Michelle Yeoh Encourages Little Asian Boys, Girls in Inspiring Speech at the Oscars 2023
The actress won Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards.
Michelle Yeoh is this year's Best Actress winner at the Oscars for her multifaceted performance as Evelyn Quan Wang in the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
This is the first Oscar nomination and win of the Malaysian actress, making history as the first Southeast Asian actress to win in the category, People reported.
In her inspiring speech upon receiving the award, she made sure to encourage little Asian boys and girls, who look like her, that they can dream big and have their dreams come to life.
"For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that, dream big, and dreams do come true," the 60-year-old star preached on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood Sunday.
She dedicated the award to her mom
Yeoh also motivated all the women never to let anybody tell them that they are "ever past your prime" because the things they can accomplish are not limited by being past their prime as long as they "never give up."
The actress dedicated her Oscar win to her 84-year-old mom and all the mothers, whom she described as the real "superheroes."
According to ABC 6, Yeoh's mother, who was watching the award show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, cried for joy when her "little princess" was announced as the Best Actress winner.
She praised her daughter, calling her intelligent and hardworking, and expressed in a new conference how she loves her and has made Malaysia so proud. She ended the interview by proclaiming, "Malaysia Boleh," which means Malaysia Can!
She almost did not take the role
Yet, to think, Yeoh almost walked away from the role that gave her this year's not only one but five prestigious awards.
The original name of her character as a laundromat owner who became a multiverse warrior was Michelle Wang. Her only condition in doing the film was if the name would be changed. When asked why by the directors, the Daniels, she explained that the character should be independent of her, having "her own voice," Variety shared.
Thus, they changed it into Evelyn Wang; the rest was history.
Yeoh won against other nominees Cate Blanchett for Tár, Ana de Armas for Blonde, Andrea Riseborough for To Leslie, and Michelle Williams for The Fabelmans.
She grabbed every award everywhere, including the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Independent Spirit Award, and Satellite Award. She also became Time Magazine's Icon for 2022.
The movie "Everything Everywhere All at Once" took home seven Oscars out of 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor and Actress, given to Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis, respectively.
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