Why Michelle Yeoh disappeared from Hollywood after playing a girl leap
She explains why she took a break after tomorrow never died.
At 60, actor Michelle Yeoh is in the middle of an illustrious and varied career. Not only did the star born in Malaysia received it first Oscar appointment This year for its role in the tripippy family drama, All everywhere at the same time , it is also considered a favorite after winning the Screen Actors Guild Award, the Golden Globe and various other honors. After participating in Miss World and made her debut in Hong Kong action films in the 80s, Yeoh finally leap to Hollywood, appearing in 1997 James Bond movie Tomorrow never dies . But, as an Asian woman, it was not always easy for her to find worthy roles in the American film industry.
In a new interview with People ,, Yeoh reveals Why did she not work for two years after playing a Bond girl and how she was treated when she struck the Los Angeles scene for the first time.
Read this then: All the reasons why people are furious at this year's Oscar nominations .
Yeoh has been acting in Hong Kong cinema for years before coming to Hollywood.
Yeoh's leading role of actor was an advertisement with Jackie Chan , and his career took off from there. Some of his many credits for martial arts include Yes Madam ; The heroic trio ; Story 3 police: Super COP ; Magnificent warriors ; And Wing Chun . She grew up speaking English and Malays with her family, so she had to learn the Cantonais As she went there. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
AT Time Event in 2022, Yeoh thought about what she learned through Hong Kong's increase in cinema And how she uses these lessons now. "You must first fall before you learn to fly," she said. "I think it's something that resonated throughout my life and my career."
She caused a sensation as a modern Bond Girl girl.
In 1997, Yeoh made his debut in Hollywood largely: playing Wai Lin, a Chinese secret agent, in the film James Bond Tomorrow never dies , with Pierce Brosnan . Talk to People Recently, the star noted that her character fortunately did not correspond to the mold of previous women of Bond.
"James Bond at that time was only known as Macho, and the girls were only those with cute names," she said.
In an interview The independent Last year, Yeoh said: " Bond had to evolve Because the fans base was also evolving. The women chose the movies to go watch, and we don't always want to watch where we are sexualized. "She also explained why she took the role, despite the rocky history of the franchise with the race, in particular orientalism .
"I think each film should have the right to speak of itself about its own merit," said Yeoh. "It is only when you have the possibility to participate that you can make a difference."
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Even if she worked regularly, she has always treated racism.
In the years that followed Tomorrow never dies , Yeoh has received several film offers. However, as she says People , she always felt alternative by Hollywood. "At this stage, people in the industry could not really make the difference between if I was Chinese, Japanese or Korean or if I even spoke English," she said. "They spoke very strong and very slow."
Although he played a revolutionary role in a high -level film, Yeoh did not land immediately on his next American production. In 1999, she returned to the cinema of Hong Kong to play in romance Midnight Express . Then, in 2000, she again struck large with multinational production Hidden dragon crouching tiger , led by the Taiwanese director Ang Lee And also with Chow Yun-Gras And Zhang Ziyi . The film was a kick at the box office in the United States and internationally, and it was nominated for 10 Oscars, including the best film.
"I haven't worked for almost two years, until crouching tiger , quite simply because I could not agree with the stereotypical roles which were put to me forward, "said Yeoh People of his break.
She also fought against egism.
Yeoh is now an international cinema icon, but it is still confronted with people who underestimate it. She said to Los Angeles Times podcast The envelope that it was advisable to withdraw from the action before winning the role All everywhere at the same time .
"You know, as you get older, people are starting to say:" Oh yeah, you should retire. You should do it. You should ... "No, guys," said the actor, As indicated by Variety . "Don't tell me what to do. I should control what I am capable of, right?"
She also noted that as the actors age, "the roles become smaller" and "you start more and more to relegate yourself to side". This is why it was so grateful to win the role of Evelyn, a Chinese immigrant who has trouble keeping her family business afloat and relating to her dissatisfied daughter ( Stephanie HSU ) and my relentless gay husband ( Ke Huy Quan ) When she learns the existence of the multiverse.
"So when" everything everywhere "came ... it was very emotional because it means that you are the one who directs this whole process, which tells the story," said Yeoh.
