Michelle Yeoh rose to fame through her action films in the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming one of the most influential female action stars in international cinema.

Michelle Yeoh was born on August 6, 1962, in Ipoh, Malaysia, as Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng. She is of Chinese descent and the daughter of Janet Yeoh and Yeoh Kian Teik, whose family had migrated from China. She began studying dance at the age of four. At fifteen, she moved to England, where she received formal ballet training at the Royal Academy of Dance.

In 1983, Michelle Yeoh was crowned Miss Malaysia and represented her country at the Miss World competition. In 1984, she gained attention after appearing in a commercial alongside Jackie Chan, which brought her recognition in Hong Kong. That same year, she made her film debut in the action-comedy The Owl and Bumbo, starring opposite Sammo Hung. She soon became a leading figure in Hong Kong action cinema, starring in numerous action-adventure films alongside stars such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li. During this period, she also used the name Michelle Khan.

Thanks to her extensive background in dance, Michelle Yeoh quickly mastered kung fu and became known for performing most of her stunts without the use of body doubles, setting her apart from many of her contemporaries.

In 1987, she temporarily retired from acting after marrying Hong Kong businessman Dickson Poon, the owner of the company she worked for. Following their divorce, she returned to cinema and resumed her acting career.

In 1997, Michelle Yeoh starred alongside Pierce Brosnan in the eighteenth installment of the James Bond film series, Tomorrow Never Dies. In the film, she appeared with Jonathan Pryce and Judi Dench, marking her major breakthrough in Hollywood.

Her career reached a peak in 2000 with director Ang Lee’s critically acclaimed film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. During the 2000s, she expanded beyond action roles and appeared in films with strong dramatic elements. In 2005, her performance in Memoirs of a Geisha, alongside Zhang Ziyi and Ken Watanabe, further enhanced her international reputation.

A devoted Buddhist, Michelle Yeoh visited Vietnam in March 2008 to film a documentary for the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation. She is also a patron of the Save China’s Tigers project, which is dedicated to protecting the endangered South China tiger.

Michelle Yeoh is the founder of her own production company, Mythical Films.

She married Hong Kong businessman Dickson Poon in 1988; the couple divorced in 1991.
She later began a long-term relationship with French motorsport executive Jean Todt. The couple married on July 27, 2023, and reside together in Geneva, Switzerland.

Awards:
2023 - 95th Academy Awards, Best Actress — Everything Everywhere All at Once
2019 - National Board of Review Award for Best Ensemble
2004 - MTV Asia Film Award, MTV
2003 - International Actress of the Year, MTV & SMG Style Awards (China)
2002 - Producer of the Year Award, CineAsia
2002 - World Youth Talent Award (Cultural Achievement)
2022 - Montblanc Arts Patronage Award (Hong Kong Winner)
2001 - Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak Award, Malaysia
2001 - International Star of the Year Award, ShoWest
1999 - Excellence in Acting Award, CineAsia

Films and Television:
2024 - Avatar 3 (Dr. Karina Mogue) (Feature Film)
2023 - The Brothers Sun (Eileen) (TV Series)
2023 - American Born Chinese (Guanyin) (TV Series)
2023 - A Haunting in Venice (Mrs. Reynolds) (Feature Film)
2023 - Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (Maximal Airazor) (Feature Film)
2022 - The Witcher: Blood Origin (Scian) (TV Series)
2022 - Avatar: The Way of Water (Dr. Karina Mogue) (Feature Film)
2022 - The School for Good and Evil (Professor Anemone) (Feature Film)
2022 - Everything Everywhere All at Once (Evelyn Wang) (Feature Film)
2021 - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Ying Nan) (Feature Film)
2021 - Gunpowder Milkshake (Florence) (Feature Film)
2020 - Boss Level (Dai Feng) (Feature Film)
2019 - Last Christmas (Santa)
2017–2020 - Star Trek: Discovery (Philippa Georgiou) (TV Series)
2017 - Blazing Samurai (Yuki)
2016 - Morgan (Dr. Lui Cheng)
2016 - Mechanic: Resurrection (Mae)
2016 - Marco Polo (Lotus) (TV Series)
2016 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (Yu Shu Lien)
2015 - Strike Back (Mei Foster / Li-Na) (TV Series)
2014 - Air Force (Sarah)
2013 - Final Recipe (Julia)
2011 - The Lady (Aung San Suu Kyi)
2011 - Kung Fu Panda 2 (Soothsayer)
2010 - True Legend (Yu’s Sister)
2010 - Reign of Assassins (Zeng Jing)
2008 - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Zi Yuan / Zi Juan)
2007 - Sunshine (Corazon)
2006 - Fearless (Madam Yang)
2005 - Memoirs of a Geisha (Mameha)
2002 - The Touch (Pak Yin Fay)
2000 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Yu Shu Lien)
1997 - Tomorrow Never Dies (Wai Lin)
1996 - The Stunt Woman (Ah Kam)
1994 - Wing Chun (Yim Wing Chun)
1992 - Police Story 3: Super Cop (Inspector Jessica Yang)
1987 - Magnificent Warriors (Fok Ming-Ming)
1986 - Royal Warriors (Michelle Yip)
1985 - Yes, Madam! (Inspector Ng)
1984 - The Owl and Bumbo (Madam Yeung) (Feature Film)

Source: Biyografiler.com