How Michelle Yeoh keeps on proving she’s at her ‘prime’ at 61: from the Malaysian actress’ historic Oscar win and marrying her ex-Ferrari hubby Jean Todt, to staying fit with hikes and core workouts

Aug 5 , 2023

Michelle Yeoh might be turning 61 but she’s definitely not slowing down, marrying her long-time partner Jean Todt recently, and winning her first Oscar earlier this year. Photos: Weibo, DPA

Shattering gender norms, pooh-poohing ageism and ensuring longevity in Hollywood – those are just a few of the milestones that spring to mind when we think about actress Michelle Yeoh.

The Malaysian action hero and Oscar winner turns 61 on August 6, and she’s living proof that growing older doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down.

Not only did she nab her historic Academy Award win this year, she also just got married to the love of her life. Yeoh, known for her impressive martial art skills and daring stunts, is also doubling down on her physical strength, making sure she exercises whenever she can.

Here’s how she’s changed the narrative on age, love and career growth.

Married, finally!

Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman who won an Oscar for best actress in 2022, finally got married in Switzerland to her long-time fiancé Jean Todt. Photo: @massafelipe/Instagram

Yeoh and her long-time partner Jean Todt, 77, got married on July 27, in Geneva, Switzerland. Todt is an ex-Ferrari CEO and the couple have been together for 19 years, as Yeoh stated in her Instagram post. Yeoh thanked friends and family for their support over the years in her post announcing the nuptials.

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Michelle Yeoh and Jean Todt have been together for 19 years. Photo: Michelle Yeoh/Facebook

A message on the wedding programme read: “We met in Shanghai on June 4, 2004. On July 26, 2004, J.T proposed to marry M.Y, and she said yes.” The note, which was shared by ex-Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa, said that after “6,992 days” the couple were “happy to celebrate this special moment together”.

Michelle Yeoh married her long-time fiancé Jean Todt on July 27. Photo: Weibo

In the announcement, Yeoh was wearing a white silk shirt tucked into a high-waisted frilly tulle skirt. In a separate post, she offered a glimpse at her other wedding outfit, a corseted Schiaparelli wedding gown. It featured long lace sleeves and a fitted skirt with a short train.

But it’s the bodice that got the most attention with its embellishments, which illustrate Schiaparelli’s signature surrealism with a whole face, complete with eyes, lips and a nose. The ivory-coloured dress had touches of pearls, gold and rhinestones, as per InStyle.

The Everything Everywhere All at Once actress was previously married to Hong Kong magnate Dickson Poon, in 1988, before divorcing three years later.

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That epic Oscar win

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh poses with the Oscar for best actress in a leading role for Everything Everywhere All at Once during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, on April 18. Photo: AFP

In March this year, Yeoh made history as the first Asian woman to win a best actress Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards, for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Yeoh started her career in action films in 1985, but despite her long tenure, her win marks the first time Hollywood recognised her talents, reports Time.

Michelle Yeoh arrives on the red carpet for the 2023 Met Gala, the annual benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, in New York, New York, US, on May 1. Photo: EPA-EFE

In her acceptance speech, Yeoh said that the moment was proof that dreams do come true, telling the world that “for all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities”. She also seemed to make a reference to her age, specifically calling on women to not let “anybody tell you you are past your prime”.

Growing stronger

Michelle Yeoh at Shiatzy Chen’s autumn/winter 2023 show in Paris, in March. Photo: Handout

When Yeoh turned 60 in August last year, she spoke to the LA Times about how people assume that “you are no longer that prime age”. In her interview, she said she has actually become “smarter in how I can sustain my stamina”, explaining that she’s just as fit as she was when she was younger and looks after herself better than she did before.

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Michelle Yeoh in a still from American Born Chinese. Photo: Disney+

In the same interview, Yeoh said she has been through her fair share of injuries and she wakes up and tells her body, “I’m sorry. Forgive me of all the things I’ve done to you. And thank you.”

The actress’ fitness routine involves stretching, core exercises and a hike on occasion, she told the publication.

Changing the narrative

Michelle Yeoh in a scene from Everything Everywhere All at Once. Photo: A24

Based on her public statements, it seems Yeoh is determined to break down ageism barriers that exist around the world. In an interview with CBS News, she spoke about her role on Everything Everywhere All at Once.

She revealed the role was originally made for a male lead (namely, Jackie Chan). Yeoh said that she was grateful to be given the opportunity to show what she could do. “It’s like the older you get, they see you by your age rather than see you by your capability,” she told CBS News.

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Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh in a still from Yes, Madam! (1985). Photo: Eureka Entertainment

Yeoh added that she has always fought against being cast as a “damsel in distress”. Many of her roles over the years have been physically challenging, demonstrating her skill set in stunts and martial arts.

The Crazy Rich Asians star said that the flick (EEAAO) was “beautiful” as it was “giving voice to a very ordinary woman, ageing, immigrant woman who’s never really had a voice before”, she told CBS.

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Fame and celebrity

Yeoh has come a long way since she made her debut acting in Hong Kong films in the 80s and 90s, with the leading lady scoring her first Academy Award win for Everything Everywhere All at Once
Turning 61 on August 6, the Hollywood star isn’t afraid to speak up about gender and inclusivity in showbiz, while her show-stopping Schiaparelli wedding gown was a testament to her eternal youth