Michelle Yeoh Breaks Asian Actor Limits, Goes Global: "Film Is My Life… I Keep Challenging Myself Without Fear" [Comprehensive] [31st BIFF]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actress Michelle Yeoh reflected on her journey as an Asian actor after receiving the "Asian Film Person of the Year" award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.

A press conference for Michelle Yeoh, the recipient of the "Asian Film Person of the Year" award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), was held on the 7th at the Cinema Hall in Haeundae-gu, Busan.

Michelle Yeoh expressed her gratitude, saying, "It has been 15 years, and it is truly wonderful to be back in Busan. Thank you for your warm welcome." She added, "Receiving the Asian Film Person of the Year award is deeply meaningful, and I am grateful."

She continued, "Just like the Busan International Film Festival, I have also walked a long path. Starting from Asia, I aimed to move onto the global stage and share culture through film." She stated, "I believe that in some way, I have achieved that goal to a certain extent."

She also recalled the limitations she faced when entering Hollywood. Michelle Yeoh revealed, "The most shocking thing when I first went to Hollywood was the fact that I was a minority. Although there are many Asians around the world, roles given to Asian actors were few, and even those were trapped in stereotypes."

She added, "When I appeared in a James Bond film, I thought a door had opened because an Asian actor appeared in a globally famous spy movie, but there was still the limitation of it being a typical role that an Asian actor would play."

Michelle Yeoh stated, "After 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' I heard stories about breaking the glass ceiling, but I felt that if I continued to only take stereotypical roles, I would ultimately be consumed only by that image." She revealed, "From then on, I have worked hard to broaden the scope of my roles and made many efforts to show that Asian women can exist in diverse forms."

She also revealed her affection for Korean cinema. Expressing anticipation for working with director Lee Chang-dong, she said, "I have a lot of interest in Korean films, including 'Possible Love.'" She continued, "I definitely want to work with director Park Chan-wook and director Bong Joon-ho as well. I have already acted with actor Jung Woo-sung." She smiled and added, "I really love K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean food, but above all, I love the Korean people."

In particular, Michelle Yeoh set a new milestone in world film history by becoming the first Asian actress to win Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards for her 2023 film "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

Regarding the achievements of Asian actors, Michelle Yeoh said, "Actress Yoon Yeo-jeong showed the status of Asian actors by becoming the first Asian to win Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards in 2021." She added, "It was a great fortune for me to be able to participate in Oscar competition as well."

She continued, "At the time, it felt like a dream. I believe that such an achievement can inspire many people by showing them that 'I can do it too.'" She revealed, "I also gained the strength to keep moving forward."

Praise for Korean cinema followed. Michelle Yeoh said, "Korean cinema is doing really well. I think it is a good model we can learn from." She added, "I hope Asian films will continue to move in that direction with pride."

Michelle Yeoh meets audiences at this film festival with the movie "My Grandmother Is a Rubik's Cube Master." She said, "I have done many Hollywood works so far, and I had hoped to return well to Asian cinema."

Regarding the message conveyed by the work, she stated, "I wanted to show that even older people have resilience and can continue to take on new challenges." She added, "Ultimately, I think the biggest question is, 'My life is mine, so what can I do?' I hope that message is well conveyed to the audience."

Finally, regarding her love for film, Michelle Yeoh said, "Film is my life. I start every morning by watching a movie. Although countless platforms and content have emerged, I hope that film will always remain alive by our side."

She continued, "I think watching a single film is like making a choice in life. It is time to temporarily block out the outside world and fully focus on the story I have chosen. Film has given me unexpected joy and countless memories."

She also emphasized, "As an actor, I have been able to live the lives of various characters, and through that process, I have had many experiences and learned a lot. Film has greatly influenced my life and acting, and it is still something that teaches me every day."

Regarding working with new creators, she said, "I am not afraid. I do not fear working with emerging directors or writers." She recalled, "When I first saw the script for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' I thought, 'This is really crazy.'"

She stated, "I really love working with emerging directors. They have different perspectives on the world and allow me to see things in new ways that I had not thought of." She added, "Of course, I learn a lot from established directors as well, but the gaze and sensibility of emerging directors have very fresh energy."

She added, "I think life is a process of taking on challenges with new things while taking some risks. Therefore, I want to keep challenging myself with creators who have new perspectives and stories in the future as well."

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*This content was translated by AI.