Michelle Yeoh Credit Michelle Watt Trunck Archive

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, Iris Knobloch, President of the Festival de Cannes, and Thierry Frémaux, Director of the Festival de Cannes, have chosen this year to pay tribute to Michelle Yeoh's exceptional career by presenting her with the 2023 Women In Motion Award. The ceremony will be held in Cannes during the official Women In Motion dinner to honor women in cinema. Since its launch during the Festival in 2015, the program has been rewarding and highlighting the creativity and unique contribution made by women in culture and the arts - whose work helps to transform our vision of the world.

A Malaysian-born actress and producer of international renown, Michelle Yeoh has been shattering conventions for decades. By portraying complex, determined women on screen, she has helped to challenge gender and age-related stereotypes in the film industry. For her incredible performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, she won the Golden Globe, the SAG Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress. In 2023, she thus became the first Asian actress to win an Oscar in this category.

When taking the stage to accept these awards, Michelle Yeoh gave vibrant speeches, touching on key issues such as diversity, racism, and ageism. “I believe that times are changing. There is much more inclusivity. There is more diversity. Look at me. I've been in this business for 40 years and I finally get to be number one on the call sheet. It just shows that if you believe in yourself, if you believe, and you have passion in what you do, you don't give up.” And she added, as a nod to some of her great roles: “Whatever that glass ceiling was, we just ninja-kicked it out, we shattered it… We are at a crossroads. Change has already begun.”

“I’m very moved to receive this award. I’m convinced that times are changing; public awareness has certainly grown in recent years. It’s vital that women - in front of the camera and behind it - keep playing roles and telling stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of the world.”
Michelle Yeoh

“Through her iconic roles, Michelle Yeoh has managed to shatter every stereotype. Together with the Festival de Cannes, we wanted to recognize her significant contribution to cinema, and her ability to inspire future generations of talent. Presenting her with the Women In Motion Award was the obvious choice.”
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering

“I am happy and proud to celebrate, along with Kering, the contribution made by women to the film industry. For the past nine years, Women In Motion has been highlighting the figures who have played a key role in changing the way women are represented in culture and the arts. Michelle Yeoh is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding examples of this commitment.”
Iris Knobloch, President of the Festival de Cannes

“We are thrilled to be honoring Michelle Yeoh, an actress who is passionately dedicated to her films and has made her mark on the industry in so many different ways, and who we had the great pleasure of welcoming to the jury of the Festival de Cannes in 2002. Throughout her career, she has relentlessly explored new possibilities - to the point where this has become her trademark for a large international audience. The awards she is receiving are simply the inevitable outcome of this exceptional journey.”
Thierry Frémaux, Director of the Festival de Cannes



For more information
Women In Motion press section on kering.com