The 60-year-old goes up against Cate Blanchett (“Tar”), Ana de Armas (“Blonde”), Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”) and Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”).

With this nomination, the Ipoh-born Yeoh also becomes the “first actress who identifies as Asian” to be featured in this category, historically one of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “least diverse”, according to “The Hollywood Reporter”.

On Jan 10, Yeoh took home the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy for the same role, besting Lesley Manville (“Mrs Harris Goes To Paris”), Margot Robbie (“Babylon”), Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Menu”) and Emma Thompson (“Good Luck To You, Leo Grande”).

“Everything Everywhere” also topped the Oscar nominations with 11 nods overall, including Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for best director; Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu for best supporting actress; and the coveted best picture category.

Yeoh is also known for her scene-stealing roles in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Tomorrow Never Dies”, and “Crazy Rich Asians”.

The 95th Academy Awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on March 12.