Michelle Yeoh on why winning the Oscar for best actress matters | One-on-One with Stephanie Ruhle 

She’s pretty authentic, not pretending she doesn’t want the oscar

She is regal, stunning, a class act, beautiful, elegant, powerful. And those glasses are gorgeous on her.

Beyond identity politics, a Michelle Yeoh win at the Academy Awards would be a lot more inspired for a myriad of reasons, but perhaps most of all it would help alleviate the persistent genre bias that ONLY serious dramatic acting is worthy of an Oscar. Sure, her performance has dramatic moments, but it’s also a layered tour de force that encompasses comedy, sci-fi, and martial arts, among others; hopefully, moving forward, her win would allow actresses delivering a performance that’s beyond the staid-and-solemn (some of the most recent examples include Toni Collette in Hereditary and Lupita Nyong’o in Us) a chance to be recognized via a nomination or even better, a win. When we think of exemplary acting, we think of someone who looks, speaks, and acts like, say, Cate Blanchett - Yeoh’s fellow nominee this year - and plays roles like Lydia Tár. She’s the type of actress that gets canonized and does roles that also get canonized in the media and major award shows. But why is that? What makes someone who looks, speaks, and acts like Michelle Yeoh or an Evelyn Wang type of role less Oscar-worthy or canonized? Why should it remain that way too? These are questions that WE need to interrogate ourselves with as an audience. “Diversity” doesn’t - and shouldn’t - boil down to race and race only. In the context of a performance, it should also extend to the type of film the nominated role appears in, the type of role itself, the language used in the film, and the nominee’s age (so yes, the Academy needs to nominate and reward both younger AND older actresses - on that note, a Michelle Yeoh win would also hopefully alleviate the age bias and show that it is possible for an older actress to triumph against her younger, more media-favored counterparts), to name but a few. But above all, I think anyone in their right mind would agree that it IS ludicrous how there’s only been exactly ONE non-white actress to win Best Actress thus far, in the nearly a century that the institution has been around. Plain and simple, it’s wrong and unjust. Surely there have been countless outstanding performances over these past few decades by non-white actresses worthy of a nomination or even a win? Michelle Yeoh gave one of those and is rightfully being considered as a winner, so why not rectify the situation and just let her win? I think people need to realize that as local as the Academy Awards are, the ceremony is broadcast worldwide and has a major international impact beyond the American media. A Michelle Yeoh win, and an EEAAO sweep, would send a strong message: “We’re ready to welcome the future and reimagine it from this point forward.” As I said, at this point it’s really just a question of whether the Academy is choosing to remain safe and predictable, or to do right and just by their own tenet, which is to reward artistic excellence in acting. Clearly, there are so many ways to demonstrate excellence as there are so many kinds of people in this world, especially in the acting world.

The thing i love the most about Michelle is that she's never afraid or hesitating to say the truth that must be told. A woman of color saying that yes, she wants and DESERVES that recognition for the incredible work she does and is proud to have done, knowing the importance of everything she's achieved not just for herself but for a whole community. Like finally giving that Oscar to her is something so much bigger than the award itself. She had one of the best performances of the year, in a movie and with a character that will be relevant and remembered for generations, not to mention her being one of the greatest actors of all time... I honestly don't know anyone more worthy of the major honor of this industry than her. AND IT'S ABOUT TIME.

Stephanie Ruhles. Love their connection at the end. So moving.

I am really really rooting for Michelle Yeoh to win this Oscar 2023! She is such an amazing actor, and has been under appreciated for so long.

Michelle deserves much more! I love her💗

I've loved her since Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and her performance in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once was masterful. If she doesn't win Best Actress, it's a travesty.

Michelle’s ending moments of this interview is so touching and she very much deserves to win. Rooting for her so much. What a true inspiration ❤

She has always been done of my most favorite actress's...

As a Caribbean-Asian woman, Michelle Yeoh's Oscar and other wins means so much! For four decades this incredible and gifted actor toiled in the vineyard. So thrilled for her, her co-actors, Malaysia. The US film industry is waking up !!

