Michelle Yeoh Net Worth

Michelle Yeoh's Quotes

• The reason why I decided to wait two years after the Bond movie, and to work with Ang Lee in a martial arts movie, is because I really believe that this genre deserves more respect and dignity than it's ever been given. Before, people saw it as a fairy tale; they felt they could take it easy. But it shouldn't be about that. It's so steeped in our culture, it should have more depth to it. It's never easy to find that balance, when it's such a magical type of film, to make you accept our soaring to the skies . . . it was a risk, but when we did this movie, it was for a Western audience.
• Learning how to walk in a kimono was an art form in itself - if you didn't learn to do it properly it was like dragging a dead cat across the floor! We had to walk with a piece of paper between your knees and a tea tray balanced on your head.
• In Asia, we constantly play Koreans, Malay, Chinese. We do not question that, as you do not question an Englishman playing an American or a German.
• I prefer to be kicked four or five times well, you know, hard, than twenty or twenty five times not so good...
• [on playing Aung San Suu Kyi in The Lady (2011)] If there is one thing I learned from this experience it's you need to believe in people, and their ability to grow and to change. You can never give up hope.

Interesting Facts about Michelle Yeoh

1. Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [1997]
2. One of the only female stars whom Jackie Chan lets do her own stunts.
3. A former Miss Malaysia, she got her start in acting in a commercial with Jackie Chan.
4. Miss Malaysia [1983]
5. Fought her way to the top in the male-dominated genre of Hong Kong action films, where she has been known for years as the "queen of martial arts".
6. Has a Bachelor's Degree in Dance from the Royal Academy of Dance (London, England).
7. One of the highest paid Chinese-language actresses in the world.
8. Highest paid actress in Asia.
9. Released a single CD in 1993, "Love Quite Like a Comet", from her movie Xin liu xing hu die jian (1993).
10. Surname, "Yeoh" is pronounced "yo".
11. She is currently engaged to Jean Todt, who became the President of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 2009. [2008]
12. She speaks 3 languages, English, Malay and Cantonese. However, she can't read Chinese and relies on pinyin (a system of phonetic notation) to pronounce words. In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), she uses pinyin to recite her lines (with help from Mandarin speaking crew members) in Mandarin as she doesn't speak the language.
13. Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002.
14. In 2001, she was given the title of "dato'" by the Sultan of Perak, her native state. "Dato'" is an honorary Malaysian title somewhat like an English knighthood, and it lies below the ranks of "Dato' Seri," "Tan Sri" and "Tun."
15. Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1999.
16. Was a very close friend to Anita Mui since early 1990s. She also hosted a memorial event for Mui in 2007.
17. In October 2007, was named a Chevalier of the French Legion d'Honneur, for her contributions to international culture.
18. Only the second Asian actress to play the major James Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). The first one was Mie Hama in You Only Live Twice (1967), thirty years earlier.
19. Is not known to have any children.