Michelle Yeoh believes younger talents of Asian descent “deserve a voice”

Michelle Yeoh believes that younger talents of Asian descent “deserve a voice.”

The star of Everything, Everywhere at Once loves this “moment” in her career when people tell her how much her work and presence in Hollywood has improved their lives and given them the impetus to enter the industry.

The 59-year-old actress told People magazine: “What’s so special about this moment in my career is that so many people who look like me, especially the younger generation (of Asian actors), are coming up to me and saying, ‘I can finally see myself doing all these things because you’re doing it. We have to stand up for ourselves and be brave enough to speak up. We deserve a voice. I think at this point in my career, that’s what I really enjoy: the fact that we’re getting more opportunities and the opportunities that we deserve.”

Michelle, who has been a professional actress for nearly 40 years, used to need a “to-do list” to feel successful, but as she gets older she prefers to “go with the flow.”

She said: “When I was younger, I would always make a to-do list and tick it off and feel like I’d accomplished something. But (now) I find that limiting. Sometimes you stop listening or noticing the things around you. So that’s what I do now: I go with the flow. Because especially in our profession, you never know what great directors are going to come around the corner and say, ‘Well, I really like your work and I’d love to work with you.’ So I don’t make lists anymore.”

The Crazy Rich Asians star was excited about the “physical comedy” she got to show off in her new film – which also stars Jamie Lee Curtis – and that it will allow her to explore a new side of her talent, as she is usually seen in “quiet” roles, such as those involving martial arts.

Michelle said: “What I really enjoyed (in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’) was the physical comedy, which I’ve never done before. You’ve seen me in martial arts movies – I’m always calm. I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m the teacher, the mentor. And in this movie, (my character) Evelyn Wang suddenly knows nothing. She’s a normal, aging housewife who has so many problems in her head. It was really fun.”