Michelle Yeoh Did Not Dream of an Acting Career

Michelle Yeoh, the 60-year-old actress, never envisioned herself pursuing a career in acting.
Despite making history as the first Asian to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ Michelle disclosed that her childhood dream was to own a dance studio.

In an interview with ET Canada, she confessed, “I never dreamt of being on the silver screen. My world was always around dance, and I wanted to have my own school. I wanted to always be dancing with music and all that.”

Michelle explained that entering the movie industry was merely an unexpected opportunity that presented itself.

She recalled thinking, “Well, you know, nothing ventured, nothing gained,” and decided to give it a try. Fortunately, she found a love for acting, leading her to where she is today.

One of the most rewarding aspects of Michelle’s success in the awards circuit is that she no longer receives scripts exclusively for “Asian-looking” characters.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, she expressed her joy, stating, “The best thing that has happened is I receive a script that doesn’t describe the character as a Chinese or Asian-looking person. We are actors. We are supposed to act. We are supposed to step into roles that are given to us and do our job as best we can. That, for me, is the biggest step forward.”

Reflecting on her first experience at Cannes over two decades ago with ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,’ Michelle felt that Hollywood was not yet prepared to celebrate Asian actors at that time.
She noted, “There were so many great Asian, Chinese movies that came out at that time. But if you look at all the films that get nominated here in Cannes and get awards, very rarely, especially at the Oscars… they would nominate best director, best film, everything. You wonder how do you get there without the actors? So, it seems a little odd.”

She emphasized that audiences in America were indeed receptive to foreign films and could appreciate subtitled movies, debunking the assumption that they were averse to them.

Michelle Yeoh’s journey in the entertainment industry has taken her on unexpected paths, from a childhood dream of owning a dance studio to becoming an acclaimed actress.

With her groundbreaking achievements, she continues to challenge stereotypes and advocate for greater inclusivity in the world of film.