Daring to dream big and having the courage to chase and fulfill those is what Michelle Yeoh has shown through her remarkable career. Hailing from Malaysia, she began with action-packed roles and went on to explore complex characters, filling her resume with iconic performances and films and ultimately went on to earn an Oscar. And much has changed in how the world sees Yeoh since then, and she hopes that shift creates more opportunities not just for herself but for others as well.

Two years after her Oscar win, the actress reflected on how it opened a new chapter in her life.

Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian actress to win Academy Awards for best actress. She believes that her brilliant performance as Evelyn Quan Wang in Everything Everywhere All at Once has given her more opportunities. And as an Academy member now, she wants to help open up the door of opportunities for her costars and fellow Asian actors too.

“I think [winning] does open more doors in the sense that people see you and they’re willing to change what they are doing to make space for you,” Yeoh said in her interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

“I think that is very important. I now receive scripts that are written for men and they turn the character around so [it’s a woman]. They don’t just see me as an Asian, they see me as an actor who can be in any of these roles.”

That effort was evident in how she has embraced the responsibility placed upon her as an Academy member. She even remained secretive about her favourite films during her interview with The Hollywood Reporter. At the same time, she has made sure to uplift those who followed in her footsteps, praising Sandra Oh, Lucy Liu, and Awkwafina, as well as being vocal about Wicked: For Good’s Oscar snub.

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And while Yeoh still has much more to contribute to Hollywood and the film industry, the veteran actress was recently honoured for everything she has accomplished so far.

Michelle Yeoh has an extraordinary resume filled with memorable performances in films such as Memoirs of a Geisha, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Crazy Rich Asians, and the Wicked films. In honor of her impact, she was honored with the Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement at the 2026 Berlinale. The actress admitted that she was both thrilled and surprised by the recognition, and reflected on how much more she still has to offer the film industry.

“I feel like I should just say, ‘Thank you.’ Because it’s the Berlinale, the people here, who have not just appreciated one movie that I’ve done, but my whole portfolio of 40 years," she said.

For Yeoh, this honor is not the end but just the beginning of another chapter. Even after four decades, she has the same hunger as before. And her plans to return to Chinese cinema are a clear indication that she still has much more to surprise the world.

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