95th Oscars 2023: Michelle Yeoh – Miss Malaysia 1983
Did you know Yeoh was crowned Miss Malaysia in 1983? As her country’s representative, she placed 18th out of 72 contestants at the 1983 Miss World pageant in London. That same year, she also travelled to Australia where she won several other pageants, including Miss Moomba International and Queen of the Pacific.
In one interview for The Graham Norton Show, she revealed that she entered and won the Miss Malaysia beauty contest in 1983 to “shut her mother up". “I did it to shut her up. Because she wouldn’t stop about it, so we had a deal. If I do this, you will never do something like this again,” Yeoh said about her mother Janet, who signed her up for the beauty pageant when she was in her early 20s.
Incidentally, her late father, Yeoh Kian Teik, was also a prominent Malaysian, a former chairman of the Perak Malaysian Chinese Association, lawyer and businessman who founded the Sri Maju express bus service.
Michelle Yeoh Miss Malaysia 1983
Inspired by fame and her passion for ballad, Michelle Yeoh enrolled in the royal academy of dance in London where she attained an advanced level degree. Surname Yeoh, Michelle is a Malaysian actress, best known for her works in the Hong Kong action film industry.
Michelle is Miss Malaysia 1983 at the age of 20. She is also known for her international roles in the James Bbond film, 'Tomorrow never dies'. Born in the mining town of Ipoh, Malaysia, Yeoh earned an international standing as a teenage athlete. Actress, model & dancer Michelle Yeoh, is a famous Malaysian actress who later rose to fame from the 1990's up to this time.
Known for action films — and for performing many of her own stunts — Yeoh became a Hong Kong favorite after landing the lead role in the martial arts films. One can imagine the tremendous talent and grit that Yeoh possess that allowed her to swing, somersault, punch and kick her way through the. Her parents, having returned to Malaysia for a summer break in 1983, Michelle was shocked to discover that her mother had secretly entered her for Miss Malaysia contest. Named Miss Malaysia in 1983, Michelle Yeoh went on to become one of Asia's top film stars. Michelle Yeoh was at the Miss World pageant in London, November 1983 where she was placed 18th out of 72 contestants. She was just 20 years old at that time.
Michelle Yeoh reveals she won Miss Malaysia to ‘shut her mother up’
Michelle Yeoh revealed that she entered and won the Miss Malaysia beauty contest in 1983 to “shut her mother up.” In an interview on “The Graham Norton Show” on Feb. 3, Yeoh recalled how her mother, Janet, signed her up for the beauty pageant when she was in her early 20s.
The “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actor, 60, recounted coming home for the holidays from England when she was 21 years old to find her mother was “suddenly looped into this whole thing about” how she should be on stage more.
I’m thinking, "What on earth is she on about?" Next thing I knew, my brother – she looped my brother into doing [the same], he was like, "Yeah, yeah, you should try that." She had entered me for Miss Malaysia. She actually signed the form, so technically, I’m not legit.
As Yeoh laughed along with the audience, host Norton said, “But you’d think, ‘Oh, terrible thing to do’, but – you won!” “I did it to shut her up. Because she wouldn’t stop about it, so we had a deal. If I do this, you will never do something like this again,” Yeoh replied. In the interview, Yeoh also spoke about how her strict mother would chaperone her dates when she was a teenager.
Malaysian Actress Michelle Yeoh in Miss World 1983
In 1983, at the age of 21, Yeoh won the Miss Malaysia beauty pageant.
She was also Malaysia's representative at the 1983 Miss World pageant in London. She was placed 18th out of 72 contestants, the winner was Sarah Jane Hutt who was born in Poole, England. United Kingdom and who has won the Miss World title five times.
Michelle Yeoh went on to compete later that year in Moomba Miss Tourism International 1983 held in Australia and won the crown for Malaysia. In some of her past interviews she never mentioned the fact that she competed for Miss World and her international beauty title.She is only 5'4" by the way.
Michelle Yeoh at Miss World 1983
Michelle Yeoh at the Miss World pageant in London, November 1983 - Parade of Delegate. She went with her Chinese name "Yeoh Choo-Kheng".
