‘Life is like a heartbeat, up and down’: Michelle Yeoh on shattered dreams, a 19-year engagement and marrying at 60
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — Oscar-winning Malaysian actor Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh has opened up about the unexpected turns...
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, 64, has shared her life story with The Guardian, detailing the unexpected turns she has faced. The renowned Oscar-winner reminisced about her early setback at the age of 17, when a back injury while studying ballet in England nearly ended her aspirations of becoming a professional dancer. She likened the incident to looking into a "mirror that shatters" and recounted how her ballet teacher, Mrs Hammond, encouraged her by saying, "calm down, crazy little girl" and reminded her that she could still be part of the dance world.
Yeoh went on to obtain a degree in creative arts at Manchester Metropolitan University, which she believed later aided her in her martial arts career. Her entry into acting was a fortuitous event, as her mother had secretly entered her into the Miss Malaysia pageant in 1983, which she won. This victory led to her participation in Hong Kong cinema and eventually Hollywood.
Yeoh's first marriage, to Hong Kong businessman Dickson Poon, lasted four years before a harmonious divorce in 1992. She described it as a "failure" that allowed her to return to her acting career, explaining that she had been on a hiatus during her first marriage due to societal expectations. Her second marriage came later in life to Jean Todt, a former Ferrari chief who is now 80.
They had been engaged for 19 years before tying the knot in 2023, a decision she attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. Yeoh expressed her admiration for Todt, stating that he told her he fell in love with her at first sight when they met in 2004. They had initially been in a long-distance relationship, with Todt requiring guidance in texting.
The couple married on July 27, 2023, in an intimate ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, a decision made possible by their shared Malaysian citizenship. Yeoh reflected on her life's journey, offering a simple philosophy: "Life is like a heartbeat. It's up and down, up and down."
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
