There’s no question that Michelle Yeoh is one of the most versatile actresses working today. To celebrate her 60th birthday (how is she 60?), Variety is ranking the best performances of her career so far.
From her first role in “The Owl vs. Bombo” (1984) up until her most recent work in the box office smash “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” she’s shown no signs of slowing down and continues to push the boundaries of her craft.
For over three decades, she’s built a career that has made her one of the biggest Asian stars in Hollywood. Known for her ability to access the emotional center of a character, no matter the genre — even taking it up a notch by performing many of her own stunts — Yeoh is a force in the
industry.
As the highest-grossing film in A24 history, “Everything Everywhere” is looking like the most substantial awards contender for the first half of 2022. With a career that has included roles in iconic films such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000), Yeoh has never landed an Oscar nom. As we head towards the fall festival season and awards campaigns begin to take shape, her performance as Evelyn, a Chinese American laundromat owner who explores the multiverse, is her best shot at Academy attention. Hopefully, it won’t be her last. Next on her docket is the role of Dr. Karina Mogue in James Cameron’s anticipated “Avatar: The Way of Water” (and the three following sequels). She also has a role in Netflix’s “The School for Good and Evil” from Paul Feig due out in October.
Read Variety’s ranking of her 10 best performances, and watch a clip from each of the respective selections.
Honorable mentions: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017); “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005); “Kung Fu Panda 2” (2011)
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Supercop (1992)
Image Credit: ©Dimension Films/Everett Collection / Everett Collection Role: Inspector “Jessica” Yang Chien-Hua / Hannah Lin
Director: Stanley Tong
Writer(s): Edward Tang, Ma Fibe, Yee Lee Wai
Distributor: Dimension Films / MiramaxThe scene that proves it: Fighting the cops
The action flick (titled “Police Story 3: Supercop” in Hong Kong) has two masters of martial arts sharing the screen and we did nothing to deserve it. Featuring killer stunts involving riding the dirt bike near the train and the killer scene in which she fights the cops, it’s a turn to remember, and a treat if you can find it.
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Yes, Madam (1985)
Role: Senior Inspector Ng
Director: Corey Yuen
Writer(s): Barry Wong
Distributor: D&B FilmsThe scene that proves it: The final fight
I must credit my older siblings’ love for Saturday martial arts movies on TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s for helping me discover this little-seen gem that was shown under the title “Supercops.” Watch Yeoh be ferocious, beat up bad guys and look amazing while doing it.
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Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Role: Ying Nan
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writer(s): Dave Callaham, Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham (based on the Marvel Comics)
Distributor: Marvel StudiosThe scene that proves it: Teaching Shang Chi the fighting style of his mother
As the guardian of Ta Lo, and the aunt of Shang-Chi, Yeoh gets to show off her moves in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first martial arts film, alongside talents like Tony Leung and newcomer Simu Liu. Even though her addition here has made her scene in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” all the more perplexing (she plays a different character, Aleta Ogord), she fits in perfectly, and we can’t wait to see what more she’ll achieve in the superhero world.
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Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Image Credit: ©United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection Role: Colonel Wai Lin
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Writer(s): Bruce Feirstein (based on James Bond by Ian Fleming)
Distributor: MGM Distribution Co.The scene that proves it: Bond and Lin fight after showering.
In the Pierce Brosnan era as James Bond, it was a hard act to follow the box office smash “GoldenEye” (1995), which is responsible for giving teenagers arguably the best video game of all time (on Nintendo 64). But sprinkle in Michelle Yeoh as a Bond girl and a kickass agent, and the movie is considered a success.
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Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy (2018)
Image Credit: Everett Collection / Everett Collection Role: Tso Ngan Kwan
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Writer(s): Edmond Wong
Distributor: Universal PicturesThe scene that proves it: Max Zhang and Xing Yu fight
Yeoh’s work in the Ip Man spin-off is one of the more underrated movies in her filmography, but it’s fiercely impressive given the amount of fight choreography she executes. Playing the leader of the Cheung Lok crime organization, she gives 100% of her physicality and emotion, which is the minimum to expect from her on any film set.
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Sunshine (2007)
Image Credit: ©Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection Role: Corazon
Director: Danny Boyle
Writer(s): Alex Garland
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures (now Searchlight Pictures)The scene that proves it: “I have something wonderful to show him.”
In Danny Boyle’s sci-fi thriller, penned by “Ex Machina” scribe Alex Garland, Yeoh plays the plant-loving biologist who monitors the oxygen levels on the ship that’s on a mission to reignite a dying sun. She’s spiritually connected throughout, up until the last moment when Pinbacker (Mark Strong) kills our beloved heroine.
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The Lady (2011)
Image Credit: Cohen Media Group/Courtesy Everett Collection Role: Aung San Su Kyi
Director: Luc Besson
Writer(s): Rebecca Frayn
Distributor: Entertainment Film DistributorsThe scene that proves it: “What kind of freedom is that?”
Luc Besson’s film about Aung San Suu Kyi, the political leader of Burma who won the Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest for 15 years, is too “paint by numbers” to number as one of the best biopics. However, Yeoh’s elegance and matriarchal interpretation of the nonviolent leader ushers an inspirational turn alongside her co-star David Thewlis as her husband Michael. It stands as one of her most “traditional” performances.
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Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection Role: Eleanor Sung-Young
Director: Jon M. Chu
Writer(s): Peter Chiarelli, Adele Lim (based on “Crazy Rich Asians” by Kevin Kwan)
Distributor: Warner Bros.The scene that proves it: “You asked me here, I assume it’s not for a Mahjong lesson.”
The first major Hollywood studio film to feature an entire cast of Chinese descent in a modern setting since “The Joy Luck Club” (1993), “Crazy Rich Asians” became a global sensation with its vivacious ensemble that included Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina and more. Standing at the helm is Michelle Yeoh as the “tiger mom” of Nick, overbearing and assertive, but with class and power. A game of Mahjong has never been so riveting.
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Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Allyson Riggs/SXSW Role: Evelyn
Director: The Daniels
Writer(s): The Daniels
Distributor: A24The scene that proves it: “I am no longer willing to do to my daughter what you did to me.”
A dramedy about a laundromat owner who finds herself exploring the multiverse in an allegorical attempt to understand her loving husband (Ke Huy Quan) and daughter (Stephanie Hsu) wouldn’t seem like the “perfect” vehicle for Yeoh…but I love being wrong. Yeoh’s work is physically complex, dramatically rich and just utterly hilarious. In time, it could easily top this list.
Aside from Yeoh, the film is utterly worthy for noms across the board including best picture, director, original screenplay, supporting actor (Quan), supporting actress (Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu), film editing, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, sound and visual effects.
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Image Credit: ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Role: Yu Shu Lien
Director: Ang Lee
Writer(s): Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, Kuo Jung Tsai (based on “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” by Wang Dulu)
Distributor: Sony Pictures ClassicsThe scene that proves it: “Free yourself from this world as you’ve been taught.”
When going through the list and pointing out legitimate Oscar snubs, it’s undeniable the omission of Yeoh in the best actress lineup of 2000 (2001 ceremony) was one of the Academy’s most baffling oversights. While BAFTA nominated her, and her also worthy co-star Ziyi Zhang (in supporting actress), Yu Shu Lien, the skillful warrior, stands as one of Yeoh’s greatest roles…yet.