Michelle Yeoh to receive inaugural "groundbreaking" award at Toronto filmfest

Michelle Yeoh in some of the many roles she has played in her career.

Actress Michelle Yeoh will receive the inaugural Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award from the Toronto International Film Festival.

"Michelle Yeoh is the definition of groundbreaking," said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “Her screen work has spanned continents, genres and decades. This year she delivered a performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once that shows her limitless abilities. We're so proud to honor her with the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award."

FYI: More details about the Toronto International Film Festival

Long a favorite of AANHPI moviegoers, Yeoh is finally receiving the accolades she deserves from the international film industry. The recognition from the prestigious film festival, often a bell weather of Oscar winners, might boost her chances for an Academy Award  nomination for Best Actress.

Spanning a nearly 40-year career, Yeoh, 60, is one of the most accomplished and versatile actors in the world. She has broken barriers and inspired generations of audiences with her performances, including her most recent lead role in the hit Everything Everywhere All at Once, as well as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Crazy Rich Asians, among others.

Yeoh is an internationally recognized, Malaysian-born actor who rose to fame in 1990s Hong Kong action films before going on to shatter conventions and star in myriad globally acclaimed blockbusters. Recently announced as the first Asian artist to receive the American Film Institute Honor, Yeoh has appeared in more than 70 features and television series.

Many thought she would land a supporting nomination for the Jon Chu-directed Crazy Rich Asians in 2019. She was also skipped over for her role in Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In her long career, she’s built up a fair amount of goodwill and overdue status up till now, when she once again stars in one of the year’s surprise box office hits. Yeoh’s range is showcased as her character navigates through the multiverse playing different versions of herself.

The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by BVLGARI and recognizes a woman who is a leader in the film industry and has made a positive impact for women throughout their career. The inaugural award is inspired by TIFF’s Share Her Journey initiative, which was created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference in the industry.

The recognition she will receive at the TIFF, which runs Sept. 8 to 18, follows the honorary doctorate she received from the American Film Institute last Spring.

"What [is special about] this moment in my career is having so many people who look like me, especially the younger generation [of Asian actors], come up to me and say, 'Finally, I can see myself doing all these kinds of things because you are doing it,'" she told People magazine.

"We have to stand up for ourselves and be courageous enough to have a voice. We deserve a voice," Yeoh added. "I think at this point in my career, that is what I'm really enjoying: the fact that we are getting more opportunities and the opportunities we deserve."

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