Michelle Yeoh Receives Honorary Golden Bear At Berlinale: Says Asian Rep In Hollywood Is An “Ongoing Struggle” & Shares Desire To Work With GDT

After receiving the Honorary Golden Bear at the opening ceremony for the Berlin Film Festival, Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh expressed to Berlinale her desire to work with more European filmmakers and continually challenge Asian stereotypes in Hollywood. She also teased a return to Hong Kong cinema this year and avoided a question about the current political state of the U.S., likely referring to the ICE raids, though that was not explicitly stated.

Yeoh mentioned that her colleagues in Crazy Rich Asians “ticked all the wrong boxes” when the film was being made back in 2018. Highlighting that Asian representation “continues to be a struggle” in Hollywood, but audiences help break those stereotypes and knock the doors down for them to have and maintain a platform on the biggest stage. Citing the recent successes of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Everything Everywhere All At Once to demonstrate a real shift in the film industry, opening up more conversations than ever before for more diverse Asian roles that can also kick ass.

Later, expressing gratitude to the Everything Everywhere All At Once directors Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, saying that, “I was eternally grateful to my two Daniels, my little geniuses, for being bold and courageous to do that film because once again, we ticked all the wrong boxes, but we prevailed.” Further commenting on her love for Hong Kong cinema, where she started her career, hinting at a return later this year to make a movie. When asked for advice on the current struggles and lack of confidence in Hong Kong cinema, Yeoh stated “I will always have a soft spot and a place in my heart for Hong Kong cinema.” The actress understands that the industry is “facing a rough time,” and that she will aim to support filmmakers in Hong Kong and intends to “go back and make a movie” in the country this year. She also mentioned that she is currently working on a third film in The Wandering Earth franchise with Chinese filmmaker Frant Gwo.

Elsewhere, Yeoh stated that it was not her place to speak on U.S. politics as she doesn’t feel confident in understanding the current climate to give an informed opinion, saying, “I don’t think I am in the position to really talk about the political situation in the U.S., and also I cannot presume to say I understand how it is. So, best not to talk about something I don’t know about.” Opting instead to reiterate the focus of cinema, which she considers “important for us”. Recognising the fragility of the industry but firmly believing that it will continue to endure and thrive, “We hear, ‘Oh cinema is not going to survive because there’s so many other things happening, the attention span is getting shorter.’ But I truly don’t believe that,” she said. “Because I believe when we go to the cinema, that is time for you. You know, you switch off your phones and you’ve chosen to watch something that you want. And that is the time when you can open your heart and free your mind and have time to yourself. Cinema is a place where we all come together and laugh and cry, we celebrate, but it’s always important to keep that tradition alive. And I hope that is what we are here to do.”

Yeoh also eagerly said she would love to work with more European directors and is “dying” to make a movie with Mexican auteur Guillermo del Toro. “I think it’s finding the balance and hoping that the European directors will take notice of me and say, ‘Maybe we should have her in our film,’” she said. “So please put it out there! I would love to be back here and working with the true greats of European cinema.”

Last night, Michelle Yeoh was presented the festival’s honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement from fellow Oscar-winning director Sean Baker (Anora). The two recently worked together on a short film, Sandiwara, which is premiering at the festival today, along with a screening for Everything Everywhere All At Once to celebrate Yeoh’s contributions to cinema.

Baker, in his speech, described Yeoh as a “once-in-a-generation screen presence, the kind who doesn’t just appear in movies, but the kind that redefines the temperature of the room.” Yeoh later moved the audience with an emotional speech reflecting on her career and how much she’d love to work with Baker again, jokingly teasing as long as there’s no sex scenes.

“A part of me is still that young girl who simply wanted to make her parents proud,” she said. “My father is no longer here to see this moment. But I carry him with me, his discipline, his steadiness, his belief that if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well. And if he could see me here tonight, holding this Golden Bear, I know he would smile.”

Michelle Yeoh’s short film, Sandiwara by Sean Baker, premieres today at the Berlinale.

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