(=Busan) Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress and a living legend in the global film industry, returned to Busan after 15 years. Breaking through Hollywood's glass ceiling, she expressed, "Film is my life," conveying her deep passion for acting and continuous challenges.
On the morning of October 7, a press conference was held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae for the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), featuring Yeoh, the star of the gala presentation film "My Grandma is the Cube King," who also received the Asian Film Award for this year.
The Asian Film Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of the Asian film industry and culture.
Yeoh, who follows in the footsteps of previous winners like Tony Leung, Chow Yun-fat, and Kiyoshi Kurosawa, expressed her gratitude, saying, "Even after 15 years, I am thankful for the warm welcome in this wonderful city. Like the Busan International Film Festival, I have walked a long path with the goal of starting in Asia and moving globally, so receiving this award is very meaningful to me."
Since her debut in 1985, Yeoh has starred in films such as "Yes, Madam," "007: Tomorrow Never Dies," and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." In 2022, she became the first Asian actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress for "Everything Everywhere All at Once," and in 2026, she received the Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Asian woman to do so. She reflected on the painful discrimination she faced during her early Hollywood career.
Yeoh shared, "The biggest shock when I first went to Hollywood was being treated as a 'minority.' While the '007' series opened doors for me, the roles available to Asian actors at that time were limited to stereotypes, like being a Chinese restaurant worker."
She continued, "With 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' I broke through that wall. I refused to be consumed solely as an image without understanding the background and have continuously expanded my roles to showcase the diverse aspects of Asian women."
Her drive to broaden her spectrum, regardless of age and limitations, stems from her "love and passion." She stated, "I am not afraid of failure and enjoy doing things that make my heart race. Even if it involves taking risks, I find joy in working with emerging directors and discovering fresh aspects of myself that I didn't know existed."
Yeoh also expressed her deep affection for Korean cinema and culture. She said, "I love K-pop, K-dramas, Korean food, and especially the Korean people. I was deeply impressed by Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love,' and I would love to work with directors Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho. I also want to reunite with actor Jung Woo-sung, with whom I have worked in the past."
She conveyed her excitement about the recent global successes of Asian actors, mentioning Youn Yuh-jung's Oscar win as the first Korean actress. Yeoh remarked, "The fact that we can compete at the Oscars is a blessing and a dream come true. Korean cinema is doing exceptionally well. We will continue to move in that direction and take pride in the remarkable achievements of Asia."
The new film "My Grandma is the Cube King," showcased at this festival, embodies Yeoh's determination to bridge Eastern and Western cultures. Regarding her choice of this true story, she said, "I have been waiting for stories about resilience in older individuals who do not give up and continue to challenge themselves despite failures. I hope the message of 'My life is my own' resonates well with the audience."
Finally, she reflected on the essential meaning of film. Yeoh stated, "For me, film is life itself. It is the most genuine moment where I can completely shut out the outside world and focus solely on the life I choose. Film has given me a life I never imagined and teaches me something new every day."
Meanwhile, the Busan International Film Festival has organized a special section titled 'Yangtze River Tribute' to honor Yeoh, featuring her new film "My Grandma is the Cube King" along with her selected representative works, including "The Heroic Trio," "Everything Everywhere All at Once," and "Sandiwara." The 31st Busan International Film Festival will continue until October 15.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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