Michelle Yeoh initially had reservations about ‘Crazy’

LONDON: Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh has disclosed that initially, she had reservation about the bankability of Crazy Rich Asians.

She was wrong, To date, it has raked in over US$ 220 million ( RM924 million) globally. including a massive run in the United States.

Michelle was a big fan of Kevin Kwan’s novel for Crazy Rich Asians, but when she received Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim’s script, “I was very upset” the actress told a crowd in London.

“Eleanor ( Young) was written as nasty, mean, mean, not nice at all. I don’t think that Eleanor comes from that motivation,” Michelle said.

In the movie, Eleanor makes

I don’t think that Eleanor comes from motivation. She comes from the love of her son and what it takes to be the wife and the strength that’s necessary when you put the needs of your family before your own. Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, star of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’

waves for her son Nick Young ( Henry Golding) and Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), both who are intent to get engaged. Eleanor looks down on Rachel given her American roots. Meanwhile, Rachel believes that Eleanor isn’t impressed with her because she’s from a lower class.

“I don’t think that Eleanor comes from motivation. She comes from the love of her son and what it takes to be the wife and the strength that’s necessary when you put the needs of your family before your own,” said Michelle.

Because Rachel is very independent, Eleanor’s take is that she’s not steeped in the traditions of Singapore or Hong Kong. “In her own way, Eleanor was trying to scare Rachel from the journey,” said Michelle.

So how did Michelle get over Eleanor’s interpretation? “Fortunately Jon M. Chu is one of the most amazing directors I’ve worked and he is tremendously persuasive,” said the actress.

“I told him it would be an injustice to all the mothers in the world that mothers are only mean, they are really coming from another side, which is love.”

Chu eased Michelle, telling her that he knew what Eleanor was talking about. He had parents who were from Taiwan and set in their traditional ways.

“‘ I know all the key points you’re talking about,’ he told me and changed my mind. They re-wrote the script with the understanding of what it means to have strength for all the women who were in the movie.”

(Clockwise from top left) Michelle, Henry Golding, Awkwafina and Constance Wu during the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ premiere in Hollywood. • Kris Aquino (right) had a cameo role. • A scene from the movie, with Michelle portraying the feisty matriarch Eleanor Young. Initially, Michelle was pretty upset because the script had wanted her to act really mean and unreasonable, in the mould of a traditionalist mother. — AFP/Warner Bros photos