Michelle Yeoh has made history as the first Asian woman to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards. It’s a triumphant and moving moment for the actor who killed in her role as a time-traveling Chinese-American laundromat owner navigating an IRS audit and complex relationships with her husband and daughter in Everything Everywhere All At Once. It was her first Oscar nomination.
“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,” she said in accepting her award. “This is proof that dreams — dream big, and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up.”
This was her first Oscar nomination and win after a venerated career that included Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians.