Michelle Yeoh is on a roll. The cinema #legend is riding high from her turn as Madame Morrible in Wicked: For Good . She is also set to make a special appearance at the MAMA Awards in Hong Kong soon. David Ho delves into some interesting factoids about the star
She had to be convinced to join the cast of Wicked
Yeoh worked with director Jon M.Chu on Crazy Rich Asians. When he approached her for the role of Wicked’s Madame Morrible, Yeoh was reportedly hesitant given her lack of experience in musicals. But the musical film’s leads Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande pleaded with her to join. It was only then that Yeoh relented.
She started her love of performing through dance
There is no doubting Yeoh’s physical capabilities. We’ve seen the Malaysian beauty queen kick rears on film for decades, as well as hold her own against action stars like Jackie Chan. In fact, film aggregator Rotten Tomatoes once even voted Yeoh as the greatest action heroine. But Yeoh’s first physical practice is actually in ballet, which she started doing at just four. She even enrolled in a UK performing arts school to train as a dancer, until a spinal injury dashed her dreams of being a professional.
She draws on her movement background for her acting
For her most recent role as the intimidating Madame Morrible in Wicked, Yeoh made an interesting acting choice to focus on being still. She credits her very physical background on helping to ground her in that decision. “I think everything that I’ve done, especially in the physicality of my life, whether … from ballet, to contemporary dance, to sports, to diving, to all these kind of things, helped me focus the stillness rather than the chaotic movement,” she told Today in an interview.
She couldn’t find good work after her first international breakthrough
For many, her turn as a Bond girl in the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies seemed to herald a promising beginning in Hollywood. Unfortunately, Yeoh said that the Hollywood offers that followed were often racially “stereotypical roles”. Luckily, Yeoh found a second wind in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000. And of course, a best actress academy award for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023.
She is a symbol of perseverance
Yeoh’s career is truly one of tenacity, from beauty queen and action star to Hollywood trailblazer and Oscar winner. It makes sense that Yeoh would be invited as a special presenter to Asia’s biggest event recognising achievements in K-pop, the 2025 MAMA Awards. Not only will her presence bring more eyeballs, Yeoh is there to remind everyone what staying power looks like.
Photos: Instagram @michelleyeoh_official
