never Dies, a James Bond film, and exponentially spurted with her starring role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yeoh’s comeback from injury introduced her to the world of critically acclaimed movies as she began to take on roles in English-language films. The world truly became her oyster and came full circle with her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, where she was cast as a mother and a martial arts expert, all in one.

There is a real lesson to be learned from Yeoh’s journey. “Never give up”. Her dedication to her craft and work is summed up in her 2023 Oscar acceptance speech, but it goes beyond just words and into the cracks of her broken, now mended, bones. This May, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month gained a new role model and a mark in the book of history.

Written by Chloe Pham, Graphic Design: Maddie Case, Social Media: Sahithi Vemuri

From Ballet to Martial Arts