Michelle Yeoh's Parents & Their Influence on Her Career

Michelle Yeoh's parents made an indelible mark in the actress's life and career, raising her with a balance of love and discipline. Her mom was ecstatic when she became the first Malaysian woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars, and she was with her father in his last hours.

Michelle Yeoh's parents played an undeniably significant role in their daughter's career, as they didn't only support her dreams but also advised her when she needed direction. They developed a loving relationship with her, and Michelle never hesitated to seek their counsel.

Each time they helped her attain whatever she desired, those achievements became stepping stones to an illustrious acting career. Regardless of how they advised her, they never stood in the way of her desires.

And although her father passed away several years ago, Michelle maintained an "interesting" but "beautiful" relationship with her mom, who was also enamored with the world of performance and could have been a star herself.

Michelle Yeoh's Childhood Wasn't Short of Discipline

The Malaysian native drew her first breath in Ipoh on August 6, 1962, born to Janet Yeoh and Kian Teik. Her mother, Janet, was a former beauty queen, while her dad, Kian, was an esteemed lawyer and politician.

She grew up in her home city until she was fifteen, when she moved to an all-girls boarding school in London. Michelle had been dancing ballet since she was four, so when she relocated to London, she also enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dance.

Michelle hoped to be a professional ballet dancer, but a spinal injury forced her to switch paths. Upon her return home, she found her mom had entered her in a pageant contest in 1983, which she subsequently won.

She gained her first TV credit afterward, appearing in a commercial with Jackie Chan. Still, Janet and Kian were strict when they raised Michelle. Janet would even stick around during her daughter's dates with boys.

As a result, Michelle refrained from going astray from her parents' rules and teachings, even when she had free rein in London. Considering how involved Janet was in her dating life, she joked that she never knew when her mom might "pop up!"

Michelle Yeoh's Mom Could've Been an Actress

Despite Kian's protests, Janet encouraged her daughter to break out of her shell and enter the arts. She was over the moon when her "little princess" became the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

The film also starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan, and when Michelle first read the script, she cried; the Hollywood star felt she'd finally found the role of a lifetime, one in which she found herself mimicking her dynamic with her mother.

The two share a loving bond, but Janet still doesn't hold back when it comes to being critical of her daughter and her choices. Earlier this month, Michelle joked that her mom advised against wearing pants at the Oscars ceremony.

When she teased that she already had a tailor-made suit, Janet responded in a lengthy message, saying, "You can tell them you changed your mind." Like her daughter, Janet reveled in the art of performance and could've been a movie star, as Michelle observed:

"Even now, when we throw her a birthday party, it's like a concert. She's doing costume changes, getting on stage and serenading everyone. She would have made a great movie star."

Michelle Yeoh's Father Gave Her Good Advice

Michelle's father passed away in 2014 following a short illness and reportedly spent his final hours alive with his daughter. The actress still misses the late lawyer, who never led her astray when she made important decisions.

When she received her contract from D&B, Michelle showed it to Kian. After he examined its terms, he warned her that it was more like a "slave contract." Michelle knew his observations before she asked for his opinion. Yet, despite how blunt it was, he never stood in the way of her desires.

Kian also left Michelle with profound words of wisdom but in his own subtle way. Each Chinese New Year, as per the tradition, he always wished her "enough." The film star only later understood that her dad wanted her to know she would always be enough, no matter what.