Life after Oz: Why Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh is still searching for her dream role post-Wicked

SINGAPORE – Terrorising and manipulating Ariana Grande on-screen in the upcoming movie sequel Wicked: For Good was “fun and liberating”, says Michelle Yeoh of her co-star, with a sparkle in her eyes.

“I hope you know that’s not me in real life, right?” adds the 63-year-old Malaysian actress, laughing.

Yeoh reprises her role as Madame Morrible, former dean of sorcery studies at Shiz University and now a spokesperson for the Wizard of Oz (American actor Jeff Goldblum, 73), in Wicked: For Good.

Directed by American film-maker Jon M. Chu, the movie – which opens in Singapore cinemas on Nov 20 – is the follow-up to the 2024 fantasy musical film Wicked.

It continues the story of the complex friendship between Glinda the Good, played by American pop star and actress Grande, 32, and Elphaba, played by British actress-singer Cynthia Erivo, 38.

It is revealed that Madame Morrible orchestrated the ostracisation of Elphaba, branding her as the Wicked Witch of the West, and is starting to control the naive Glinda and exploit her charming personality to serve the Wizard’s agenda.

Describing Grande as “such a loving person” and “like a little angel”, Yeoh found it hard to be nasty.

But Chu, 46, encouraged Yeoh to “go after Ariana”.

“He was always telling me: ‘Can you please scare the hell out of Ariana?’” Yeoh says with a chuckle.

Yet, Yeoh – the first Asian to win the Best Actress Oscar for science-fiction comedy-drama Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) – is hesitant to label Madame Morrible as a villain, viewing her as a complex, layered antagonist instead. 

“I won’t characterise her as a bad guy. She started as an educator, a nurturer, but she got lost in her own ambitions and dreams, and got corrupted by power,” she reasons.

The veteran performer, who has almost 40 years of industry experience, spoke to The Straits Times in an exclusive interview on Nov 13 at luxury hotel The Laurus at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), ahead of Wicked: For Good’s premiere and fan meet that same day.

She was in town with Grande, Erivo, Goldblum and Chu as part of the film’s international promotional tour at Universal Studios Singapore in RWS.

Dressed in a sharp chocolate pantsuit with open-toed heels, Yeoh is a picture of elegance and poise. The screen icon is warm and friendly, asking this reporter to sit by her during our chat.

Family for life

Going on tour for Wicked: For Good to say farewell to the Wicked journey has been bittersweet, Yeoh says. 

“We started making Wicked in 2022, and we formed such strong bonds,” she says.

Calling her castmates “family”, she adds that she will miss the “camaraderie, being together, the singing, dancing, and watching such beautiful, amazing, talented people at work”.

“There is Cynthia, who’s always doing something spectacular, be it singing or flying in the air. There’s Ariana and her amazing comedic timing, and Jeff, who just doesn’t stop singing and dancing,” gushes Yeoh.

She adds that 37-year-old English actor Jonathan Bailey, as Elphaba’s love interest Fiyero, is a “dream” to work with.

Yeoh credits Chu most for fostering such a collaborative atmosphere. Both previously worked together on romantic comedy film Crazy Rich Asians (2018), where she portrayed domineering matriarch Eleanor Young.

“The way he steers his ship, with all of us inside, is to have fun, but at the same time be committed,” she says. 

Yeoh adds that although everyone is busy with their lives and work, they keep in touch via their Wicked group chat.

“I’m not the kind to attend social activities with cast members outside of filming. I wish I could, but that ship has sailed; it’s past my bedtime,” she admits with a smile.

Ipoh-born Yeoh – who is married to French motor racing executive Jean Todt, 79 – is no stranger to Singapore and has family here. Whenever she is in town, she also tries to catch up with her Singaporean co-stars from Crazy Rich Asians, with whom she is still in contact.

The film was partially shot in Singapore and featured Pierre Png, Fiona Xie, Tan Kheng Hua, Janice Koh, Amy Cheng, Koh Chieng Mun and Selena Tan.

“I’m so envious of Jon, who can have lunch with them while he’s here,” Yeoh laments, joking that she had to miss the get-together due to the ST interview.

Going for gold

The first Wicked film has received four nominations at the 68th Grammy Awards, including Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Erivo and Grande for Defying Gravity. 

Yeoh is, naturally, rooting for her girls to take home the trophy at the ceremony in February.

“Not only is the song’s message amazing, but it’s also a big challenge to be able to sing it so well. It’s a song for true professionals who can handle that scope and range.”

She is also hopeful that Wicked: For Good will be feted at the 2026 Academy Awards in March, and that its leading ladies will take home the top prizes. 

The first film received 10 Oscar nominations at the 2025 ceremony, including for Best Picture, as well as Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for Erivo and Grande respectively. It bagged two wins: Best Achievement in Production Design and Costume Design.

Says Yeoh: “Anyone who’s seen Wicked: For Good will agree that Ariana and Cynthia truly deserve recognition.”

Life after Oz

Yeoh, who rose to fame through 1990s Hong Kong action films after winning Miss Malaysia World in 1983, has no plans to slow down.

On her plate are two science-fiction juggernauts: the Amazon Prime Video series Blade Runner 2099 (2026), and the fourth and fifth instalments in the Avatar film series (2009 to present), which will be released in 2029 and 2031 respectively.

She is still searching for that dream role, seeking out parts that are complex and different from anything she has done before.

For her, the excitement is in the ongoing journey: finding visionary storytellers, embracing new challenges, and exploring characters with depth.

That was why she chose to work with American film-making duo Daniel Kwan, 37, and Daniel Scheinert, 38, on Everything Everywhere All At Once – as well as collaborate with Indian-Canadian director Roshan Sethi for the upcoming action flick The Surgeon, set to drop in 2026.

Working with young talent is wonderful, says Yeoh, as their passion and creative vision keep her inspired in her career.

In 2022, following her Oscar win, Time magazine named her one of the world’s 100 most influential people and the Icon of the Year. In 2024, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States.

But the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Programme is quick to downplay her reputation as a trailblazer and role model. 

“That’s too great a compliment,” says Yeoh, adding that she is more focused on her continuous artistic growth and increasing representation.

“I strive to be the best at what I do. I’m very fortunate that good roles come my way that allow me to be where I am today. I hope to keep giving viewers something new each time they see me.”

After a string of Hollywood titles like A Haunting In Venice (2023), The School For Good And Evil (2022) and Star Trek: Section 31 (2025), she is returning to Asian cinema in budding Chinese film-maker Bai Xue’s Miss Rubik’s Cube, where she will share the screen with popular Chinese actor Liu Haoran.

Set for a 2026 release, the sci-fi project tells the story of a rebellious 70-year-old woman and the magical journey of the Rubik’s Cube. It will mark Yeoh’s first Chinese-language film in 15 years.

“I’ve always been looking for new projects to come back to Asia to continue this amazing adventure,” says Yeoh, who voiced the titular demon protagonist’s mother Lady Yin in the English dub of the hit Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 (2025).

“I’m so happy to see how (the Asian film industry) has evolved and grown in so many ways. I really enjoyed my time filming in China because the enthusiasm and level of artistry is amazing.”

Yeoh is also thrilled to be a presenter at the 2025 Mama Awards, the world’s biggest K-pop festival and a major annual South Korean music awards ceremony, which will be held at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium on Nov 28 and 29.

“I’m a fan of K-pop, K-drama, anything K,” she proclaims, but stops short of naming her favourite artistes. 

“There are so many,” she says. “I’m going to be so star-struck.”