I am getting scripts not describing a character as Asian-looking person, says Michelle Yeoh
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Oscar-winning international actress Michelle Yeoh was at the Women in Motion chat at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 when she opened up about the change in Asian representation in Hollywood and the future of cinema. The 60-year-old said that now she is starting to get scripts that do not describe a character as "Chinese-looking or Asian-looking".
The actress won the academy award this year for her critically acclaimed and commercially successful film 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. "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," she said.
Speaking about her Oscar win, she said: "The most important thing it has done is it has generated such pride in our people. The day I won I honestly heard the roar of joy that came from that corner of the world."
The Malaysian actress has a long and diverse filmography ranging from rom-coms and action films. The martial arts expert said that in the year 2000, when her film 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' came out, Hollywood was not ready to recognise and appreciate Asian actors and their talent.
"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 you get there without the actors? So, it seems a little odd," she said at Cannes.
About her Oscar-winning film, she said it is a matter of pushing the envelope and refusing to say that this is the normal way. "In the normal way, would Everything Everywhere All At Once have been nominated? Chances are no, five to ten years ago."