Award Shows March 12, 2023
Michelle Yeoh on Her History-Making Oscar Win (Exclusive)
On Sunday, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Michelle Yeoh took home the gold at the 2023 Oscars!
Yeoh made history at the Oscars, becoming the first Asian woman to win Best Actress. She was also the first woman of color to win Best Actress since Halle Berry more than 20 years ago.
"Extra's" Terri Seymour spoke with Michelle at the Vanity Fair party, where she echoed sentiments from her acceptance speech. Yeoh said, "I hope this is the beacon of hope for all who look like me to know there is possibility. Dare to dream, because dreams do come true."
Yeoh gave a shout-out to her 84-year-old mom during the speech, saying of mothers, “They are real the superheroes, and without them, none of us will be here tonight.”
She told Terri that she spoke with her mom after the ceremony! “She was crying, she was so happy," Yeoh said. See video of Michele on FaceTime with her mom below!
A filial daughter , Michelle checked in on her mother straight after she became the first Asian to win the best actress award in the Academy’s 95 year history . Bravo ! 🎉 https://t.co/Ghvs4LYW94 pic.twitter.com/BzqTIJ5cuW
— Melissa Goh (@MelGohCNA) March 13, 2023 @MelGohCNA
It was a big night for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which won seven Oscars. Along with Yeoh’s win, it took home Best Picture (the Daniels, Jonathan Wang), Best Director (the Daniels), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Original Screenplay (the Daniels), and Best Film Editing (Paul Rogers).
Reflecting on the film's big sweep, Michelle said, “We never thought that we would be here today. We are also grateful, so proud. Thank you to all the audience, to the people who loved our film. Because of your support, we are here.”
Michelle beat out Cate Blanchett (“Tár”), Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”), Ana de Armas (“Blonde”), and Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”) for the coveted award.
During her acceptance speech, she told the star-studded crowd, “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you that you are ever past your prime. Never give up.”
In addition to her mom, Michelle made sure to thank the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” cast and crew onstage. She said, “I wouldn’t be standing here tonight without the Daniels, without the amazing cast and crew, [and] everyone involved with ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’”
Michelle ended her speech by thanking the Academy, saying, “This is history in the making!”
Only "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) and "Network" (1976) had previously won three acting Oscars, putting "Everything Everywhere All at Once" in an exclusive club.
Oscars 2023 — The Complete Winners List!
View StoryWhen Michelle’s co-star Ke Huy Quan won Best Supporting Actor, he couldn’t hold back tears during his acceptance speech.
He shared, “My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp. And somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage. They say stories like this only happen the movies. I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This — this is the American dream!”
“Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine,” Quan admitted. “To all of you out there, please keep your dream alive.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, told the crowd, “To all the people who have supported the genre movies that I’ve made for these years,” referring to fans of her “Halloween” films, “the thousands and hundreds of thousands of people, we just won an Oscar together!”