Michelle Yeoh Family Tree: The Story Behind Hollywood's First Asian Best Actress Oscar

Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng, born 6 August 1962 in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, is a Malaysian-Hong Kong actress — first Asian woman to win Best Actress Oscar (Everything Everywhere All at Once, 2023); Tomorrow Never Dies (1997 — Bond girl), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), Shang-Chi (2021), Wicked (2024).

The Family's Roots: A Hokkien Malaysian Chinese Family

The Yeoh family is Hokkien Malaysian Chinese from Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

Her Parents

Father: Yeoh Kian Teik — Ipoh lawyer; founded the Malaysian Liberal Party.

Mother: Janet Yeoh — homemaker.

Her Husband: Jean Todt

Jean Todt, born 25 February 1946 — French businessman; former CEO of Ferrari; former FIA President. Engaged 2004; married 27 July 2023 in Geneva after 19 years engaged.

Her Ex-Husband: Dickson Poon

Dickson Poon — Hong Kong businessman. Married 1988; divorced 1991.

The Yeoh Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Yeoh Kian Teik — Ipoh lawyer.

Mother: Janet Yeoh.

Husband: Jean Todt (b. 25 February 1946; eng. 2004; m. 27 July 2023) — French; former Ferrari CEO.

Ex-Husband: Dickson Poon (m. 1988, div. 1991).

Michelle Yeoh:

  • Born 6 August 1962, Ipoh
  • Royal Academy of Dance, London (B.A. Creative Arts; dance major)
  • 1983 Miss Malaysia World; competed at Miss World 1983
  • Hong Kong film debut: The Owl vs. Bumbo (1984)
  • Major films: Yes, Madam (1985), Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), The Touch (2002), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Sunshine (2007), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), The Lady (2011 — playing Aung San Suu Kyi), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), Last Christmas (2019), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022 — Oscar Best Actress), Wicked (2024 — Madame Morrible)
  • 50+ films
  • Academy Award for Best Actress: 2023 (Everything Everywhere All at Once) — first Asian woman to win
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA, 2024); Légion d'honneur (France); Dato' Seri (Malaysia)

What the Yeoh Family Story Teaches Us

An Ipoh lawyer father. A homemaker mother. Two marriages — one in Hong Kong, one to a French former-Ferrari-CEO. A career that crossed Hong Kong action cinema to a Best Actress Oscar.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Michelle Yeoh story carries the same lesson. Some 40-year careers culminate in being the first woman from a continent to win Hollywood's biggest prize.

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