From a butt-kicking police inspector to a multiverse-jumping laundry woman, Yeoh has had many memorable roles throughout her long career.

With Yeoh (potentially) being the first Malaysian to ever walk away with an Oscar, here’s a look at a few of her many films throughout the years.

1. Supercop (1992)

Yeoh’s friendship with Hong Kong action star, Jackie Chan, is quite famous, with her often referring to him as a big brother of sorts.

While they first met on the set of a TV commercial, “Supercop” would be the first film in which they would co-star.

In the film, Yeoh plays a Chinese police captain who is forced to team up with Chan’s character to take down a drug lord.

Her role was so well-received that the sequel to the film would have her reprise the role, albeit as the main character.

According to Yeoh, Chan at one point believed that women were ill-fitted to be in action films. That was, at least, “until I kicked his butt”.

2. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

As a Bond girl in “Tomorrow Never Dies”, Yeoh played a Chinese spy next to Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond.

In the film, Agent 007 is sent to investigate a powerful corporation which may have been responsible for several deadly international incidents.

During his investigation, he bumps into Yeoh’s Colonel Wai Lin, a Chinese intelligence officer who ends up cooperating with him for the time being.

Despite the film receiving mixed reviews, Yeoh was commended for performing her own stunts; there were even talks about her receiving her own spin-off film afterwards.

3. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

In addition to her live-action roles, Yeoh has also embraced voice acting on numerous occasions, with her being casted in critically-acclaimed “Kung Fu Panda 2”.

Despite her role as the Soothsayer being a minor one, her character is ultimately an important one as it sets the whole plot of the series into motion.

Her prediction that the evil Lord Shen would be defeated by a warrior of black and white led to him pre-emptively massacring a village of pandas, much to her horror.

She ends up acting as a moral compass for Shen throughout the film, trying to make him see reason and end his quest for power.

While she has a few comedic moments in the film, such as when she chews on Shen’s silken robes, Yeoh also expertly delivers several poignant lines, some of which are true tearjerkers.

4. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

In one of her biggest Hollywood roles to date, Yeoh plays a cutthroat mother in this film adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s book.

The film follows Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American woman dating the Singaporean Nick Young, played by fellow Malaysian Henry Golding.

Yeoh assumes the role of Eleanor, Nick’s mother, who looks down on Chu for her lower-class upbringing.

Here’s some movie trivia: During the filming, Yeoh was utterly unimpressed by the emerald ring Eleanor was supposed to wear and later, gift to Nick.

So, instead of using the prop she was given, she ended up using a ring from her own personal jewellery collection!

5. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Funnily enough, Yeoh has the honour of playing two completely separate roles in the Marvel Cinematic Film universe.

Her first appearance was actually in 2017’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2”, where she had a very minor role with minimal lines.

However, she gets a far more important role in the 2021 superhero flick, where she plays Ying Nan, sister-in-law to the film’s villain, Wenwu, played by Hong Kong star Tony Leung.

Some movie trivia: One change to the script was prompted by Yeoh, who felt that her character should interact with her niece, Xialing.

Her suggestion was taken to heart and in the film, Ying Nan successfully convinces Xialing to take a more active and heroic role beside her brother, Shang-Chi.

6. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

The film which would finally earn Yeoh a well-deserved Oscar nomination, this sci-fi action comedy has Yeoh in its lead role.

Yeoh plays Evelyn Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant and laundromat owner trying to file her taxes.

While handling her papers in the tax office, she is suddenly whisked away into another universe where she is told she has to help save the multiverse.

Hijinks ensue afterwards, with the multiverse opening up worlds of possibility, with Wang having to become a skilled, though reluctant, heroine.