Michelle Yeoh: highest civilian award by President Biden only the latest of her triumphs

Michelle Yeoh has added another high honour to her resume, as Channel News Asia reports that she received one of the most prestigious honours from US President Joe Biden on May 4.

Michelle Yeoh's latest achievement in 2024 will be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom personally from Joe Biden, according to The Star. This is the highest civilian award that can be received in the United States.

This is a well-deserved award for Michelle Yeoh, as The Star notes that it was for her contributions to Asian and female representation in American media.

However, 2024 started with a bit of controversy for the actress. According to NBC, it has to do with the Lululemon ad she appeared in for the Lunar New Year.

Image: lululemon / Instagram

According to Nextshark, the collaboration between activewear brand Lululemon and Michelle Yeoh has drawn criticism due to Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's previous controversial remarks bordering on misogyny, racism towards Asians, and body shaming.

Image: lululemon / Instagram

Regardless of the controversy surrounding the advertisement, Channel News Asia reports that Michelle Yeoh's Lululemon ad beautifully showcases certain aspects of Chinese culture, including not only the arrival of spring but also the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun.

Image: lululemon / Instagram

Channel News Asia states that Michelle Yeoh finds resonance with the theme of sports and Wing Chun and that the ad has become a medium for her to promote sports, especially in her new role as an International Olympics committee member.

Image: lululemon / Instagram

Yes, indeed, Michelle Yeoh is an Olympic Games committee member now! Let's have a look at the path that led her to a fantastic career with an Oscar, BAFTA, and Olympic fame.

Michelle Yeoh is a Chinese-Malaysian actress born on 6 August 1962. She is known for her roles in Hong Kong action films and also for her work in the global scene in Hollywood.

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Michelle Yeoh got her head start in the entertainment industry after being made to enroll in the Miss Malaysia World pageant in 1983 by her mother. She went on to win it and represented Malaysia in Miss World 1983.

(Image: D&B Films)

This went on to open doors for her in the global entertainment scene and landed her a role alongside Jackie Chan in a television commercial!

(Image: D&B Films)

This caught the eye of D&B Films, a prominent Hong Kong film production company, who invited Michelle Yeoh to sign on with them and star in their films.

(Image: D&B Films)

After joining D&B Films in the 80s, Michelle Yeoh went on to star in many Hong Kong action films. She was known then for being one of the few action movie stars who do their own stunts - just like Jackie Chan!

(Image: D&B Films)

She was also known as Michelle Khan then as the name was thought to be more marketable for western audiences.

(Image: D&B Films)

What many don’t know about Michelle Yeoh is that she once took a short hiatus from acting after marrying the then-head of D&B, Dickson Poon, in 1987.

(Image: D&B Films)

Michelle Yeoh’s acting hiatus ended in 1992 with her divorce from Dickson Poon. She returned back to the big screen with her role in ‘Police Story 3: Super Cop’, alongside old collaborator Jackie Chan in the same year.

(Image: Miramax)

Not long after her return to acting, Michelle Yeoh managed to also land a role in the iconic Bond franchise in 1997. Michelle Yeoh’s breakthrough role in Hollywood was her role as Wai Lin in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies.' Till today, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ remains one of the most iconic films in the Bond franchise.

(Image: MGM)

Michelle Yeoh's involvement as Wai Lin is significant in Bond history because she is the first ethnically Chinese Bond girl.

(Image: MGM)

Her character, Wai Lin, is probably one of the most remembered in the series since she was not just visual candy for the flicks, but she also pulled her own weight with her own action-packed moments.

(Image: MGM)

Michelle Yeoh went on to star in other iconic Hollywood hits such as Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000), ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ (2005), and ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ (2008).

(Image: Sony Pictures)

Did you know that Michelle Yeoh’s contributions to the film industry earned her not only the position of being on the jury panel at Berlin’s 49th International Film Festival in 1999?

Additionally, Michelle Yeoh was even awarded the esteemed title of ‘Datuk/Dato’ by Malaysian royalty for putting Perak, her home state, on the map in 2001.

According to the Malaysian Government, being awarded the title of ‘Datuk/Dato’ by Malaysian royalty is one of the highest honors that one can achieve in Malaysia.

The title of ‘Datuk/Dato’ bears weight equivalent to the British address of ‘Sir’ after being awarded knighthood, and is mandatory in all written and verbal address in Malaysia.

The titles kept coming to Michelle Yeoh as she was also awarded French knighthood in 2007 by the president of France, Jacques Chirac.

Michelle Yeoh was raised to a higher honorary rank by the Malaysian sultanate in 2012 and 2013, earning her the title 'Tan Sri'. This renowned federal honorary title is the second-highest federal honorary title a Malaysian can get.

Michelle Yeoh received several knighthood promotions in France in 2012, 2016, and 2017 in addition to risking positions in Malaysia. Michelle Yeoh now has the title of Commander, the highest distinction that can be given to a non-French citizen.

Michelle Yeoh not only acts, but she also produces films! Michelle Yeoh produced and starred in her first English language martial arts film, 'The Touch,' in 2002, after establishing her own production company, 'Mythical Films’.

(Image: Gala Film)

Michelle Yeoh has also moved to the small screen and expanded her repertoire. In 2015, she landed her first TV role by playing Mei Foster, a North Korean spy in the Cinemax TV series ‘Strike Back’. She went on to also play Captain Philippa Georgiou and her doppelganger in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ in 2016.

Michelle Yeoh landed a significant role as Eleanor Young in the Hollywood film 'Crazy Rich Asians' in 2018. This film was notable for being the first major Hollywood production centered on East Asian characters, and it marked a revolutionary change in the Western film industry in terms of Asian representation on the big screen.

(Image: Warner Bros.)

Michelle Yeoh went on to play the role of Ying Nan in another film significant for increasing Asian representation in Hollywood. Alongside Hong Kong legendary actor and peer Tony Leung and breakout actor Simu Liu, she starred in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' in 2021.

(Image: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Michelle Yeoh's influence on Western mainstream cinema and contributions to promoting Asian representation continued with her leading role in the 2022 film, 'Everything, Everywhere, All at Once' as Evelyn Quan.

(Image: A24)

This film was significant not only in terms of advancing Asian representation in Hollywood but also in terms of film history and Michelle Yeoh's own career.

‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’ was named one of the year’s top ten films by the National Board of Review and the American Film Association for its amazing direction, cinematography, acting, and thematic elements. It also holds the record for being the most nominated film of the century.

Michelle Yeoh received her first Golden Globe award for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.'

She received her award side by side with co-star Jonathan Ke Quan, also known as Ke Huy Quan, who received his first Golden Globe for 'Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture' at the same time.

Given the film's enormous success, many expected Michelle Yeoh to win an academy award for best actress at the upcoming Oscars.

And... it happened! Michelle Yeoh became history's first-ever Asian Best Actress Oscar award recipient. The movie 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' got the award for Best Picture. It was a night to remember.

Michelle Yeoh added another accomplishment to her resume as of October 19, 2023, when she was elected to the prestigious International Olympic Committee! According to the South China Morning Post, the actress was sworn in following a vote in Mumbai.

Michelle Yeoh dedicated her nomination to the board by declaring her intention to "bring this joy and sense of hope to the 110 million refugees around the world" during her eight-year tenure with the committee, according to her statement on the Official Olympics website. What a worthy cause!

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