China, Malaysia celebrate Michelle’s Yeoh’s historic Oscars win

Beijing, Mar 13 (EFE).- Netizens and officials in China and Malaysia on Monday celebrated the success of Michelle Yeoh after she became the first Asian to win a best actress Oscar.

The actress, born in Malaysia in 1962, is of Chinese descent and rose to fame in Hong Kong and mainland Chinese productions such as “The Soong Sisters” (1997) and “Tiger and Dragon” (2000).

A hashtag related to her award had accumulated more than 430 million views on the Weibo social network on Monday.

“She is a great woman who represents the resilience of Asian actors in the Western film industry,” wrote one netizen.

Many users highlighted Yeoh, 60, as an “exemplary woman” showing “confidence in the face of pressure.”

“Neither age nor setbacks seem to affect her,” said another user on Weibo, a Twitter-like site where Yeoh has 1.2 million followers on her official profile despite posting only sporadically.

Hong Kong’s culture secretary Kevin Yeung congratulated Yeoh on her win, describing it as “well deserved,” and noted the many “talents” who have emerged from the Hong Kong film industry, on whose walk of fame Yeoh has a star.

In “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” she plays a mother from a family of Chinese immigrants in the United States, and who sets out to save the multiverse.

The movie swept the 95th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night, pocketing seven awards, including best film and best director.

“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that … dream big, and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime,” the actress said in her acceptance speech.

“I have to dedicate this to my mom, all the moms in the world, because they are really the superheroes and without them, none of us would be here tonight. She’s 84 and I’m taking this home to her. She’s watching right now in Malaysia, KL, with my family and friends. I love you guys, I’m bringing this home to you.”

“And also to my extended family in Hong Kong, where I started my career. Thank you for letting me stand on your shoulders, giving me a leg up so that I can be here today,” she added.

In Malaysia, Yeoh’s mother Janet Yeoh, 84, told The Star newspaper that she was “very happy with Michelle’s success.”

“She won the award because she is hardworking. You can see that in the way she fights in movies, the way she performs. She is very beautiful, talented and smart also,” she added, according to The Star.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was one of the many Malaysians congratulating the Ipoh-born actress on social media.

“This indeed puts Malaysia’s name on the global stage. I hope that this achievement will continue to inspire local artistes and filmmakers,” he wrote on Twitter.

The actress is also known for films such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” and the Bond flick “Tomorrow Never Dies.” EFE

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