Double joy for Yeoh at start of the new year
PETALING JAYA: There is more good news at the start of the new year for Malaysian Hollywood star Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh.
Fresh from celebrating a newborn in her family, Yeoh has been awarded the 30th Annual Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Yeoh, 61, was named a winner of the award for her role as a cultural leader and her enduring contributions to society as an exceptional artiste.
“The award celebrates the achievements of leading artistes who are bridge-builders and role models for all leaders of society,” said WEF in a statement yesterday.
Besides Yeoh, world-renowned architect and 2022 Pritzker Prize recipient Diébédo Francis Kéré and Grammy Award winning guitarist, composer and humanitarian Nile Rodgers were also named as winners of the award.
The Malaysian actress will be honoured at the opening session of WEF’S annual meeting in Davosklosters, Switzerland, on Jan 15.
“Our true identity as human beings lies not in our differences but in our collective ability to embrace and include every individual, regardless of their background or beliefs.
“It is through this acceptance and unity that we uncover the essence of our shared humanity,” Yeoh was quoted as saying to WEF with regard to the award.
Yeoh, an actress with over 60 films spanning over four decades, created history last year by becoming the first woman of Asian descent to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
In 2016, Yeah was appointed United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).
She was also appointed a member of the International Olympic Committee in October last year.
On Jan 2, Yeoh greeted the New Year by sharing a photo of a baby’s foot on social media and saying that she and her French husband Jean Todt were the “happiest and proudest grandparents”.
“A little miracle on the first day of 2024. We are so truly blessed ... Can’t tell you how happy I am for this very, very special bundle of joy.”
It was reported that the baby is the son of Nicolas Todt, Jean’s 46-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Yeoh, who made her name as an action star in Hong Kong, recently returned to Malaysia with Jean, 77, to host wedding banquets in her hometown Ipoh and Pulau Pangkor. They tied the knot in Geneva in July last year.