AARP The Magazine EXCLUSIVE: Michelle Yeoh Reflects on Aging, Her Past Lives, and Honoring Her Community

WASHINGTON — The momentum in Michelle Yeoh’s career appears endless, even after her historical Best Actress Oscar win in 2023. In the December 2024/January 2025 issue of AARP The Magazine (ATM), the award-winning actress, 62, tells ATM about her desire to continue growing as an actress, her family upbringing, and honoring the past Asian actresses that have paved the way for her success.

Much like Everything Everywhere All at Once, the movie that landed her an Academy Award, Michelle Yeoh has lived many lives. She had previous dreams of being a ballet school owner or a stay-at-home mom. When speaking with ATM, Yeoh said she doesn’t dwell on what her life could have been, instead focusing on what she has now, such as the acting career that continues to thrive after her Oscar win, or finding love again after marrying her current husband Jean Todt.

Yeoh is set to be in the star-studded musical adaptation of Wicked, her second time working with director Jon M. Chu since the breakout rom-com Crazy Rich Asians. She also has upcoming feature roles in Avatar 4 and Star Trek: Section 31. As she continues to grow with these opportunities, considering she completed vocal training in preparation for Wicked, Yeoh tells ATM she’s looking to slow down so she can prioritize staying connected with her family.

The following are excerpts from ATM’s December 2024/January 2025 cover story featuring Michelle Yeoh. The issue is available in homes starting in December and online now at www.aarp.org/magazine/.

Reflecting on her father’s advice and appreciating what she has:

“I’m not the kind of person who thinks, ‘Oh, I should have done that.’ I wouldn’t be where I am today. My dad always said to me: ‘I wish you enough,’ when I was young, I would say, ‘No, I don’t want to have enough! I want more!’”

Director Jon M. Chu On Yeoh’s preparation for her role in Wicked:

“I’ve been around her long enough to know that she has great rhythm, great tone, and that she can sing, She was scared, but she dove headfirst into vocal training. She did a great job.”

On honoring past Asian actresses in her Oscars speech:

“Just think of all the shoulders I’m standing on. It just landed on me to have the microphone and say we deserve to be here. It’s not a responsibility; it’s a necessity to speak out.”

On the disadvantages women in Hollywood face with aging:

“I mean, when you’re in your [late] 30s, if you’re pregnant, it’s a geriatric pregnancy! Why is it that numbers matter so much, especially for women? It seems like the clock is ticking a lot faster for us.”

Co-star Jamie Lee Curtis On Yeoh’s resilience throughout her career:

“The older we get, the more sedentary and isolated we get, because often we are no longer allowed to do the work that brought us into contact with others. But people like Michelle and I, who are artists, must take advantage of this moment, and sacrifice a quieter time.”

On experiencing microaggressions in the U.S.:

“People started saying, ‘You’re a minority.’ How did I suddenly become a minority? There are how many billions of us around the world? Also I come from Malaysia, where we are multiracial, just different cultures in a beautiful country.”

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About AARP:

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.