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VIRAL EXCLUSIVE
Sept. 11, 2023
Asian Actresses Taking the World by Storm
Female celebrities have long been making waves in the film industry, becoming top earners in their respective regions, with many gaining international acclaim. With the rise of various Asian film industries, and Hollywood featuring a more diverse cast in their films, many more doors are opening for Asian actresses. We take a closer look at what contributes to their star power, as well as the person behind the captivating characters on screen. By: Theng Min Yee
Michelle Yeoh
Earlier this year, Oscars 2023 gave the honours of Best Actress to Michelle Yeoh for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). The 61-year-old made history as the first Asian woman to win the category since the Academy Awards began 95 years ago. Her resounding win comes as a triumph in the decades-long quest for Asian representation on the big screen, paving the way for aspiring performers. The Malaysian actress owns an illustrious career spanning four decades, with her most notable roles coming from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), and Crazy Rich Asians (2018). As of 2023, her net worth stands at a staggering $45 million. Her recent film A Haunting in Venice (2023) is now in theatres, and she is slated to appear in future instalments of the Avatar franchise in 2025. Michelle’s reach extends beyond the screen, participating in global efforts as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Last year, Time named her one of the World’s 100 Most Influential People and Icon of the Year.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
As one of India’s highest-paid actresses, Priyanka Chopra boasts a long list of accolades, which includes two National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards. In 2016, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Her noteworthy career saw Forbes listing her among the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. Last year, she was named in the BBC 100 Women list. According to The Times of India, as of 2023, the actress has an outstanding net worth of $75 million. Part of the global Goodwill Ambassador team since 2016, Priyanka promotes the education of girls in India, through her namesake charity – The Priyanka Chopra Foundation for Health and Education. Be it transitioning from Bollywood to Hollywood, or avidly advocating for the causes she believes in, she stands as a fearless trailblazer. Apart from her career, her relationship with American singer Nick Jonas has been a topic of media interest. Numerous fans showered the couple with congratulatory words as they welcomed their first child Malti last year. Priyanka’s recent works include spy thriller series Citadel and romantic drama Love Again. She is geared up to make a return to Bollywood with Jee La Zaraa later this year.
Song Hye-Kyo
Be it the strong, assertive Dr Kang Mo-Yeon in Descendants of the Sun, or the dark, brooding Moon Dong-Eun in The Glory, Song Hye-Kyo has consistently captured audiences through her acting over the years. Having been named Forbes’ Korea Power Celebrity for six years, she has cemented herself as one of the top stars in Hallyu. In 2016, she received the Presidential Commendation for her contribution to Korean pop culture. As of 2023, she has amassed a net worth of $20 million. Besides her acting career, she is known to actively participate in voluntary work, especially on the area of animal rights, where she consistently supports events by the Korean Animal Rights Advocates (KARA). She also makes large charitable donations towards various organisations, with her most recent donation of $100 million won to Korean Red Cross last year. Though she was embroiled in controversy for legal issues and her much-publicized divorce with renowned Hallyu star Song Joong-Ki, the actress has made a complete reprisal with Netflix series The Glory last year. The series won her Best Actress at the 2023 Baeksang Arts Awards and Best Leading Actress at the 2023 Blue Dragon Series Awards. Though there are no confirmed updates on her upcoming works, fans are looking forward to a speculated return of The Glory for season three.
Crystal Liu Yi Fei
Having appeared on the Forbes’ China Celebrity 100 list numerous times over the years, Chinese American actress, singer, actor Crystal Liu Yi Fei is affectionately known to Chinese audience as the “Fairy Sister”. In 2020, she catapulted to the international stage, starring as the titular character in Disney’s live-action film Mulan (2020). She received various nominations for playing Mulan, including Best Actress for the 46th Saturn Awards. Though the film received mixed reviews from viewers, critics praised her powerful and convincing performance, commending her for performing 90% of the stunts on her own. Yi Fei’s contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan saw her releasing a repertoire of music, including a Japanese album. She also performed the Mandarin and English version of Reflection for the live-action Mulan. Having spent several years growing up in New York, Yi Fei is fluent in both English and Mandarin. The actress also speaks basic Korean and Japanese. Most recently, the Chinese drama that she starred in, Meet Yourself, won Best Series at the 18th Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA). She will return to our screens with TV series The Love of Hypnosis and The Tale of Rose.
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