Michelle Yeoh stopped by the Variety Lounge, presented by Film AlUla at the Red Sea Film Festival, where she chatted with Variety‘s London Bureau Chief Alex Ritman about working with director Jon M. Chu on “Wicked,” her hopes for the film’s awards chances and the current whereabouts of her “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Oscar trophy.
When Chu first approached Yeoh about starring in the film, she hadn’t yet seen the original Broadway musical.
“Because he invited me to join ‘Wicked,’ I thought, ‘Well, first of all, I have to know what I’m going to be doing and why it has been around for 20 years,’” Yeoh said. “And when I saw it first in New York and then next in London, I think I very quickly caught on. I understood the magic, the allure of ‘Wicked.’ Then I went to him, I said, ‘You know John, I don’t sing.’”
Yeoh recalls the first time she sang “The Wizard and I” alongside Cynthia Erivo, who is a trained and professional singer: “I was not singing it out and was whispering it out to myself … [Erivo] just looked at me, she held my hand and said, ‘I know you can do this. I’ve heard you.’”
Talking about “Wicked” and its box office success led to the subject of awards. Yeoh hopes that people take the film seriously this awards season.
“I think every part has helped to create this phenomenon,” Yeoh said. “There is not one position and they all need to be filled, and I hope we’re in the running for all of it. The National Board of Review has just [awarded] Jon M. Chu and ‘Wicked.’”
Speaking of awards, Yeoh said her lead actress Oscar for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” never stays in one place for very long. She explained, “Right now, there’s a little sort of battle between my mom and my husband. So they’re taking turns. When I go back for Christmas, I will bring the Oscar back to Mom.”
While Yeoh said she won’t be able to see as many films at this year’s Red Sea Film Festival with her packed schedule and current work on the “Blade Runner 2099” TV series in Prague, she described the opening ceremony as warm.
“For me, what is really important is the message that is behind it of empowering women in cinema and getting more opportunities,” Yeoh said. “And I’m so happy to see that, especially here.”
English (US) ·