Thanks for the upload! I never knew about her pre-H.K.-films career until now. I didn't even know she was born and raised in Malaysia.
She so pretty back then.....but she gots more beautiful as time goes by! I like her before but I want her today and I'm gonna love her tomorrow! She looks great and awesome .... adorable in all her movies!
I'm gonna be a huge fan of her,forever and ever! LOVEYEOH!
Michelle Yeoh at Miss World 1983
Michelle Yeoh at the Miss World pageant in London, November 1983. She went with her Chinese name "Yeoh Choo-Kheng".
She was a friend of mine back in 1982 when we were the same year on the Creative Arts degree at Crewe and Alsager College [now part of Manchester Met Uni]. Choo, as we all knew her then, studied Dance and Drama and I studied Music and Drama. A very lovely and gentle person.
From miss to the martial art and became the icon, what a legend. Can't wait for Shang Chi.
Michelle Yeoh wins OSCARS 95 best actress
Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan to present at the 96th Oscars 2024 on 11 Mar 2024
Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, named best actress and best supporting actor at last year's Oscars, have been tapped to return this year as presenters.
Breaking the news: The Academy announced on Monday its full line-up of presenters for the 96th Oscars, which will take place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on March 11. Aside from Yeoh and Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” co-star Jamie Lee Curtis, who won the best supporting actress category for her role, will also return to present.
Other presenters include Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Lange, Matthew McConaughey, Lupita Nyong’o, Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sam Rockwell and Zendaya.
Malaysians celebrate Michelle Yeoh's historic Best Actress Oscar win
Michelle Yeoh and Jean Todt after her historic win. Photo: Michelle Yeoh/Instagram
The Internet was filled with words of praise and congratulatory messages for Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh after she won Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards held Sunday (March 12) in Los Angeles.
Yeoh, 60, won the coveted acting prize for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, making her the first actress of Asian descent and first Malaysian to win the award in the Academy's 95-year history. She beat her closest contender, two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (Tar) for Hollywood's top acting honour. Other nominees in the category include Ana De Armas (Blonde), Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie) and Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans). Hundreds of Malaysians flocked to social media to congratulate Yeoh for putting Malaysia on the map.
In a comment on The Star's Instagram page, @rfionahc commented: "I am extra proud to be a Malaysian today! Congratulations Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh. l am mighty proud of this lady. In fact, all Malaysians should be proud of her." "It will be a very, very long time from now before the next Malaysian (gets a nomination or wins) another Oscar. Well done Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh," Peter Cheah wrote on Facebook.
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'Making us proud': Malaysian politicians, netizens laud Michelle Yeoh for historic Oscar win
Mrs Janet Yeoh (left), mother to actress Michelle Yeoh, celebrating her daughter's Oscars win alongside Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Nancy Shukri (centre) and Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh (right) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Mar 13, 2023. (Photo: Twitter/@hannahyeoh)
Malaysian politicians took to social media to congratulate Michelle Yeoh on her historic win at the Oscars 95th Academy Awards in the Best Actress category on Monday (Mar 13) for her lead role in hit indie film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Yeoh is the first Malaysian and Asian to win Best Actress at the prestigious award ceremony. The Ipoh-born actress won the Oscar over her fellow nominees Cate Blanchett (Tár), Ana de Armas (Blonde), Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie) and Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) for her portrayal of Evelyn Wang in the zany sci-fi film.
In a Facebook post, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim congratulated the actress on her win and paid tribute to her illustrious career. “In creating history by being not just the first Malaysian but the very first Asian actress to win in this category, we take enormous pride in her achievement, adding to a long list of successes and capping a critically acclaimed acting career spanning decades. “Coupled with this latest accomplishment, Michelle’s illustrious and exemplary career in this field will certainly continue to be a source of great inspiration and motivation to our homegrown actors and actresses and provide even greater impetus to the growth of our local industry,” Mr Anwar wrote.
