Michelle Yeoh to Receive the Berlinale Lifetime Achievement Award, Becoming the First Asian Honored with This Title

(Kuala Lumpur, 15th)
Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh is set to receive the Berlinale Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, making her the first Asian actor to receive this honor in the festival’s 43-year history — a remarkable milestone.

The Berlinale announced that Yeoh will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Golden Bear during the opening ceremony on February 12 next year, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to global cinema.

Festival organizers praised Yeoh as one of the most talented and influential actors of our time. With a career spanning four decades and a global footprint, she has made a profound impact on international film. Festival director Tricia Tuttle said in a statement:
“Michelle Yeoh is a visionary artist whose work transcends borders, languages, and genres. She has an incredible screen presence, makes bold artistic choices, and has a uniquely recognizable style.”

Currently promoting Wicked: Part Two, Yeoh expressed deep gratitude:
“The Berlinale has always held a special place in my heart. It was one of the earliest festivals to warmly embrace my work. Returning after so many years and being recognized for my journey in film means a great deal to me.”

Born in Ipoh, Perak, Yeoh began her acting career in Hong Kong in the late 1980s, starring in iconic action films such as The Heroic Trio and Wing Chun. She later expanded to Hollywood, appearing in major productions including Tomorrow Never Dies and Memoirs of a Geisha. Her global acclaim soared with Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
In 2023, she became the first Asian to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once. She also served as a Berlinale main competition jury member in 1999.