Malaysia’s Michelle Yeoh named ‘Icon of the Year 2022’ by Time magazine

‘Give it to me’ Yeoh told Time when asked about the possibility of becoming the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for best lead actress

The ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ star began her 40-year acting career in popular Hong Kong action films before making the switch to Hollywood

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Michelle Yeoh attends the opening night premiere of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” in March during the 2022 SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas. Photo: Getty Images for SXSW/TNS

Published: 3:33pm, 7 Dec 2022Updated: 4:15pm, 7 Dec 2022

Time has named Michelle Yeoh its 2022 Icon of the Year, highlighting her storied 40-year acting career that includes this year’s Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Yeoh is a favourite for an Oscar nomination for her performance in the well-received surreal action-drama. She had been named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 list earlier this year.

During her career, Yeoh told Time that she had to “battle” a Hollywood that offered her parts that were stereotypes of Asians or harmful tropes of Asian women.

“It shouldn’t be about my race, but it has been a battle,” Yeoh said. “At least let me try.”

Michelle Yeoh in “Everything Everywhere All At Once” with co-start Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan. Photo: A24/TNS

Years before landing her first Hollywood role, Yeoh, 60, was already a movie icon in Asia. She had starred in popular Hong Kong action films throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, becoming famous for doing her own stunts.