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Michelle Yeoh has made history by becoming the first Asian actor nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Actress category.
Yeoh has been recognized for her performance as Evelyn Wang in the critically acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Something that has only taken 95 years. Only!
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Her co-stars, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan, are also nominated, as well as an Asian actor Hong Chau for The Whale.
Everything Everywhere All At Once has led the charge with 11 nominations for the 2023 ceremony, which Yeoh says is down to the film’s emotional core.
She said, as per The Hollywood Reporter: “We are a little movie that has such a great, loving, beating heart that so many people relate to.
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"And I think that is the reason why we are here today with all these nominations, because we’re just getting an outpouring of love — it’s been such a healing process.
“Not just in the movie, but [for] our audience as well, as they walk through the journey with this crazy woman called Evelyn Wang.”
The legendary actor, who has starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asian, told the outlet she is touched by the recognition while acknowledging the moment is ‘bigger’ than her.
She said: “At the present moment, constantly, all the time, having Asians walking up to me saying, ‘You can do it, you’re doing it for us'.
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"It’s like, ‘I understand. I totally understand'. All this time, they’ve not been recognized, they’ve not been heard.”
Yeoh continued: “I think this is beyond just me.
"It represents so many who have hoped to be seen in this way, to have a seat at the table, to say, ‘I am of value too, I need to be seen too'.”
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Earlier this month, Yeoh picked up a Golden Globe award for her performance in the legendary movie.
During her speech, the actor recalled how difficult it was for her to break into the industry before she was abruptly interrupted by the exit music.
In an iconic moment, the actor joked: “Shut up, please. I can beat you up, OK? And I’m serious.”
She concluded by paying homage to all the Asian actors that had come before her.
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“This is also for all the shoulders that I stand on, all who came before me, who look like me and all who are going on this journey with me forward,” Yeoh said.
“So thank you for believing in us; thank you so much.”
The 95th Academy Awards will air March 13, 2023.
You can watch Everything Everywhere All At Once on Prime Video now.
Topics: News, Film and TV, Celebrity, Academy Awards
Charisa Bossinakis