By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 5: International movie star and Malaysian icon Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh has received the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom from United States of America President Joe Biden, subsequently becoming the first Asian actress to receive the recognition.
The ceremony was held at the White House on Friday night (May 3) local time, which was Saturday morning (May 4) in Malaysia.
During the ceremony, the White House described Yeoh as one of the most acclaimed actresses of our time and who over four decades, has faced and shattered stigmas and stereotypes to forge a groundbreaking career as one of the most versatile performers in the world.
“Becoming the first Asian to win an Academy Award for Best Actress, her efforts to advance gender equality, conservation issues and global health have been felt around the world.
“Equals parts performer and pioneer, Michelle Yeoh continues to enrich the American culture and inspires us to believe in the possibilities on the big screen and beyond,” it announced, followed by Biden presenting her with the medal.
The event was streamed live on the White House’s Facebook page.
The 61-year-old Ipoh-born actress rose to fame performing her own stunts in Hong Kong movies such as “Yes, Madam” and “Police Story 3: Supercop” before landing a role in the 1997 James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies”.
Last year, she won the Best Actress Award at the 95th Academy Awards or popularly known as the “Oscars” in Los Angeles, for her role in the comedic adventure flick “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, making her the first South East Asian woman to win an Oscar.
Yeoh was among 19 individuals who were bestowed with the prestigious honour including Ellen Ochoa—the first Hispanic woman in space, Jim Thorpe (d. 1953)—the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal, and Teresa Romero—the president of the United Farm Workers and the first Latina to become president of a national union in the USA.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom, established by former US president John F. Kennedy in 1963, is presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the USA, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors. — DayakDaily
