After an iconic career spanning nearly 40 years, Michelle Yeoh is on track to earn her first Oscar nomination for the critically acclaimed hit Everything Everywhere All At Once.
The 60-year-old actress, who recently signed on to voice the roles of ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beast,’ appears to be a bar on her first Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Evelyn Wang in ‘EEAAO,’ and she just earned her Icon nominated of the year by time.
Yeoh shared what it’s like to be the center of attention in an awards campaign in an in-depth interview for Time.
Iconic: After an iconic career spanning nearly 40 years, Michelle Yeoh is on track to earn her first Oscar nomination for the critically acclaimed hit Everything Everywhere All At Once
Center: Yeoh shared what it’s like to be the center of attention in an awards campaign in an in-depth interview for Time
After an industry-specific Q&A demonstration by Everything Everywhere All At Once, Yeoh reflected on the event.
“They call it a campaign. It’s a bit overwhelming,” Yeoh admitted after the event, likely the first of many ahead of Oscar Sunday on March 12, 2023.
Despite a legendary career in which she appeared in a variety of films such as martial arts action projects (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), James Bond thrillers (Tomorrow Never Dies), superhero films (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) and much more – She was never number 1 on the call log until Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Reflect: After an industry-wide Q&A screening of Everything Everywhere All At Once, Yeoh reflected on the event
Campaign: “They call it a campaign. It’s a bit overwhelming,” Yeoh (pictured with Everything Everywhere All At Once producer Jonathan Wang) admitted after the event, likely the first of many ahead of Oscar Sunday on March 12, 2023.
Career: Despite a legendary career – in which she appeared in a variety of films such as martial arts action projects (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), James Bond thrillers (Tomorrow Never Dies), superhero films (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2) and many more – she was never number 1 on the call log until Everything Everywhere All At Once
She is certain that her lack of leading roles is due to her Asian heritage, stating that Asian actors rarely get leading roles.
“It wasn’t supposed to be about my race, but it was a fight. At least let me try,” she said in an interview.
There was almost an Oscar campaign for her critically acclaimed role in 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians, but if she wins for Everything Everywhere All At Once, she would be the first Asian actress to take home the Best Actress Oscar would take what they felt would be a win for Asians everywhere.
Roles: She is certain that her lack of leading roles is due to her Asian heritage, as Asian actors rarely get leading roles
‘I thought about it. And not just me – I feel like my entire Asian community has been thinking about it. They come up to me and say, “You’re doing this for us,” Yeoh said.
Yeoh also thought about her peers, many of them white actresses who are constantly recognized for their talents.
“I look at all my peers — Cate Blanchett, Olivia Colman, Helen Mirren — and I’m like, oh god, I envy you all the different opportunities you get to show your talent over and over again,” says Yeoh.
Community: “I’ve thought about it. And not just me – I feel like my entire Asian community has been thinking about it. They come up to me and say, “You’re doing this for us,” Yeoh said
Colleagues: “I look at all my colleagues — Cate Blanchett, Olivia Colman, Helen Mirren — and I’m like, oh god, I envy you all the different opportunities you get to show your talent over and over again,” says Yeoh
“When you get an opportunity like this, you have to put your heart and soul into it because you don’t know when the next opportunity is. I think that’s my biggest fear: Please don’t let that be the only thing,” Yeoh admitted.
When asked about the prospect of making history as the first Asian actress to win Best Actress, she explains what that would mean.
“It’s not about needing it. It’s that feeling that doesn’t need to be explained: it’s love from other people. My arms are open,’ she said.
Yeoh remains quite busy filming Avatar 3, the new TV series The Witcher: Blood Origin and Transformers: Rise of the Beast.
Prospect: When asked about the prospect of making history as the first Asian actress to win Best Actress, she explains what that would mean