Michelle Yeoh made Oscar history on Sunday night, becoming the first Asian to win for leading actress.
Yow took home the first Academy Award of her illustrious career for Best Actress for “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” This honor came long after martial arts and action movies like “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” and “Yes, Ma’am”.
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Yovin’s zany sci-fi adventure centers on Evelyn Wang, a middle-aged laundromat owner who, when audited by the IRS, discovers that she must connect with versions of herself from parallel universes to prevent disaster. Destruction.
“This is a beacon of hope and possibility for all the boys and girls who look like me watching tonight,” Yeoh said from the stage. “This is proof that dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anyone tell you that you’re ever past your prime. Never give up.”
Yoo dedicated this award to her mother and all mothers in the world. “They are true superheroes, and without them, none of us would be here tonight,” he said.
At the Oscars, Yeoh became the third Asian woman — following Yoo-Jung Yoon for “Minari” and Miyoshi Umegi for “Sayonara” — and the first to win the award for an actress in a leading role. In winning the trophy, Yeoh defeated Cate Blanchett for “Dar,” Michelle Williams for “The Fablemans,” Andrea Riseborough for “To Leslie,” and Ana de Armas for “Blond.”
As she left the stage, she shouted, “Thank you Academy – this is history in the making!”
Despite the stacked competition, Yow was honored at nearly every groundbreaking ceremony, including the SAG Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and Golden Globes, as Yow was the favorite to win.
“I wouldn’t be standing here tonight without Daniels and the amazing cast and crew [and] Everyone involved is ‘everywhere at once’,” he said. “Also, my extended family in Hong Kong, where I started my career. Thank you for letting me stand on your shoulders.”
The award adds to a record-breaking awards season for “Everything Everywhere All At Ones,” making it the fifth film in history to win all four major guild awards (DGA, PGA, SAG and WGA). At the Oscars, it received a leading 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Director for Daniels and Supporting Actress for Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis (winners) and Best Supporting Actor Kay Hui Kwan (winner in her category). . It won Best Picture and six trophies.
“Everything Everywhere All At Ones” premiered nearly a year ago at SXSW, where it was a critical and commercial success. The film eventually grossed over $100 million worldwide, making it A24’s highest-grossing release of all time.
