Michelle Yeoh, who appeared in 3 seasons of Star Trek: Discovery and is returning in the Section 31 streaming movie, is getting another big honor. The Academy Award-winning actress was at the White House today, presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Presidential Michelle
This morning the White House announced actress Michelle Yeoh was one of nineteen individuals to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. The medal is presented to “individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.” Others awarded this year include former Vice President Al Gore, astronaut Ellen Ochoa, Olympic athlete Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky, United Farm Workers president Teresa Romero, and astronomer Jane Rigby.
The ceremony was held at the White House this afternoon. At the event, President Biden said of Yeoh:
“For decades, and on and off the screen, Michelle Yeoh has shattered stereotypes and glass ceilings to enrich and enhance American culture. Her roles transcend gender, cultures, and languages. From martial arts, to romantic comedies, to science fiction, to show us what we all have in common. As the first Asian actor to win an Oscar as Best Actress, she bridges cultures to not only to entertain, but also inspire and open hearts and that’s what she keeps doing. Congratulations.”
Yeoh was introduced during the ceremony with:
“Michelle Yeoh is one of the most acclaimed actresses of our time. For four decades, she has faced and shattered stigma and stereotypes to forge a groundbreaking career as one of the most versatile performers in the world, becoming the first Asian to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her efforts to advance gender equality, conservation issues, and global health have been felt around the world. Equal parts performer and pioneer, Michelle Yeoh continues to enrich American culture and inspires us to believe in possibilities on the big screen and beyond.”
The Presidential Medal of Freedom joins other recent honors and accolades for Yeoh, including her 2023 Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once. In just the last year, Yeoh was also honored with the Woman in Motion Award by the Cannes Film Festival and the Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum.
You can watch a replay of the live video of the full event below…
Returning to Trek soon
Michelle Yeoh first appeared in the series premiere of Star Trek: Discovery as Captain Phillipa Georgiou, returning later in the season as Mirror Universe Emperor Georgiou. She returned to the Emperor Georgiou role in seasons 2, joining Starfleet’s nefarious secret organization Section 31, before joining the Discovery crew when they jumped into the 32nd century in season 3.
Michelle Yeoh as Captain Phillipa Georgiou in Discovery season 1
Georgiou was last seen in season 3 of Discovery returning to the past, designed to set up her return in Star Trek: Section 31, a streaming movie that wrapped up production earlier in March. According to the synopsis, “In Star Trek: Section 31, Emperor Philippa Georgiou, joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.”
The supporting cast has been announced, including Kacey Rohl who will be playing a young Rachel Garrett, from the classic TNG episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” Paramount+ has released a single image from the streaming movie.
Michelle Yeoh as Mirror Georgiou and Joe Pingue as Dada Noe in Star Trek: Section 31
Paramount has yet to set a release date for Section 31.
Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com
A well deserved honor! 😊
F**k yeah!
Congratulations! What an honor!!!!
Awesome and well deserved! Probably she is the most celebrated and awarded person in the Star Trek family.
Wow great to see. I don’t love her character on Star Trek (but acknowledge others do) but still very much love her as an actress. So it is well deserved.
Dude quit the negativity. Her Trek character is awesome.
I disagree immensely. I think the character sucks.
Not the character, but more the script and the selection of words for her character were terrible for her during the first few seasons. I was impressed with her in her final season, especially their return to the Mirror Universe, and her last scene, her farewell with Burnham. I was upset during those final episodes. When they finally figured out, when she was shining during those episodes, bye bye!?
Ya know that is on Bryan Fuller more than anything else. I used to be a big fan of his in the old era. But everything that is bad about Discovery and the new Trek is ALL on him. Even after Kurtzman took over, they largely followed his playbook, which in his mind was a complete reboot of Star Trek. There are some franchises like BSG you can reboot. Trek is NOT one of them!!!!!! Bryan Fuller is enemy #1 in my book.
Fuller had little to do with Disc by time it went on air.
True but season 1 was largely his playbook.
Actually, he did. Everything in season one was Fuller. His idea. He was the one that wanted to change the look of the Klingons. HE approved that look. The whole premise of the show was his. They eventually broke away from what he wanted and that is what you are left with.
Dude compared to what gets posted on here, Tiger2’s post was downright complimentary! Let a person have an opinion, even if it’s one you don’t agree with.
