Michelle Yeoh Talks “Shattering the Glass Ceiling” and Asian Stereotypes

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As a lifelong cinephile who has been fortunate enough to witness the evolution of cinema, I can confidently say that Michelle Yeoh is a true treasure of our industry. Her journey from breaking stereotypes as a Bond Girl in the late ’90s to her recent triumphs in films like “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Wicked,” is nothing short of inspiring.

The talented actress Michelle Yeoh rightfully takes pride in breaking down stereotypes throughout her remarkable career that remains vibrant. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 30 years since Yeoh portrayed the powerful Bond Girl, Wai Lin, in the James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies,” starring Pierce Brosnan as 007.

Today, however, Yeoh assumes a contrasting role as Madame Morrible in “Wicked”, and she takes pride in shattering the “glass ceiling” in Hollywood. As reported by Deadline, she made this statement during her appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival.

I kicked my way to shattering the glass ceiling, right? We are beginning now to see more diversity, and we are beginning to see more women, especially behind the camera, and that is very important. Tell your story. Don’t compromise. Believe in what you do, because if you don’t believe that, you’ve lost just about everybody.”

In various critically acclaimed Asian movies like “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, “Crazy Rich Asians”, and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, Yeoh has played significant roles. Notably, she received an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as laundromat-owner Evelyn Wang in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. Yet, despite her achievements, Yeoh remains eager for further advancement and novelty in Hollywood, expressing this sentiment in a recent interview.

It’s important for our industry to expand the chances – ensuring equal opportunities – for storytellers to express their stories in their unique styles. If we don’t dare to experiment, we won’t stumble upon something extraordinary like ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’ We often gamble on big films that fail, so why can’t we take a chance on smaller productions?

Michelle Yeoh Rises Beyond The Stereotyping of Asian Women

Michelle Yeoh’s filmography is undeniably impressive. But it’s important to note that her acting career didn’t start with her role alongside Pierce Brosnan as 007 in “Tomorrow Never Dies” in 1997. In fact, she had been actively working in the industry since 1984. Securing the role of Bond Girl Wai Lin provided Yeoh with a foothold in Hollywood, yet being part of the spy franchise sometimes limited her future role choices.

As Yeoh put it:

Initially, my success catapulted me into the global market, but for nearly two years, I found it challenging to fully capitalize on this opportunity. It wasn’t due to a scarcity of scripts or roles being offered to me, but because I felt that the portrayal of Asian women at that time was overly stereotypical. The ability to say “no” is incredibly empowering. At that juncture, I didn’t feel ready to take a step back and accept roles that perpetuated these negative stereotypes about Asian women in the scripts.

Following her Best Actress Academy Award win for the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” in 2023, Yeoh received an offer to play Madame Morrible in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked“. Yeoh stated that returning to the set of “Wicked” felt comforting. “The Oscar experience is thrilling but nerve-wracking because you’re terrified of making a mistake and damaging your film,” she said. “Returning to Wicked, however, was like coming home.

Michelle Yeoh is experiencing another peak of success due to the global box office earnings of $382.7 million from the movie “Wicked,” as reported by The Numbers. Fans of Yeoh can rest assured that she will reprise her role in Oz as Madame Morrible, a key character in the thrilling finale of the “The Wizard of Oz” prequel. Keep an eye out for “Wicked: Part 2” when it graces the big screen on November 21, 2025.

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2024-12-07 05:33