Michelle Yeoh... the amazing Michelle Yeoh... and those tears are tears of a long wonderful career, the tears of a ballerina that was hurt, the tears of thousands of stunts, daring to break barriers, broken bones and danger but bravery and grace; the tears of dreams evaporated and the determination to keep going. Those tears are the tears of someone who has been doing her very best over and over and over; and this movie was a perfect display of an immense talent. Those tears are tears of wondering what else do I need to do to prove I am good enough? Those are the tears of someone who is a great as the bests beyond race, color, religion or circumstances. Those are the tears of the woman who knows she keeps giving and giving of her talent and still she needs to struggle to get the chance to star in a great movie. Those are the tears of someone who is strong but also, pours out her vulnerability with brutal honesty and says: Yes I want to win. Those are the tears of someone who is giving her very best and still needs to justify the fact that she is as talented as the great ones because the odds are still against her. The tears of a long prolific and brilliant career that doesn't deserve to be relegated or ignored anymore. She's more than deserving. Her Evelyn Wang is a beautiful display of mothers trying and trying in a chaotic world. Dear Michelle, you are already a winner. A great winner. Thank you for the gift of your precious talent. It's a blessing.

She was so good in EEAAO. The whole cast deserves to win!!!!

I love that she said awards matter. It's easy for people to dismiss awards as self-congratulatory activities, but it's part of their livelihood. And to see your White peers keep getting recognized for years, you start wondering what is the point of all this. That's why it matters. (Seriously. You cannot tell me only one woman of color gave a "best lead performance" in 94 years of the Academy.)

Very thoughtful and authentic interview! Love Machelle Yeoh and Stepanie Ruhle.

love how honest she is, many were aspired by her personalities, work ethics etc. yes her winning do matters to a lot of people. all the best Michelle!

Michelle deserves to have it because she was excellent in it-showcasing the range that she has in a multi-genre film. She deserves to have it because her talent is like no other in this movie industry. She deserves to have it because her talent defies age, gender, and the limited opportunities that she has had with her ethnicity. She deserves to have it because it is TIME.

Wow ❤️That was so heartwarming ! It's like she wants to win an Oscar to tell her mom that she too, as an Asian woman, could have had a shot at earning a living making movies and winning the highest award there is in moviemaking. It's like a love letter from daughter to mother.

Utterly ridiculous that this was her FIRST nomination...she is an EPIC actor

A rich, deep, honest interview indeed. Excellent substance. Go Michelle Yeoh! 🌷🌷🌷

I was initially rooting for Cate but after I watched EEAAO I really started rooting for Michelle. I would be overjoyed if she finally gets recognised. Inshallah she will get her Oscar.

She is like this aged wine in the film industry as an actress

It still shocks me till this day that Halle Berry is the only non-white actress who've won an Best Actress in 95 years! Michelle we're rooting for you!

I can feel her pain because it's 60 years of working so hard and the ceiling isn't broken

Michelle Yeoh is really a teacher. A teacher of humanity. She bridges gaps before unbridgable, and does it so eloquently

Give her the Oscars please.. Manifesting!

Michelle Yeoh, congratulations. In my opinion, you've deserved this award over the years many times over.

Like many people, I'm really cynical about the Oscars. Especially if you look at how they treat animation. But still I can't help but care for them when a movie like EEAaO is nominated. Hollywood needs more movies like this, so now's our chance to give it all the recognition it deserves.

Gorgeous Stephanie ♥thank you. Thank you Michelle for all you have shared with us🙏

WOW! Great interview. The last minute was INCREDIBLE!

She nearly broke me with her last response to last question

I think this is the best interview with Yeoh on her perspective on this movie. So glad she won. Totally deserved it.

Wow…very inspiring…MY will always be the winner and MY 🇲🇾 hero no matter what…but I pray she gets it this Sunday…adore u too SR…

This could be a very emotional Oscars, if Yeoh, Quan and Brendan Fraser win well deserved Oscars.

EEAO is going to sweep the Oscars. Michelle will win.

Now that is an honest interview! She made the interviewer teary eyed also!

Congratulations, Michelle!!! Malaysia 🇲🇾🇲🇾🇲🇾 is rooting for YOU (I’m sure the whole movie industry in HK too)!!! Thanks for staying so authentic & always speak your truth

Icon of the year 2022 by TIME.... Michelle Yeoh you deserve to Win this coming Oscar...we love 💕 you...she from Malaysia...you know where is Malaysia? Not Wuhan hello......

Michelle Yeoh was the Epitome of Grace in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon!!!

She is not the most recognizable Asian actor, she is the MOST recognizable actor!

Thank you for this interview!

Love Michelle so much 😍

I hope... I hope she wins!

Michelle's killing it! ❤❤❤

I LOVE CATE BLANCHET BUT THIS WOMAN DESERVES THE OSCAR FOR BEST ACTRESS! 💫✨

Michelle Yeoh poured her passion into her work and lifted this movie to another level of it's own! She's got a heart of gold as well!

I absolutely love Michelle. Such an authentic woman.

Loved the interview, now I need to see the movie.

