Michelle Yeoh Opens Up About Career Success and Heartache of Motherhood
Michelle Yeoh has shared her deepest sadness regarding motherhood as she enjoys her career success. Despite a brief marriage where she prioritized family, she faced infertility, which she described as her greatest sorrow. Yeoh found fulfillment in her acting career and cherishes her role as a godmother and grandmother, emphasizing the importance of moving forward and letting go.
Michelle Yeoh recently shared a deeply personal reflection on her life, highlighting the challenges she faced in her journey towards motherhood. As she promotes her role in the upcoming film Wicked, the Oscar-winning actress recalls the sacrifices she made throughout her career.
Yeoh Reflects on Her Decision to Prioritize Family
In an interview with The Times, Michelle Yeoh disclosed that her desire to start a family influenced her decision to step away from her acting career during her first marriage. She was married to Hong Kong businessman Dickson Poon for three years, a period during which she believed dedicating herself to family was paramount. Yeoh expressed, it was a personal choice that she felt necessary to make at the time.
The Heartache of Motherhood
Despite her hopes of starting a family, Yeoh encountered significant heartache when she learned she was unable to conceive. "Maybe that is the biggest sadness in my life, that I cannot have kids," she stated, acknowledging the emotional toll it took on her. However, she finds joy in the presence of her six godchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, affirming her commitment to giving her all to those relationships.
Challenges in Balancing Career and Family Aspirations
Yeoh talked about the pressures in her marriage, emphasizing her ex-husband’s strong desire for a larger family. She described his ambition for a legacy and the unexpected challenges that arose during that period of her life. Yeoh recounted her struggles with balancing the demands of motherhood and her flourishing acting career, a task she admits is daunting in their industry.
Resurgence of a Successful Career
After her divorce, Yeoh re-focused on her acting career, which blossomed throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century. She starred in numerous films, including Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and more recently in Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All At Once, for which she received an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2023. Her marriage to Jean Todt, the former CEO of Ferrari, marked a new chapter in her life, and she is now a grandmother to her stepson's child.
