The Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh stands as one of the few performers who have achieved equally impressive success in both Hollywood and Hong Kong cinema. As a martial arts star who got her start in cult classic action movies, Yeoh used her early success as a springboard toward a career in major blockbuster hits.

As an Oscar winner who has appeared in some of the most successful movies of all time, Yeoh has earned her status as one of the most acclaimed actresses working today. Whether it was gaining Hollywood recognition as a memorable Bond girl or helping classics like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon win multiple Oscars, Yeoh’s career has always been impressive.

Yes, Madam (1985)

Michelle Yeoh achieved her breakout success as Inspector Ng in the cult favorite girls-with-guns classic Yes, Madam. This Hong Kong action movie was directed by Corey Yuen, produced by Sammo Hung, and kick-started Yeoh’s career on a high note with a hugely influential film that spawned several sequels in the In the Line of Duty series.

Prior to Yes, Madam, Yeoh won the 1983 Miss World Malaysia contest, an achievement that led to her appearing in a commercial alongside Jackie Chan before quickly finding success in action movies. Yes, Madam laid the groundwork for what audiences have come to expect from Yeoh and stands as her first step into an extraordinary career.

Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)

It’s amazing to think that just a few short years after appearing in a watch commercial with Jackie Chan, she was starring alongside him in Police Story 3: Supercop. This was the third installment in Chan’s legendary action series and saw him team up with the elite Chinese policewoman Jessica Yang (Yeoh) to take down a drug cartel.

With Yeoh as the тιтular supercop, she made such a big impact in Police Story 3 that it actually led to the development of her own spin-off. Yeoh built up her credentials as a major Hong Kong action star by appearing in the subsequent sequel, Supercop 2, which was an offshoot of Chan’s original franchise.

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

While Michelle Yeoh was already a major star in Hong Kong during the early 1990s, it wasn’t until she portrayed the Bond girl Wai Lin in Tomorrow Never Dies that she gained mainstream attention in the United States. This was Yeoh’s Hollywood debut and signaled the beginning of a new era in her career.

Wai Lin was a spy for the Ministry of State Security of the People’s Republic of China who, rather than play a pᴀssive role like many Bond girls, was every bit as skilled as 007. While Brosnan’s Bond era is often criticized for being too over-the-top, it was great characters like Wai Lin that kept things wildly entertaining.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon stands as perhaps Michelle Yeoh’s most important film role, as it blended the two aspects of her career into one. As a romantic wuxia that balanced the mysticism of Eastern culture with the epic visuals of a Hollywood blockbuster, this multi-Oscar-winning Ang Lee release helped revitalize martial arts filmmaking for the 21st century.

Telling the story of two master warriors facing a mysterious thief for possession of an ancient sword, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon balanced fast-paced fight choreography with spellbinding depictions of magic and wonder. As the first non-English language film to make over $100 million at the United States box office, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a history-making triumph.

Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005)

Michelle Yeoh proved she was as impactful in supporting roles as when taking center stage in Memoirs of a Geisha, a Steven Spielberg-produced exploration of an impoverished Japanese girl’s journey into the complex hierarchy of elite society. With Yeoh as Mameha, a rival geisha who takes a mentorship role for the young Chiyo Sakamoto (Zhang Ziyi), her presence was unforgettable.

Memoirs of a Geisha was a visually stunning exploration of tradition, sacrifice, and idenтιтy. However, it was also a controversial release for Yeoh and other actresses involved, as the film received widespread criticism for failing to cast Japanese actresses in the lead roles.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

As a groundbreaking example of contemporary Asian representation in Hollywood, the mᴀssive success of Crazy Rich Asians marked a cultural milestone. This story of a Chinese-American professor named Rachel learning that her boyfriend comes from one of the wealthiest families in Singapore was a hilarious rom-com that appealed to viewers of all races.

Michelle Yeoh gave a memorable performance as the domineering mother Eleanor Sung-Young, and her appearance helped elevate the film, as her legacy speaks for itself. As an important release in bringing diversity to mainstream Hollywood cinema, Yeoh and the entire cast demonstrated how authentic storytelling and strong writing can resonate with viewers globally.

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Everything Everywhere All at Once was the movie that finally won Michelle Yeoh an Academy Award for Best Actress and was one of the most surprising hits of the 2020s. As an A24 release from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, nobody expected this multiverse absurdist comedy to make as big an impact as it did.

With Yeoh as Evelyn Quan Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant connecting with parallel universe versions of herself, this action-packed sci-fi adventure was as much about the struggles of hard-working immigrants as it was about reconciling past regrets with current life. Everything Everywhere All at Once was a cinematic experience like few films before, and it rightfully earned Yeoh a well-deserved Oscar.

Wicked (2024)

Michelle Yeoh added yet another hugely popular franchise to her impressive resume of blockbuster hits with her role in Wicked. As the Dean of Sorcery Studies at Shiz University, Yeoh’s performance as Madame Morrible stood out, and she excelled in her very first musical role.

As the one who enrolled Elphaba into Shiz after witnessing her utilizing her powers, Madame Morrible was the instigator of the musical’s entire narrative and a hugely important character in the story. With Michelle Yeoh set to reprise the role in Wicked: For Good in 2025, this stands to be her most prominent role since becoming an Academy Award-winning actress.