Very few could boast of a career as illustrious as Michelle Yeoh. From dreaming to become a ballet dancer to winning the Oscar after retiring twice, Yeoh’s career is spread across three continents with numerous laureates to her name.
Nobody could have guessed that the 5 foot 3 inches tall Malaysian actress would be now known as some of the finest actors of the action genre. From Yes, Madam to James Bond, she has displayed an exemplary knack and capability for stunts. It was her role in Yes, Madam that made the Kill Bill director, Quentin Tarantino her die-hard fan.
Reason Why Quentin Tarantino Refused To Cast Michelle Yeoh
If you have been a fan of Quentin Tarantino, it is impossible that you must have not seen the intense and revenge-driven Kill Bill, starring Uma Thurman. From violent action scenes to its innovative storyline, Kill Bill offers a cinematic experience to its audience. However, the inspiration behind the captivating Uma Thurman’s performance and character was actually Michelle Yeoh. It was Yeoh’s character in Police Story 3 that gave Tarantino the impetus to create such an iconic character. Now you must ask why was Michelle Yeoh not cast as the lead. Answering the question Michelle Yeoh reveals,
“I asked Quentin the same question. He’s very smart. He said, ‘Who would believe that Uma Thurman could kick your ass?’ ”
Even though Michelle Yeoh didn’t get to play a role in a Tarantino film, the Malaysian actress holds no hard feelings and believes in moving forward no matter the past. Furthermore, Yeoh and Tarantino now share an animated bond and admiration for each other.
Quentin Tarantino Convinced Michelle Yeoh To Come Back From Retirement
The Golden Globe winner has already retired twice in her four-decade-long career. Once it was Jackie Chan starring Police Story 3 that made her come back and then it was Tarantino who convinced her. When Tarantino was in Hong Kong, he made a visit to the then-injured Yeoh in the hospital.
“I thought I broke my back. I thought I was paralyzed….Suddenly we became animated. So then I thought, Maybe I’m not ready to give up on this.”
She recalls how the Pulp Fiction director began describing her stunts in intricate detail. His passion and persistent nature were what finally convinced the Everything Everywhere All At Once actress to return once again to the film industry.
Michelle Yeoh is right when she says Quentin Tarantino is very smart, for we would not have the admirable character of Evelyn Wang and Michelle Yeoh would not have won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2022.
You can watch Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All At Once on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Town&Country
