Michelle Yeoh’s major success in Hollywood has been a huge inspiration to many Malaysians out there. While her achievement as the Best Actress marked the peak of her career, many tend to overlook what she had to sacrifice prior to her success.
Today (April 18), several media got the golden opportunity to meet the Malaysian actress who brought the character Evelyn Wong to live in Everything Everywhere All at Once. During the press conference, Michelle had a lot to say, and when she spoke about her time abroad, she admitted that it was not always happy.
“I feel lonely most of the times. But it’s something I have to sacrifice to achieve success,” Michelle told the media today.
She also did not deny that it’s not always easy to make it as a foreigner in another country, and said, “Sometimes I’m worried and lonely because I’m not in my own country”.
Michelle added,
“No Asians have been nominated for Oscar in the past, and no one have felt what it’s like to be at that position.”
As for her HUGE success in the Hollywood industry, she not only thanked her mother for it but also Malaysians who have continuously supported her throughout her career. According to the Ipoh-born actress, she could hear our support and roar when she won the Oscar, which she is enormously grateful for.
“I am so grateful for your support. I can’t imagine what will happen if I did not win that night.”
Michelle also highlighted her growth in Malaysia, which she said helped in shaping her to be who she is today.
“The beauty about Malaysia is we are multiracial. We have learned to live and embrace each other’s culture, and I think that has fundamentally made me such a international, global person.”
Regardless, she said that she can’t describe how happy she is to be back home.
She is currently in the midst of production for Wicked in London but came back to Malaysia temporarily to celebrate her mother’s birthday tomorrow (April 19).
She is also expected to appear in the next installment of Transformers in a voice role.
Welcome home, Michelle Yeoh! We hope that your success and achievement will continue to inspire more people out there to be successful in whatever they’re pursuing.
Also read: Netizens from China are Now “Claiming” Michelle Yeoh as Their Own After Her Major Win in Oscars