In Homecoming, Michelle Yeoh Wants to Work Closely With Local Film Talents

Michelle Yeoh, who won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role as Evelyn Wang in the film "Everything Everywhere All at Once" last month, returned to her native Malaysia, where she hopes to meet her fans, eat her favorite cuisine, and work closely with local talents in the film industry.

The 60-year-old Yeoh made history as she became the first Asian actress to win an Oscar. In a news conference on Tuesday, April 18, which was broadcast on YouTube by Reuters and various media groups, Yeoh shared about the incredible rollercoaster journey she's had to winning the Oscar.

"This was the first time there was any hope I could be included in the table, to have a conversation about why these [kinds] of roles are so important, especially for someone who looks like us and there's been so little representation for so long, for far too long..." told the media. 

"I heard the roar of joy, happiness all across the world to Los Angeles so I thank all of you for having been on that journey with me because I felt your support, I felt your strength because it was a difficult journey."

During the news conference, the actress brought out her Oscar statue to show to the press.

Yeoh believes Malaysia has a ton of stories that can be told, adding that there are many amazing local filmmakers, and they just have to be bold and courageous to believe that they can do it and to not put themselves in a box.

On her part, she shared that she would like to work closely with the talents of the local film industry.

"We just have to, first of all, create opportunities for them,” she said. “We have to create platforms that will showcase their talent, so I do want to work very closely with the heads of studios here, people who can make the change, people who can push the path forward.”