Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh turned a prestigious lifetime achievement honour into a deeply personal moment on Thursday evening, as she paid a moving tribute to her parents during the opening ceremony of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.
Accepting the Honorary Golden Bear, as the first Asian woman to do so, the 63‑year‑old Oscar winner for Everything Everywhere All at Once spoke candidly about the people who shaped her values and her journey.
“Please allow me this one personal moment,” Yeoh began, her voice filled with emotion. “A part of me is still that young girl who simply wanted to make her parents proud,” she said.
“I think of them now, of the quiet, very quiet faith they placed in me when I was not always certain of myself,” she added, reflecting on their influence with visible gratitude.
Read more: Michelle Yeoh Becomes First Asian Woman To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At Berlinale
Yeoh reserved a special mention for her late father, whose presence she said continues to guide her. “My father is no longer to see this moment. But I carry him with me. His discipline, his steadiness, his belief that if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well. If he could see me standing here tonight holding this golden bear, I know he would smile.”
Her heartfelt words drew a standing ovation from the audience — a powerful acknowledgement of not just her film legacy, but also the human story behind it.
Yeoh also expressed affection for the host city, recalling how Berlin had supported her work early in her career. She praised the festival’s enduring spirit of bravery and inquiry, saying the Berlinale “stands for courageous storytelling, for films that ask difficult questions and trust the audience to find the answers.”
In a separate interview, Yeoh highlighted how the “Berlinale has always awarded men and women” but said she being “the first Asian” would encourage more Asian talent to receive the spotlight. “I hope that—and we know that there are tremendous Asian performers, directors, actresses, actors that are deserving to be recognized as well,” she said. “So I hope this is a message that goes like: if I can do this, you guys, you all can definitely be a part of this.”
Read more: Michelle Yeoh to Be Honored With Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
She continued, “The fact that I am given this award goes to show that us, people who look like me, will be recognised and will be seen more and will be heard. But we also have the responsibility to make sure that our voices are heard. We have to speak up.”
“A lifetime achievement award is about your path, your journey, your career over the last, I guess, almost 40 years and how I’ve been resilient and stubborn,” she said.
Running until February 22, this year’s Berlinale will feature appearances by Pamela Anderson, Ethan Hawke, and British musician Charli XCX — continuing a festival tradition that celebrates artistry from around the world.
