Michelle Yeoh Embraces Her Dark Side: The Rise of a Villainous Icon

“Thank you, Jon M Chu – every time you think of someone wicked, you think of Michelle Yeoh!”

Michelle Yeoh, who won an Oscar, humorously muses about her current period of playing intriguingly malevolent characters, after receiving widespread praise for her role as Madame Morrible in the movie version of Wicked.

Her career was already successful before winning the Best Actress award in 2023, but since then, she’s been incredibly productive. Lately, this productivity has led to a series of captivating villainous characters, and her reappearance as Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek might be the role fans have been eagerly waiting for the longest.

After Star Trek: Discovery, the upcoming movie on Paramount Plus, titled Section 31, focuses on Emperor Georgiou, played by Yeoh. This team finds itself working alongside a covert branch of Starfleet whose mission is to safeguard the United Federation of Planets. However, the question remains: Can Georgiou be relied upon?

Without a doubt, Yeoh relished every moment as she stepped back into the role, donning stunning attire fit for any red carpet event adorned with both diamonds and wit, while delivering looks capable of stopping a person dead in their tracks in this thrilling adventure.

In an unexpected twist, Philippa Georgiou, who has a haunting past, manages to elude hatred as a character, largely due to the intricate depth that Yeoh imbues in her portrayal of both villains and anti-heroes.

Philippa Georgiou, with her ominous past, isn’t a figure you can easily despise, thanks to the multi-layered performances that Yeoh gives when playing villains and anti-heroes.

In my opinion, I find it intriguing and crucial to play characters with such diverse qualities. After all, life isn’t always about being the hero or the villain; there are shades of gray in between.

It’s crucial for a storyteller or an actor to delve into both the positive and negative aspects of characters, as they coexist like light and darkness. However, it’s advisable not to immerse oneself in method acting with these types of roles!

This film illuminates the intricacies of these characters, showing their struggles. It doesn’t imply you need to become like them; instead, understand that they have chosen this path, and as a viewer, you too have choices. I hope it encourages you to stay aware and resist the temptation towards negativity that might be portrayed.

She comments on Georgiou: “There’s usually a hint of darkness and a touch of wickedness within everyone that surfaces, and I believe with her hairstyle, makeup, and nails, she always pushes the boundaries when it comes to her speech, her mannerisms, and her gaze.

As an actor, to find the balance between expressing the character fully without resorting to stereotypes or overacting – it feels like striking the perfect equilibrium where audiences say, “I’d love to emulate that role for a while, as she appears tantalizingly evil.

After being eagerly anticipated for quite some time by creators, enthusiasts, and Yeoh herself, Section 31 has finally made its debut on screens in January 2025. Originally slated as a series back in 2019, the project faced delays due to the pandemic and underwent a transformation into a movie before its eventual release.

During the filming of Star Trek: Discovery’s first season, Yeoh would often approach Alex [Kurtzman] saying, “It’s obvious we need a spin-off series!” is how she remembers it.

Therefore, Tunde [Section 31 director Olatunde Osunsanmi], you, and I took turns waiting patiently. We put in a great effort on it, persisting without faltering. Our commitment never wavered, and our focus never shifted from Star Trek or Philippa Georgiou. I was determined to find the time for both.

During our conversation, we’re just a few days from when the 2025 Oscar nominations will be revealed. Many people are anticipating that Cynthia Erivo, who co-stars with Yeoh, might receive a nomination in the Best Actress category, mirroring Yeoh’s potential recognition.

Of course, in 2023, Yeoh won for her mesmerising performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

As Yeoh ponders over the impact of her award on her personal life, she finds herself musing about its broader implications for the industry as well. Since becoming the first Asian woman to claim victory in this particular category and the first Malaysian individual to receive an Academy Award, her triumph has undeniably left a significant mark on Hollywood.

“I think my voice is a little bit louder right now,” she explains.

Additionally, it’s crucial to persist and maintain the opportunity for advancement, not just for my own benefit, but for those who share my likeness. It’s not an effortless task. Fortunately, following Everything Everywhere All at Once, I found myself already filming Wicked, which put me on a favorable trajectory.

This situation has sparked curiosity among numerous storytellers, particularly those at the highest echelons, with thoughts such as, “Why hasn’t anyone like her come forward in years? Could there be elements of our industry we’re overlooking?” It remains a task to continually discover stories and storytellers who embrace diversity, which is crucial for enriching our narratives.

Yeoh states: “It has dramatically altered my life, it will keep on reshaping my life, and it has impacted and transformed the views and lives of numerous others, as it encourages them to think that it is achievable.

Now, through shows like Shōgun and Pachinko, audiences can appreciate and cherish cultures foreign to them, even growing to adore them. I believe this is a crucial aspect.

During my work on the Oscars promotion, I was also shooting for Wicked. One thing I distinctly recall is returning the Oscar to the film set afterwards.

If asked to describe the meaning of “jumping for joy”, Jon M Chu embodies that perfectly. During an epic song and dance performance, I feared he might leap from the stage due to the excitement. Later, I rejoiced as the impact was immense, with me receiving celebration in return.

For Jon, witnessing that event unfold for me, feeling the affection from the audience, was special. I recall turning to Cynthia and saying, “Your turn now, girl,” and the same to Ariana. We’re hoping this journey continues in a similar manner for them.

Regarding my on-stage portrayal of Madame Morrible, let me assure you, I’ve grown accustomed to the idea that Madame Morrible embodies the Wicked Witch in our production!

Madame Morrible is deeply invested in her personal goals and dreams to such an extent that she disregards others’ needs. She believes that her actions will make Oz prosper, and she sees herself as the one who will transform the lives of the Munchkins.

“She doesn’t care if other people will be hurt along the way. It is a terrifying notion.”

I’ve had the privilege of gracing some truly unforgettable films throughout my career, and it’s a joy to reflect on roles that have left an indelible mark on popular culture – from Yu Shu Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to Wai Lin in Tomorrow Never Dies, Eleanor in Crazy Rich Asians, and Evelyn Quan Wang in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

She clarifies that the roles she chooses are usually something fresh and demanding. However, she had a strong desire to delve deeper into the character of Emperor Georgiou, and she believes they succeeded in doing so, particularly in Section 31.

Once more, Yeoh pondered over the prospect of revisiting a role. This contemplation occurred during discussions about resurrecting her James Bond character, Wai Lin, in the movie Die Another Day.

She reminisces, saying that there were whispers about her possibly returning for a cameo role. However, on that occasion, she was engaged in making her own film, which is why she couldn’t comply. Yet, she adds with a touch of humor, “Life often presents us with challenging decisions!

Following Wicked, Yeoh will also be part of less popular series like Blade Runner and Avatar. Notably, she has been chosen for an action-thriller titled The Mother as well, which her LGBTQ+ fans may find particularly exciting.

When it comes to jumping into large franchises, she puts it this way: “You sense a profound responsibility. But then you think, ‘So many others are taking care of it, I’ll simply jump in and have fun.’

In my opinion, this mindset seems ideal to me since I perform optimally under less stressful conditions. Though I strive for perfection, I can’t afford to become excessively stressed.

Why bother doing it if you’re not enjoying yourself with your passion? I feel incredibly lucky. We’re continuing to work on Blade Runner, and I’ll return for Avatar as well. There are still many exciting experiences ahead.

2025-01-22 21:04

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