CONGRATULATIONS TO A 60-YEAR-OLD ASIAN ACTRESS WHO MANAGED TO WIN THE BEST ACTRESS IN OSCAR! from my home in ' The City of Angels, Bangkok '

I stan the Michelle Yeoh/ Jamie Lee Curtis friendship.

Thanks for this awesome interview. Michelle Yeoh help break barriers for the struggles of being accepted and understood for all people, not just for Asians and women.

What a great interview!

Legendary.

My 15 yo daughter watched Everything Everywhere All at Once and bawling her eyes out... I love Michelle Yoeh in the Crazy Rich Asian, especially the opening scene of the movie when checked in a hotel...I could totally relate to it.

My new hero! Michelle Yeoh!

I love this talk ❤❤

One of my favourite TV host with one of my favourite actor

Stephanie Ruhle…. Loved her intelligence in Bloomberg and love her intelligence here! Go Michelle Yeoh!

What an amazing Hollywood journey for this amazing asian actress Ms. Michelle Yeoh...2023 Oscar's best actress in a leading role!❤👍

Hope her gets the Oscar😭😭😭😭😭

I’m rooting hard for Michelle Yeoh no offense to cate blanchett she is an amazing period film actress can successfully do any genre however she already has 2 statues give the Oscar to Michelle Yeoh who earned this.

Michelle Yeoh is not an extraordinary Asian actress. She is an extraordinary actress ❤

My favorite Michelle’s movies Ms, Madam, Super Cop, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, 007 Tomorrow Never Die, Memoir of Geisha, Crazy rich Asian, Everything everywhere at once.

Winning an oscar is something congratulatory but not getting it doesn't mean she lost everything. She deserves almost everything she has accomplished for over the past 40 years.

Loved this interview!

Beautiful interview.

Wow. Just wow. Thank you Michelle

If Michelle wins on Sunday, it'll be because she has earned it on her on own merit and the majority of the voters believed that she deserved it the most.

Congrats to Legendary actress!

I've loved all her works❤

Love her

She did it !!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆❤❤❤🥰🥰🥰🥰

Wow, what a beautiful beautiful interview. I'm speechless.

She won!

The only thing that would make this conversation better is Stephanie and Michelle talking about Star Trek! Michelle played incredible roles as Captain Georgieu and Emperess Georgieu.

The pride of Malaysia!

Congrats Michelle Yeoh for the Oscar Award

Two amazing women!

Incredible interview 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

She's lovely

She is absolutely AMAZING! I have loved her and her movies for many years and I truly PRAY she wins the Oscar!! 🎉🎉🎉

Michelle Yeoh is Asian’s Meryl Streep ❤️

Can’t wait to see you accept your Oscar award! ❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

She's one of my fav actresses

I want it for you too! Go Michelle!

Congratulations Michelle Yeoh 🙏🙏🙏⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️❤️❤️

So Beautiful And Talented

I'm just so happy that she won!

Ghee this interview.....got something in my eyes & u know what comes after it ?

She wants the OSCAR YES or YES, she is crying all around that she deserves the Oscar, Ohhhh my Gosh, please academy give her the award and an standing ovation, that is what she wants so we don’t see her for a while crying around !!!

Beautiful ❤

Two of my favorite people. Stephanie looks extra-pretty here.

Amazing

I want to know where those blue glasses are from !!!!!

Yes it matters!

As a white European non immigrant national I loved that movie, for it's Wow, Asian immigrant stories, with amazing actors (James Wong too) deserving such roles, for it's fantasy, for its finally NOT a Good Kills Bad at the end, and for it's universality, of family and generational issues. And when Michelle says more Asian representation I think also more Reservoir Dogs, Hasan Minhaj, Kenyan Actors, etc, as long as the drama is universal.

Beautiful. Please, SiStars, no more apologizing for our e/Motions, our tears of Joy and Sadness. Be!

Michelle grown witnessing alot of asian talent and stories to tell, but never had a chance, so it is matters

Yay, Michelle! Congratulations! Yes, It does matter and thanks for leading the pack ! For many many y-e-a-r-s, I remember how hard it's been for Asian actors to get roles other than the stereotypical minor roles.

HOW ARE YOU MY LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS AMAZING BRILLIANT MIND-SET SWEETEST DARLING PRINCESS MICHELLE YEON, GOOD LUCK AT THE MAGNIFICENT MAGICAL THRILLER EXCITING OSCARS NIGHT ...BEST WISHES ...I 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 YOU & HAPPY FOR CINDERELLA MICHELLE YEOH..SOOO PROUD..