The Malaysian actress, an icon of action cinema and Asian representation, will receive an honorary Golden Bear on February 12, 2026.

At the Berlinale Palast, Michelle Yeoh will return as a queen. On February 12, 2026, the Malaysian actress—who won an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once—will receive an Honorary Golden Bear, a tribute to four decades of a career that has pushed boundaries, challenged genres, and expanded the possibilities of cinematic imagination. For Berlin, it’s also a homecoming of sorts: Yeoh served on the jury in 1999, and her films have regularly been part of the festival’s history, which has always welcomed her, she says, with “warmth and generosity.”

This distinction recognizes an extraordinary career. From the meticulously choreographed stunts of Hong Kong action cinema—Yes, Madam, Royal Warriors, Police Story III, Wing Chun—to her global breakthrough in 1997 as a secret agent in 007: Tomorrow Never Dies, Yeoh has forged the image of a fearless, elegant, and indomitable heroine. Her worldwide acclaim deepened with Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, where her performance, blending restrained strength and emotional depth, became instantly iconic.

In 2023, her Oscar win marked a historic turning point: as the first Asian actress to win the Best Actress category, Yeoh became a symbol of long-awaited representation—a powerful signal to both the industry and the public. Tricia Tuttle, director of the Berlinale, praised her as an artist capable of “crossing geographical and linguistic boundaries,” influencing filmmakers and audiences alike.

The Berlin honor arrives as Yeoh embraces a new phase of creative intensity. She stars in Wicked: For Good, is set to lead the Blade Runner 2099 series, and will soon appear in the thriller The Surgeon. Her momentum remains unstoppable, faithful to the drive that has always made her a pioneer.

By joining the pantheon of Honorary Golden Bear recipients—including Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese, Tilda Swinton, and Helen Mirren—Michelle Yeoh further cements her status as one of the defining figures of contemporary cinema.

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