Born in the one-time mining town of Ipoh, an hour north of capital city Kuala Lumpur, Yeoh said it was imperative for Asian filmmakers and artists to think global.
“I think a lot of times we box ourselves in a comfort zone where [we say] let’s just deal with our own market,” Yeoh said. “When you make a movie, it should be global. It should not be for this or for that [market]. That’s when you speak a global language and that’s what we strive to do continuously.”
Brandishing her Oscar statuette – “my little man”, as she called it – in front of the flashing lights of the press cameras, Yeoh praised Malaysia’s multicultural society, where different ethnic groups spanning the majority Malays, Chinese, Indians and other communities “learn to live and embrace each other’s culture”.Yeoh said growing up in such an environment prepared her for her globetrotting career.
“I think that has fundamentally made me such an international, global person,” she said. “So anywhere I go, I don’t see differences, I see how I can learn from other people.”
Yeoh has passionately talked up her Malaysian roots over the decades.
But at home, there has been some debate on whether the country has the right to share in her successes given the state of the film industry, which is plagued by pressure from conservative groups, censorship and political meddling.
Yeoh’s first claim to fame came when she represented Malaysia at Miss World in 1983. Her acting career, meanwhile, began in Hong Kong where she starred in action and martial arts films alongside the likes of Jackie Chan.01:15
Malaysians rejoice as Michelle Yeoh wins her first Oscar and makes history
Malaysians rejoice as Michelle Yeoh wins her first Oscar and makes history
In the press conference, Yeoh paid special homage to producers and others in the industry who she said had the vision, foresight and “the guts to actually go through” original scripts and ideas.
She stressed that there were highly talented filmmakers in Asia.“I do want to work very closely with the heads of studios here, people who can make the change, the people who can push the path forward,” she said.
While she had no interest in directing, she said she could branch out again as a producer.
“Directors have no life. I love my life too much,” she said in jest. “I love producing. I have produced before and now I can start to do so again … now I am able to branch out more because people have started to listen, and appreciate what you can bring forward. As an actor, I love what I can do. I am so lucky to be able to say it’s not a job; it’s really a passion.”
Age but a number as Malaysia’s women bask in Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar win
With her win pushing Asia to the forefront of the world’s attention, Yeoh said she believed that there were plenty of stories to be told from Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region. She singled out Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Hong Kong, and urged collaboration.
“All of us collectively, don’t isolate yourself. We are collaborators, we are storytellers. Let’s work together and do great things,” she said.
Acknowledging the glass ceilings she had to break to rise to the top of Hollywood, Yeoh, however, told her fans and those who looked up to her as a role model: “Don’t become me, be you. I believe you can be better.”
Now one of Asia’s most recognisable personalities, Yeoh said it was passion for her vocation that ultimately made a difference in her career.
“In our business, it is very important that you are truly passionate about what you do because you never know what’s around the corner … it’s not like you have a steady job,” she said.
Md Nasir Ibrahim, chief executive of Malaysia’s film development board, said authorities were ready to answer Yeoh’s call to hone local talent.The agency would work with Yeoh on holding “masterclasses” for budding actors, he said.
“We would like to create as many Michelle Yeohs as possible,” Md Nasir said.
Additional reporting by Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
