Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan Make History at the 93rd Academy Awards with Best Actress Win

At the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday, history was made when Michelle Yeoh became the first actress of Southeast Asian descent to win the Oscar for Best Actress. Yeoh won for her role as Evelyn Wang in the movie “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which also won Best Picture.

In her Oscar-winning role, Yeoh plays a Chinese immigrant who can explore alternative lives in other universes. Yeoh is known for her roles in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Tomorrow Never Dies” in the James Bond franchise, and “Crazy Rich Asians.” Despite decades of work and dozens of roles, this is Yeoh’s first Oscar nomination.

The win was especially meaningful for Yeoh, who was joined by her fellow actor and former child star, Ke Huy Quan. Quan, who appeared in “The Goonies” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” before a dearth of Asian roles relegated him to the industry’s shadows, was overjoyed at Yeoh’s win.

Quan recounted his decadeslong struggle of returning to Hollywood in multiple interviews during the awards ceremony. He expressed his gratitude for the win, saying, “This is the American dream!” He also thanked his mother, who was watching the ceremony from home. “My mom is 84 years old and she’s at home watching,” said Quan. “Mom, I just won an Oscar!”

The win was a momentous occasion for both Yeoh and Quan, and a sign of progress for Asian representation in Hollywood. It was a long-awaited win for Yeoh, who has been a trailblazer in the industry for decades, and a moment of triumph for Quan, who has been fighting for more Asian roles in Hollywood for years.