She made history at the Oscars last night with her big win, but that's not the only thing people are talking about because her speech seems to be an open letter to Don Lemon.
The 60-year-old actress won the award for Best Actress for her role in “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” During her acceptance speech Sunday night, she aimed at the CNN anchor.
“Dreams do come true,” Michelle said. “And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime!” People cheered when she spoke at the Dolby Theater; it was all over social media immediately.
Michelle’s words sounded like a response to what Don said about Nikki Haley last month. Last month, Don said that Nikki Haley, a 51-year-old Republican presidential candidate, isn’t in her prime because she suggested that all elected officials over 75 be tested for their skills.
At the time, Don doubled down on his position, saying, “A woman is in her prime in her 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s,” and telling his co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins to look it up. He later said he was sorry, and after a few days off, CNN executives told Lemon that his comments put him in the wrong spot. Michelle was the second woman of color to win the category. Halle Berry was the first in 2002.
For her role in “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,” Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian actress to win the Academy Award for best actress. The writers’ Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert wrote the part with her in mind, and Yeoh loved the chance to show what a great actress she is.
The Hollywood veteran won over Academy voters with her complex portrayal of Evelyn Wang, a Chinese American laundromat owner in the middle of a tax audit, stuck in a failing marriage, and struggling to connect with her daughter Joy. She goes through many universes to escape a powerful supernatural enemy, who turns out to be her daughter.
Even so, the 60-year-old Yeoh was praised for her role as Evelyn, a middle-class immigrant who has to deal with life in America and a complicated multiverse with many different versions of her life. Yeoh uses her impressive acting skills to reach Joy and her rebellious alter ego Jobu Tupaki. She channels her martial arts skills in crazy fight scenes and taps into her emotional range as she verse-hops across time and space.
The Malaysian actress has had a very successful awards season, winning Golden Globes, the Spirit Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and now she won an Oscars Award last Sunday.
In her interviews leading up to the Oscars, she talked about how there aren’t enough Asians at the top of Hollywood. In an interview, she said, “I feel a little sad because I know there have been amazing Asian actresses before me, and I stand on their shoulders. I hope this will keep breaking that stupid glass ceiling and that we will see more of our faces up there.“
Today, only 6% of speaking roles in Hollywood go to Asian and Pacific Island actors. People of Asian descent could have played many roles. And Michelle’s win could be a start, a hope, for other Asians to step up and win an Oscar.