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| In Berlin at a special photocall the next day, Michelle Yeoh showed her Golden Bear award she had been presented with the evening before. Photograph (above) by Jay Zoo. Cover picture by Andrea Heinsohn for DAM, |
Michelle Yeoh was honoured with the Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, marking a historic first as the award’s first Asian female recipient. The accolade recognizes a four-decade career that has spanned Hong Kong action cinema, Hollywood blockbusters and Oscar-winning drama, cementing her status as one of the most influential and enduring figures in contemporary film, writes Jeanne-Marie Cilento. Photography by Jay Zoo
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On the red carpet at the Berlinale, Michelle Yeoh wearing an elegantly svelte Giorgio Armani gown |
Baker, who recently collaborated with the actor on the short film Sandiwara, described her as a “once-in-a-generation screen presence” whose work has consistently elevated the medium. He praised her commitment to artistic integrity and her refusal to be confined by stereotype or expectation.
Visibly moved as she accepted the Golden Bear, Yeoh balanced humour with reflection. She joked about future collaborations with Baker before turning to a deeply personal note, speaking of her late father and the values of discipline and perseverance he instilled in her. “If something is worth doing, it is worth doing properly,” she said, crediting that philosophy for sustaining her four-decade career.
Yeoh emphasised that the award represented not a single performance but a body of work shaped by persistence. Born in Malaysia, she first gained prominence in Hong Kong action cinema before transitioning to international productions.
American director Sean Baker described Michelle Yeoh as a “once-in-a-generation screen presence” whose work has consistently elevated the medium.
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Michelle Yeoh strikes a pose the day after her award in Berlin in front of her fans. |
Speaking to press in Berlin, Yeoh declined to comment on U.S. political matters, stating she preferred to focus on cinema. She defended the enduring relevance of the theatrical experience, describing it as a shared space where audiences “open their hearts and free their minds.”
She also addressed representation in Hollywood, acknowledging that progress for Asian actors has been hard won. Projects such as Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All at Once, she noted, were initially viewed as commercial risks. Their success, she argued, demonstrated that global audiences are ready for broader storytelling.
As the audience rose in a sustained standing ovation, Yeoh held the Golden Bear close. The honour, she said, symbolised resilience and a reminder that artists who persist can reshape the industry itself.
