michelle yeoh

Michelle Yeoh Height, Weight, Age, Body Measurements, Biography & Wiki

Michelle Yeoh waited more than four decades for the role that would make her the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. When it happened, in 2023 for Everything Everywhere All at Once, it capped a career that began with a beauty pageant win in Malaysia and built, one Hong Kong action film at a time, into one of the most respected résumés in international cinema.

Born in Ipoh, Malaysia, to a wealthy Chinese-Malaysian family, Michelle Yeoh trained as a ballet dancer before an injury redirected her toward acting. She built her name performing her own stunts in Hong Kong martial arts films throughout the 1980s and 1990s before crossing over into major Hollywood productions, ultimately becoming one of the defining actresses of her generation.

Here’s a complete, fact-checked look at Michelle Yeoh’s career, family background, height, and net worth.

Quick Info

CategoryDetails
Full NameMichelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng
BornAugust 6, 1962 (Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia)
ProfessionActress, producer, former dancer
Notable WorkCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Crazy Rich Asians, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Active Since1983
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Net WorthEstimated at $40 million
Marital StatusMarried to Jean Todt
Notable TraitFirst Asian actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress

Michelle Yeoh Personal Details

  • Complete Name: Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng
  • Date of Birth: August 6, 1962
  • Birthplace: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
  • Nationality: Malaysian
  • Ethnicity: Chinese-Malaysian, with Hokkien and Cantonese heritage
  • Occupation: Actress, producer, former professional dancer
  • Zodiac Sign: Leo
  • Religion: Buddhist
  • Education: Convent Ipoh (Main Convent), primary schooling; boarding school in the United Kingdom from age 15; Royal Academy of Dance, London (ballet); BA in Creative Arts with a minor in Drama

Michelle Yeoh Family Details

Michelle Yeoh was born in Ipoh, Malaysia, to Janet Yeoh and Yeoh Kian Teik, a wealthy Chinese-Malaysian family. Her father was a lawyer and a politician with the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA); he passed away on November 5, 2014. Yeoh began ballet training at age four and moved with her family to the United Kingdom at 15 to attend boarding school, later training formally in dance at the Royal Academy of Dance in London before a spinal injury ended her ballet ambitions.

Michelle Yeoh was first married to Hong Kong entrepreneur Dickson Poon, co-founder of businesses including Harvey Nichols, from 1988 to 1992 (some sources cite 1987 as the start date); Yeoh reportedly stepped away from acting during that marriage before returning to her career following the divorce.

She began a relationship with French motor racing executive Jean Todt in 2004, and the couple became engaged in 2008. After nearly two decades together, they married in an intimate ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 27, 2023.

The couple does not have biological children together; Yeoh has spoken openly in interviews about undergoing IVF treatment and ultimately being unable to have children due to infertility, describing it as one of the most difficult aspects of her personal life. Yeoh is stepmother to Todt’s son from a previous relationship, Nicolas Todt, born in 1977, who works as a driver manager in motorsports.

  • Father: Yeoh Kian Teik (lawyer and MCA politician, d. 2014)
  • Mother: Janet Yeoh
  • Marital Status: Married to Jean Todt (since July 27, 2023); previously married to Dickson Poon (1988–1992)
  • Children: None biological; stepmother to Nicolas Todt

Michelle Yeoh Relationships History

  • Dickson Poon — Hong Kong entrepreneur; married in 1988, divorced in 1992.
  • Jean Todt — French motor racing executive and former FIA president; the couple met in Shanghai in June 2004, became engaged in 2008, and married in Geneva on July 27, 2023, after nearly 20 years together.

Michelle Yeoh Height & Physical Profile

Michelle Yeoh’s height is consistently reported at 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) across nearly every source reviewed for this article, including multiple entertainment biography sites. Her weight is commonly cited around 55 kg (121 lbs), though this is not officially confirmed by Yeoh herself.

  • Height: 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
  • Weight: Estimated around 55 kg (121 lbs), unconfirmed
  • Build: Athletic, trained in dance and martial arts
  • Background: Trained in ballet from age four; later trained extensively in Wushu for her action film career

About Our Sourcing

Michelle Yeoh’s height (5’4″) and net worth ($40 million) are both very consistently reported across the sources reviewed for this article, making them comparatively reliable figures. Her marriage to Jean Todt in July 2023 is confirmed by multiple independent sources, including Wikipedia’s entry on Todt himself. Some older sources still describe the couple as “engaged,” reflecting outdated information published prior to their 2023 wedding; this article uses the confirmed, updated marital status. Her exact weight is not publicly disclosed and is presented only as a commonly cited estimate.

