Michelle Yeoh to be awarded 2024 Crystal Award at World Economic Forum meet

PETALING JAYA: It was more good news at the start of 2024 for Ipoh-born star Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh who was awarded the 30th Annual Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Yeoh, 61, was named a winner of the award for her role as a cultural leader and for her contributions to society as an exceptional artist.

“The award celebrates the achievements of leading artists who are bridge-builders and role models for all leaders of society,” WEF said in a statement on Monday (Jan 8).

Besides Yeoh, world-renowned architect and 2022 Pritzker Prize recipient Diébédo Francis Kéré and Grammy Award winning guitarist, composer, and humanitarian Nile Rodgers were also named as winners of the award.

The Malaysian actress will be honoured at the opening session of WEF’s annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland on Jan 15.

“Our true identity as human beings lies not in our differences but in our collective ability to embrace and include every individual, regardless of their background or beliefs.

“It is through this acceptance and unity that we uncover the essence of our shared humanity,” Yeoh was quoted as saying to WEF with regard to the award.

Yeoh, a successful actress with more than 60 films spanning over four decades, created history last year by becoming the first woman of Asian descent to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.

In 2016, Yeah was appointed as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and was appointed a member of the International Olympic Committee in October last year.

On Jan 2, Yeoh greeted the new year by sharing a photo of a baby’s foot resting on a hand on social media with a post: “A little miracle on the first day of 2024. We are so truly blessed… Can’t tell you how happy I am for this very, very special bundle of joy.”

It was reported that the baby is her grandchild and son of Nicolas Todt.

Nicolas, 46, is the son of her French husband Jean Todt from a previous relationship.

Yeoh, who made her name as an action star in Hong Kong, recently returned to Malaysia with Todt, 77, to host their wedding banquet in her home town of Ipoh.

The private ceremony was attended by some 100 people, most of whom were close relatives and friends.

The couple had earlier tied the knot in July in Geneva, Switzerland.