How Michelle Yeoh and Halle Berry, the only two women of color to win best actress at the Oscars, tackled race and ageism in their acceptance speeches 21 years apart
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- After 21 years, Michelle Yeoh became the second woman of color to win the Oscar for best actress.
- Previously, Halle Berry addressed racial diversity in Hollywood after winning the award in 2002.
- During Yeoh's acceptance speech, she addressed ageism in the film industry.
Michelle Yeoh became the second woman of color to win the Oscar for best actress at the 95th annual Academy Award Sunday night.
After about 40 years of acting, Yeoh received awards recognition for her work by winning the award for her performance in "Everything Everywhere All At Once," a part written specifically for her.
Yeoh ended her speech by saying that the honor was "history in the making," which is accurate as she is only the second woman of color, and the first Asian woman, to win the Oscar best actress award.
In 2002, Halle Berry, who presented the award to Yeoh, was the first woman of color to win the lead actress award for her performance in "Monster's Ball."
During her acceptance speech, Berry called out racial diversity in the film industry, telling the audience and viewers at home that she hoped her win would open the door for other women of color to succeed in the film industry.
"This moment is so much bigger than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It's for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox," she said, acknowledging women of color that have previously been overlooked at the awards. "And it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. Thank you. I'm so honored. I'm so honored. And I thank the Academy for choosing me to be the vessel for which His blessing might flow."
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However, it took 21 years for another woman of color to win the award despite actors of color flourishing in the best supporting actress category in previous years.
Reflecting on her speech in 2017, Berry told Teen Vogue's editor-in-chief, Elaine Welteroth: "I sat there and I really thought, 'Wow, that moment really meant nothing. It meant nothing. I thought it meant something, but I think it meant nothing.'"
She added: "It inspired me to try to get involved in other ways, which is why I want to start directing. I want to start producing more. I want to start making more opportunities for people of color. I have conversations more deeply with Academy members, and I'm trying to figure out how to help and add more diversity to the Academy."
During Yeoh's speech at the ceremony on Sunday, the Malaysian actor said: "For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight — this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dream big, and dreams do come true."
Speaking about ageism in the film industry, Yeoh added: "And ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up."
In the weeks leading up to the Oscars, the 60-year-old actor said on the Los Angeles Times' podcast, "The Envelope," that before "Everything Everywhere All At Once," people doubted her ability to be a lead actor due to her age.
"You know, as you get older, people start saying, 'Oh yeah, you should retire. You should do this. You should—' No, guys. Do not tell me what to do. I should be in control of what I am capable of, right?" Yeoh said.