Michelle Yeoh made Oscars history as the first Asian woman to win Best Actress.
Yeoh, 60, accepted her award for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese first-generation immigrant and laundromat owner.
She was up against Cate Blanchett (Tár), Ana de Armas (Blonde), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie). Before Sunday night’s ceremony, Yeoh had already won several awards, including a Golden Globe, an Independent Spirit Award and a SAG Award.
Yeoh received a standing ovation from her peers, and actress Halle Berry became emotional while presenting her with the award. Yeoh became the second-ever woman of color to win Best Actress. Berry was the first with her performance in Monster’s Ball in 2001.
In her acceptance speech, the actress said, “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibility.”
Yeoh continued on, stating, “And ladies, don’t let anyone ever tell you you are past your prime.”
She also called her mother a “superhero” who made her entire acting career possible.
Yeoh was born in Malaysia and became famous in Hong Kong before finding global recognition in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha and Tomorrow Never Dies.
Yeoh will next star in American Born Chinese, an action comedy television series with its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 15. The show is scheduled to air on Disney+ on May 24. American Born Chinese will also feature Everything Everywhere stars Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu.