There was nothing Tiger2 said was bad. He only said he wasn’t fond of her character on Star Trek (which is the only reason why this was posted) but made it clear it was solely his opinion and praised Yeoh. He wasn’t trying to tear her down.
And it’s more ironic because A34 is one of the most negative people here who has not just torn down other shows and characters he hates but other Star Trek fans as well. Talk about nerve. 🙄
Hi bestie and yuppers I agree
Yep! 👍
And a lot of people thinks the character sucks but most don’t blame it on Yeoh herself, because she doesn’t write for her.
What’s frustrating is they had an amazing actress that could’ve done so much more with the character if the gave her better material. Maybe that will be the case with the movie.
Common. Not negative at all. He is a True Fan and Walking Star Trek Wikipedia.
Empress Georgiou was my favorite character of Discovery. And Captain Georgiou was great too!
Terrible character, imo.
What terrific news! Congratulations!
Michelle, CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to the amazing Michelle Yeoh. I recently watched Police Story 3 on 4K and I was amazed by her martial arts skills and stuntwork. I love her! First an Oscar and now a medal from the president. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
EGOT
That would be rad
Congratulations to our very own Malaysian icon – Michelle Yeoh, whom has become a true inspiration to people of color especially now being the face & the voice for the Asian community in the Hollywood showbiz.
Forever the pride of Malaysia.
Absolutely a jewel of Asia.
My family is from Malaysia. Seeing her gain this much Hollywood success is like rooting for a cool aunty.
That is very sweet!
I could not possibly love this icon more. Congratulations to her!
An incredible honor. Congratulations Ms. Yeoh!!
Congratulations!
Well done to her. While I haven’t always enjoyed the writing in new trek, her acting is and always has been superb. Couldn’t think of a more deserving recipient.
Well deserved and so happy for Michelle!
So awesome 😃
What an Honor! Truly happy for Yeoh!!! What an honor to receive this recognition. Also, an honor as a Fan of Star Trek, to have her in our beloved franchise. Bravo, Congratulations, Michelle!!!
Still curious to see what her current star power will do for the viewership of Section 31. I wonder what the marketing for the movie will look like. Will it be billed as this big event? Will I see a ton of ads for it on the subway? How much of her face will be the central marketing of the show, and how much will whoever ends up releasing the movie do everything they can to hide the Star Trek angle? This will be “Section 31 (A Star Trek Story)” – and I get the sense the studio is really hoping people just see Michelle Yeoh and click play, and whether the movie feels anything like Star Trek is secondary. I think this will purely be to try to do something different in the hopes to attract a new audience.
No qanon style bs here thanks.
what??
If you were paying the slightest attention to what is actually going on with the franchise you would be aware that far from “burying the star trek” in marketing they have made it more prominent than it ever has been before. You would also be aware that Michelle Yeoh has put herself behind this production, using her star power to keep everything on track during the strikes which is why the film has finished shooting already.
Instead of making a post based in reality you have instead gone on a reality deficient rant that sounds like it came from a qanon conspiracy website, like Midnight’s Edge or Nerdotic, who make up everything they say on all subjects and have never said anythibg true except accidentally.
Clear enough now?
Dude who are you and what are you talking about lol “clear enough now” why are you being so rude, is the heat getting to your head? Why are you so aggressive?
Also I have no idea what point you’re making about qanon bs. As far as I can tell your first paragraph simply states you disagree with me that they’ve “buried the star trek” (even though objectively the font is very tiny). Also, I was not aware that Michelle has “put herself behind this production” in the way you describe, and I am paying the slightest attention to what is going on with the franchise, so I think your point there is moot – it is possible that you know things that I don’t know, and I don’t think you should condescend me for not knowing it.
And even if I didn’t happen to know that, I still don’t know what any of this has to do with qanon, midnight’s edge or nerdotic. If you’re making a connection to qanon, it sounds like it’s because you have a lot more knowledge than I do and are making that connection yourself. All I was saying is Michelle’s star is big and the “Star Trek” font is small. Do you need to read into it anything more than that? And do you need to be so aggressive in disagreeing? Sheesh buddy.
Good for her. Is there just no political talk allowed on here? Because is Bush or Trump was giving her that award I am sure everybody have lots to say.
But they didn’t, so not much use in speculating. Medals of Freedom tend to be handed out to allies of the current administration.
You know, I see that now. I just looked back on a few Presidents and the people they presented this medal to, and they do tend to be to ‘allies’ or at least in alingment with, party lines. Thanks for that.