LOS ANGELES – Michelle Yeoh celebrated a career milestone on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony, held on Hollywood Boulevard, recognized the Malaysian-born actress’s decades of contributions to the film industry, culminating in her historic Oscar win.
“I remember when I first went to the Walk of Fame because it’s very iconic,” Yeoh told Variety. “You want to go there because all your big heroes who’ve been in the business since you were a kid are there. And I remember looking, ‘Oh, here’s so and so!’ So now just to think that I’m getting it, it’s a dream come true.”
Yeoh’s journey to Hollywood stardom began with roles in Asian action films, gaining international recognition with her performance in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ in 1997. She further solidified her presence in American cinema with her critically acclaimed role in Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ in 2000. Lee, who was in attendance at the ceremony, jokingly remarked, “What took so long?” when addressing the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the long-awaited recognition for his friend and colleague.
More recently, Yeoh has appeared in popular films such as ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and is currently involved in the ‘Wicked’ film franchise, both directed by Jon M. Chu, who also attended the star unveiling. However, it was her groundbreaking performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ that brought her widespread acclaim and ultimately led to her making history as the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2023.
During her acceptance speech, Yeoh expressed gratitude to her family and supporters. She acknowledged her brother and his wife, who traveled from Malaysia to be present at the event. She also extended a heartfelt message to her husband, Jean Todt, who was unable to attend due to commitments in India, referring to him as her “safe harbor” and thanking him for helping her “stay true to my own North Star.”
The star awarded to Yeoh is the 2,836th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She expressed hope that her achievement would inspire others, stating, “I hope it also reminds someone, somewhere, that it is possible. That where you begin does not define where you can go. Once I was a little girl from Malaysia, sitting under the vast sky, looking up at a single steady star, and daring to believe that I could follow. And now, there’s one on the ground!”
Yeoh dedicated the honor to her parents, Janet Yeoh and Yeoh Kian-teik, stating, “Here’s our star.” The ceremony underscored not only Yeoh’s individual accomplishments but also the growing recognition of Asian representation within the entertainment industry.