How Tall Is Michelle Yeoh Compared to Other Actresses

CelebrityHeightDifference vs Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh5’4″ (163 cm)
Zhang Ziyi5’5″+1″ taller
Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians co-star)5’2″−2″ shorter
Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians co-star)5’2″−2″ shorter
Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere co-star)5’8.5″+4.5″ taller

Michelle Yeoh Career Highlights

Early Life and Beauty Pageant

Michelle Yeoh trained as a ballet dancer from childhood and studied formally in the UK before a spinal injury ended her dance career ambitions. She won the Miss Malaysia beauty pageant in 1983, an event that helped launch her transition into acting and modeling.

Hong Kong Action Cinema

Yeoh began her acting career in Hong Kong in the mid-1980s, quickly becoming known for performing her own stunts in a series of martial arts action films produced through D&B Films, a company co-founded by her then-husband Dickson Poon and action star Sammo Hung. Films from this period established her as one of the leading action actresses in Hong Kong cinema.

Hollywood Crossover

Michelle Yeoh’s international crossover accelerated with her role as Wai Lin in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), followed by her performance as Yu Shu Lien in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which earned her a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actress and introduced her to a much wider global audience.

Continued International Work

Yeoh continued building an internationally diverse career with roles in films including Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Sunshine (2007), and a recurring role as Georgiou in the Star Trek franchise. Her role as the formidable Eleanor Young in Crazy Rich Asians (2018) brought her to a new generation of mainstream audiences.

Academy Award Win

In 2023, Michelle Yeoh won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), becoming the first Asian actress in the award’s history to win the category. Her husband, Jean Todt, publicly celebrated the win on social media the same night.

Awards & Honours

  • Academy Award, Best Actress, for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2023) — first Asian actress to win the award
  • BAFTA Award nomination, Best Actress, for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001)
  • Golden Globe Award, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, for Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • Screen Actors Guild Award, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, for Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • Numerous additional industry and critics’ association honors across a four-decade career

Michelle Yeoh Filmography Highlights

TitleRoleYear
Yes, MadamInspector Ng1985
Tomorrow Never DiesWai Lin1997
Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonYu Shu Lien2000
Memoirs of a GeishaMameha2005
Star Trek: DiscoveryPhilippa Georgiou2017–2019
Crazy Rich AsiansEleanor Young2018
Everything Everywhere All at OnceEvelyn Wang2022
WickedMadame Morrible2024

Michelle Yeoh Net Worth

Estimated Net Worth: $40 million

Primary Income Sources

  • Film salaries across four decades, spanning Hong Kong action cinema, Hollywood blockbusters, and awards-caliber independent film
  • Producing credits on select projects
  • Brand endorsements and luxury partnerships
  • Real estate investments

Earnings Context

Michelle Yeoh’s net worth is very consistently cited at $40 million across the major celebrity finance sources reviewed for this article. This figure is not independently confirmed by Yeoh or her representatives but reflects one of the longer and more internationally diverse careers among her peers, spanning Hong Kong action cinema, major Hollywood franchises, and her historic Academy Award win.

FAQs About Michelle Yeoh

How tall is Michelle Yeoh

She is 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall, a figure consistently reported across major sources.

What is Michelle Yeoh’s net worth

Her net worth is consistently estimated at $40 million across major celebrity finance sources.

Is Michelle Yeoh married

Yes. She married French motor racing executive Jean Todt on July 27, 2023, after nearly 20 years together. She was previously married to Hong Kong entrepreneur Dickson Poon from 1988 to 1992.

Did Michelle Yeoh win an Oscar

Yes. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), becoming the first Asian actress to win the category.

Does Michelle Yeoh have children

No biological children. She has spoken publicly about undergoing IVF treatment and being unable to have children due to infertility. She is stepmother to her husband’s son, Nicolas Todt.

What is Michelle Yeoh best known for

She is best known for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Crazy Rich Asians, and her Oscar-winning role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Where was Michelle Yeoh born

She was born in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

Did Michelle Yeoh perform her own stunts

Yes, extensively, particularly during her Hong Kong action film career in the 1980s and 1990s.

Michelle Yeoh: Interesting Facts

  • Michelle Yeoh won the Miss Malaysia beauty pageant in 1983, which helped launch her entertainment career.
  • A spinal injury ended her ballet ambitions as a young dancer, redirecting her toward acting.
  • She became the first Asian actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, in 2023.
  • She has said that being unable to read or write Chinese, despite her heritage, is one of her greatest personal regrets.
  • She married her longtime partner, Jean Todt, in Geneva in July 2023 after nearly two decades together.

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