Michelle Yeoh makes history as 1st Asian woman to win Oscar for best actress
Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Quan Wang in A24's "Everything Everywhere All at Once." Courtesy of A24
Michelle Yeoh won the Academy 95th Award for best actress at the 2023 Oscars Sunday night for her performance in "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
Yeoh, who was born in Malaysia and is a legend in the Hong Kong action film world, also made history as the first Asian woman to win best actress in the 95-year history of the Academy Awards. This was Yeoh's first Oscar nomination. "For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities," Yeoh said in her acceptance speech, adding, "Dream big and dreams do come true."
The actress also gave a shout-out to women, saying, "And ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up." Yeoh dedicated the win to her 84-year-old mom, who she said was watching at home in Malaysia, as well as "all the moms in the world because they are really the superheroes and, without them, none of us will be here tonight." Yeoh, who starred in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and 2018's "Crazy Rich Asians," played Evelyn Wang in "Everything Everywhere All at Once." The film was written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, aka "the Daniels."
Oscars: Michelle Yeoh is first Asian to win best actress for Everything Everywhere All At Once
A still from Everything Everywhere All At Once starring (from left) Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. PHOTO: MM2 ENTERTAINMENT
Michelle Yeoh on Sunday made history by becoming the first Asian to win the best actress Oscar, for her exuberant portrayal of an immigrant business owner in the sci-fi trip Everything Everywhere All At Once. The film also bagged the Best Picture award.
Yeoh, 60, was widely regarded as the front-runner for the award after claiming a Screen Actors Guild honour and a Golden Globe award for the role. This was her first Oscar nomination. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dream big and dreams do come true,” Yeoh said while accepting her award. “And ladies, don’t let anybody ever tell you you are past your prime.”
In Everything Everywhere, Yeoh’s character, Evelyn Wang, is struggling to finish her taxes when she is swept into alternate universes. The science-fiction film was a critical and commercial success and also won the best picture Oscar.
Michelle Yeoh makes history with 1st Oscar win
Many of Hollywood's biggest stars were honored at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday.
"Everything Everywhere All at Once" lead this year's Oscars, winning seven of the 11 awards it was nominated for including the night's biggest prizes of best picture and best director. Michelle Yeoh, the film's star, made history as the first Asian woman to win the Oscar for best actress.
“This is proof that dreams ... do come true,” she said during her acceptance speech. “And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime."
Michelle Yeoh makes history as first Asian to win best actress Oscar
Michelle Yeoh on Sunday made history by becoming the first Asian woman to win the best actress Oscar, for her exuberant portrayal of an immigrant business owner thrust into a zany multiverse in the sci-fi trip "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
The Hollywood veteran won over Academy voters with her complex take on Evelyn Wang, a Chinese American laundromat owner who is mired in a tax audit, stuck in a crumbling marriage and struggling to connect with her daughter Joy.
Oh, and she ends up traversing multiple universes to evade a powerful supernatural enemy, who happens to be an iteration of... her daughter. "For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that.... dream big and dreams do come true," Yeoh said as she accepted the award. "And ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up," she said to cheers.
Michelle Yeoh makes history with best actress Oscar win
Michelle Yeoh accepts the Oscar for best actress for "Everything Everywhere All at Once" at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood on Sunday
Michelle Yeoh has won best actress at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday night, becoming the first woman of Asian descent to win the award.
Yeoh, who earned the trophy for her acclaimed performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” has also entered the history books for becoming the first Malaysian-born performer to be honored with a best actress Oscar. Yeoh is the fifth person of Asian descent to win an Oscar in an acting category and the first to win in a lead acting category.
“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof to dream big and dreams do come true,” Yeoh gushed while accepting her Oscar. She added: “Ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you’re ever past your prime.” Yeoh dedicated her Oscar to her mother, and “all the moms in the world, because they really are the superheroes and without them none of us would be here tonight.”
Michelle Yeoh
Yeoh Choo Kheng born 6 August 1962 in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng PSM is a Malaysian actress. Credited as Michelle Khan in her early films, she rose to fame in the 1990s after starring in a series of Hong Kong action films where she performed her own stunts, such as Yes, Madam (1985), Police Story 3: Supercop (1992), and Holy Weapon (1993). She gained international recognition for her roles in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and in Ang Lee's martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). The latter role earned her a BAFTA Best Actress nomination.
