Why James Bond Put Michelle Yeoh Out Of Work For Two Years

Michelle Yeoh explains why James Bond put her out of work for two years, pointing out how she avoided stereotypical Asian roles in Hollywood.

Michelle Yeoh explains why James Bond put her out of work for two years. The actor starred opposite Pierce Brosnan in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies as Bond Girl Wai Lin. Born in Malaysia, Tomorrow Never Dies was the first movie Yeoh starred in after moving to the U.S. to pursue acting. While Tomorrow Never Dies earned Yeoh international recognition, her path to success in Hollywood was far from easy, as she was unwilling to accept roles that would cast her as a stereotype.

Speaking with People Magazine, Michelle Yeoh explains why her role in James Bond put her out of work for two years. Yeoh describes the consequences of filming Tomorrow Never Dies, and how it postured her as a “cutesy” girl, with stereotypical roles offered to her afterward. Check out her explanation below:

“The first movie I did after I came to America was Tomorrow Never Dies with Pierce Brosnan. James Bond at that point had only been known as macho, and the girls were just the ones with cutesy names… At that point, people in the industry couldn’t really tell the difference between whether I was Chinese or Japanese or Korean or if I even spoke English. They would talk very loudly and very slow. I didn’t work for almost two years, until Crouching Tiger, simply because I could not agree with the stereotypical roles that were put forward to me.”

Related: Michelle Yeoh’s Planned Return For Die Another Day Explained (& Why She Left)

How Michelle Yeoh Is Breaking Stereotypes

Hollywood has a complicated history with casting Asian actors in roles that perpetuate harmful stereotypes, with James Bond no exception. As Yeoh touches upon, Asian women were often typecast in roles despite their varying descents. They were normally presented as either “dragon ladies,” “China dolls” or “tiger moms” in film and TV. Dragon ladies were seen as strong, untrustworthy, domineering, mysterious, and sexually alluring, while China dolls were the opposite; submissive, delicate, and overly-emotional sex objects. Tiger moms were authoritarian figures, leading a strict household. While these stereotypes are still present today, Yeoh has broken the mold throughout her career.

Refusing to accept stereotypical roles after James Bond, Yeoh’s filmography sees her in movies that promote a strong female lead. She’s taken on action movies and independent films that focus on her power and strength, rather than her allure as a woman, with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon giving her the opportunity to break the boundaries of traditional gender roles. As she gained popularity, Yeoh branched into mainstream films, with her recent turns in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery allowing her to further break the mold.

Yeoh’s role as Evelyn Wang in Everything Everywhere All At Once may best represent how far she’s come in avoiding stereotypes. Her performance, which earned her a Golden Globe, makes her the first Asian actor to receive a nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars. Although Evelyn Wang can be viewed as a common woman, her story is still important, as Yeoh pointed out in a recent acceptance speech, Asian women “want to be seen…want to be heard”. While it took Yeoh many years to see this level of success after James Bond, she’s forged an important path for women like her.

More: How To Properly Reboot James Bond With Bond 26Source: People