Michelle Yeoh Says She Wants — but Doesn't Need — an Oscar Win: 'My Arms Are Out Open'

Mar. 15, 2025

Michelle Yeoh.Photo: Araya Doheny/FilmMagic

Michelle Yeohis embracing the love she is feeling at this time in her career.

The 60-year-old actress — who is considered a Best Actress frontrunner at the upcomingAcademy Awardsfor her performance inEverything Everywhere All at Once— spoke withTIMEabout her prospects and desires for the honor. She wasnamed the magazine’s Icon of the Year.

Of the potential golden statuette, Yeoh said she definitely wants it but that her desire for the recognitionis “not about needing it.“Instead, “It’s that feeling that you don’t have to explain: it’s love from other people,” she added in her interview, published Tuesday.

“My arms are out open,” Yeoh said.

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RELATED GALLERY:Michelle Yeoh’s Career in Photos

The Malaysian actress said she has “thought about” the fact that no Asian woman has ever won Best Actress atthe Oscars, adding, “And not just me — I feel like myfull Asian community has thought about it.”

“They come up to me and they say, ‘You’re doing it for us,’ " Yeoh toldTIME.

She also mentioned her “peers” in Hollywood who happen to be White women, including other awards contenders this year,Cate Blanchett,Olivia ColmanandHelen Mirren, saying, “I envy all the different opportunities [they] get to showcase [their] talent again and again.”

“When you get an opportunity like this, you have to pour your heart and soul into it, because you don’t know when the next chance is,” Yeoh explained ofher role inEverything Everywhere All at Once. “I think that is my biggest fear: Please don’t let this be the one and only.”

RELATED VIDEO:Crazy Rich AsiansStar Michelle Yeoh on Why It’s Different Being atthe OscarsThis Year for Her

InEverything Everywhere All at Once, Yeoh stars as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant swept up in a wild adventure, where she’s dropped into other universes on a mission to save her world.

The film became A24’sfirst to cross $100 million at the global box officeand surpassed other top money-makers from the production company likeUncut Gems(2019), which made $50 million domestically, and 2018’sHereditary, which made over $80 million worldwide.

Yeoh has thus far taken home best-actress accolades from the Saturn Awards and Hollywood Critics Association for her role in the movie, and was nominated for outstanding lead performance at theGotham Independent Film Awards. She is also up forbest lead performanceat theFilm Independent Spirit Awards, which will be held on March 4.

source: people.com