Michelle Yeoh made history at the 2023 Academy Awards by becoming the first Asian actress to win the Best Actress Oscar.
Yeoh, who hails from Malaysia, won the award for her role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and delivered an emotional acceptance speech.
“This is proof that dream big and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up,” Yeoh said on stage.
She went on to thank her family, including her 84-year-old mother in Malaysia, to whom she dedicated her award. Yeoh also thanked her cast and crew and the Academy for recognizing her work.
Before her win, Yeoh was already a trailblazer as the second Asian woman to be nominated for Best Actress.
She was one of four actors of Asian descent nominated in the acting categories, which was the highest number in a single year.
Yeoh’s win at the Oscars capped off a successful awards season, where she also won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
She received numerous other nominations and wins at the BAFTAs and Critics Choice Awards.
Yeoh’s win represents a significant moment of representation and inclusion in Hollywood, and she acknowledged the impact it could have on future generations. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,” Yeoh said.
Her win also highlights the importance of diverse storytelling and the need for Hollywood to continue to recognize and celebrate actors from all backgrounds.
As Yeoh said in her acceptance speech, “This is history in the making.”
“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities."
Michelle Yeoh becomes the first Asian woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress. #Oscars#Oscars95https://t.co/J1mqrghZrf pic.twitter.com/QmMABEXIPI
— ABC News (@ABC) March 13, 2023