After a career resurgence with a multi-year recurring role on Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2020), she received worldwide praise for her performance as Evelyn Wang in the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once, winning the Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, and becoming the first Malaysian to win an Academy Award in any category with her win for the Academy Award for Best Actress, and the second woman of color to win after Halle Berry in 2002.
Yeoh's other works include Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Reign of Assassins (2010), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016), and The Lady (2011), where she portrayed Aung San Suu Kyi. She played supporting roles in the romantic comedies Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Last Christmas (2019), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). On television, Yeoh recently starred in the fantasy miniseries The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022). The film review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes ranked her the greatest action heroine of all time in 2008.[8] In 1997, she was chosen by People as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World", and in 2009 the same magazine listed her as one of the "35 All-Time Screen Beauties". In 2022, Time named her one of the world's 100 most influential people on its annual listicle and its Icon of the Year.
Oscars 95th Academy Awards
95th Academy Awards Official poster
The 95th Academy Awards were presented in a ceremony held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), took place on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The awards honor films released in 2022.
The event was televised in the U.S. by ABC and was produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss. Weiss was also the director. Comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel hosted the show for the third time, after the 89th and 90th editions of the ceremony in 2017 and 2018.
Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven awards, including Best Picture; Everything Everywhere All at Once also had eleven nominations, the most of the ceremony. Other winners included All Quiet on the Western Front with four awards and The Whale with two.
8 Facts About Michelle Yeoh, Best Actress At The 95th Oscars 2023
On Sunday (12 Mar), Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh made history by becoming the first Asian woman to win a Best Actress Oscar.
The 95th Academy Awards saw the biggest winners with ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, and Yeoh was among them. Having been involved with the entertainment industry since her debut in 1983, the 60-year-old actress is an icon for Asians all over the world. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to martial arts films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you will be hard-pressed to find something that Yeoh hasn’t done.
In light of Michelle Yeoh’s historic Oscar win, here are eight things you need to know about this Malaysian powerhouse:
- Michelle Yeoh’s career started as a beauty queen
- Her first acting gig was a watch commercial – with Jackie Chan
- She did most of her stunts in her early martial arts films
- Became a Bond Girl in 1997, earning Hollywood fame
- She holds noble orders in Malaysia & France
- Michelle Yeoh is a Leo
- She used to be known as Michelle Khan
- Studied ballet in London
Michelle Yeoh’s granduncle was an ex-PAP MP and Speaker of Parliament
Aside from being one of the longest-serving speakers of any parliament in the world, Prof Yeoh also served briefly as the acting president of Singapore
As people all over the world celebrate Michelle Yeoh’s historic Best Actress win at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday (12 Mar), Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s wife Ho Ching has recounted her own connection with a member of the Malaysian star’s family.
Pointing out how well-connected the successful Yeoh family of Ipoh is, Mdm Ho said that four prominent members of the family put down their roots in Singapore and served as top surgeons. Three of the retired surgeons – Dr Yeoh Kian Hian and his two brothers – are Ms Yeoh’s uncles while the most prominent Singapore Yeoh, Prof Yeoh Ghim Seng, is her granduncle. Prof Yeoh Ghim Seng, who was described once as “the biggest but fastest Asian surgeon,” was also a ruling party politician. His political career began in 1966 when he was recruited by the People’s Action Party (PAP) to stand in a by-election in Joo Chiat.
He won by a walkover and served as the constituency’s MP for 22 years. He was too busy with medicine to become a minister and so, the PAP made him Speaker of Parliament (between 1970 and 1989). In 1977, he became the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization’s very first president. Aside from being one of the longest-serving speakers of any parliament in the world, Prof Yeoh also served briefly as the acting president of Singapore between the death of Yusof Ishak on 23 November 1970 and the inauguration of President Benjamin Sheares on 2 January 1971.
