Michelle Yeoh in tears as she swears in emotional SAG Awards acceptance speech

27 February 2023 , 11:58

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Michelle Yeoh in tears as she swears in emotional SAG Awards acceptance speech

Michelle Yeoh made history last night as the first Asian woman to secure a Outstanding Performance Award for female lead at last night's Screen Actors Guild.

And as the “Crazy Rich Asians” star took the platform her raw uncensored emotion flooded out as she leaned away from the mic and let out a still audible "s**t"and “f***!” as both she and the audience laughed.

The Everything Is Everywhere actress, for which she received the award, grasped the SAG statue in her hand, she explained: “I think if I speak, my heart will explode."

The Bond star, who boasts Jackie Chan 'is like a brother to her', aimed her speech at the struggle of actors in a heartfelt and passionate speech.

Michelle Yeoh won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Variety via Getty Images)

Describing her acting journey as a “roller coaster ride” of getting to this place in her career and also acknowledged fellow nominees in the category describing them as 'titans' of the industry.

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With an apparent nod to becoming the first Asian actress to win the actor, she added : “This is not just for me, this is for every little girl that looks like me.

“Thank you for giving me a seat at the table because so many of us need this ― we want to be seen; we want to be heard. And tonight you have shown us that it is possible. And I am grateful and my mom will be eternally grateful to you.”

Yeoh started life in ballet and beauty pageants, landing the title of Miss Malaysia, beofre martial arts fame saw her snapped up for Bond stardom in James Bond's Tomorrow Never Dies (Variety via Getty Images)

Yeoh was overwhelmed as she took to the stage and animated in her address (Getty Images)

Yeoh, is best known internationally for her roles as Wai Lin in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and subsequent role most notably BAFTA winning role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians

But her success in Everything Everywhere All at Once, which also secured a SAG for the cast at last night's event, was a role written specifically for starring as embattled laundromat owner Evelyn Wang.

Yeoh's co-stars also secured awards for Everything Everywhere All at Once (Getty Images)

She captured the realistic struggles of an ageing immigrant and coupled with her martial-arts expertise proved a powerful character to carry the highly imaginative plot alongside co-stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, and Ke Huy Quan.

Quan, 54, also secured a solo award becoming the first Asian winner of best supporting actor, with his co-star Jamie Lee Curtis also securing a win in the supporting actress category.

After collecting the award Quan said: "I quickly realised that this moment no longer belongs to me. It also belongs to everyone who has asked for change."

Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, and Michelle Yeoh (Getty Images)

Veteran actor James Hong, 94, who plays Yeoh's father also addressed this shift in his speech, amid cheers from the industry filled audience, he told: "I got my first SAG card 70 years ago. Back in those days... producers said that Asians were not good enough and they are not box office - but look at us now."

Louise Lavigueur