Just hours before the Academy voting closed on Tuesday, Michelle Yeoh shared with her Instagram followers a Vogue article that questions Cate Blanchett’s need for another Oscar win.
Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh have emerged as the front-runners in this year’s Oscars race for Best Actress.
Blanchett is vying for her third Oscar on Sunday’s ceremony for her performance in Tár, having previously won Best Supporting Actress for the 2004 epic biographical drama movie The Aviator and Best Actress for 2013’s comedy-drama Blue Jasmine.
Michelle Yeoh and Cate Blanchett hug at the 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards held at Santa Monica Pier on March 4, 2023 (Credit: Ryan Hartford / startraksphoto / Cover Images)
If Yeoh wins, she will be the first Asian-identifying actress to win the Oscar Best Actress Award.
This year, the two actresses received a Golden Globe in separate Best Actress genres: Yeoh for Musical or Comedy and Blanchett for Drama. Cate went on to win in the same category at the 28th Critics’ Choice Awards and the 76th BAFTAs, making her the leading contender for the Oscar honor.
However, after winning Best Actress at the 29th SAG Awards and the 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards, Michelle Yeoh has quickly cemented her status as the new top contender.
Michelle Yeoh and Cate Blanchett are the top contenders for this year’s Oscars Best Actress (Credit: FAYES VISION / startraksphoto / Cover Images)
Did Michelle Yeoh Violate an Academy Award Campaign Rule?
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Michelle shared snippets from a Vogue article titled, “It’s Been Over Two Decades Since We’ve Had a Non-White Best Actress Winner. Will That Change in 2023?”
While Yeoh’s screenshots mainly were about racism in Hollywood – showing how Halle Berry remains the only woman of color to win the Academy Award for Best Actress two decades after her win – one excerpt from the article seemingly criticizes Cate Blanchett.
Michelle Yeoh at Taiwanese fashion house Shiatzy Chen’s runway show during Paris Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2023 on March 6, 2023 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
It reads: “Detractors would say that Blanchett’s is the stronger performance—the acting veteran is, indisputably, incredibly as the prolific conductor Lydia Tár—but it should be noted that she already has two Oscars.”
“A third would perhaps confirm her status as an industry titan but, considering her expansive and unparalleled body of work, are we still in need of yet more confirmation?”
“Meanwhile, for Yeoh, an Oscar would be life-changing: her name would forever be preceded by the phrase “Academy Award winner,” and it should result in her getting meatier parts, after a decade of being criminally underused in Hollywood.”
Michelle Yeoh talks about Everything Everywhere All at Once at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on March 1, 2023 (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Yeoh immediately received backlash for her post, with the netizens claiming the actress might have violated The Academy’s rule no. 11, “References to Other Nominees.” Part B states that “any tactic that singles out ‘the competition’ by name or titles is expressly forbidden.”
Others defended the actress, saying Michelle’s post “was not a personal attack.” Instead, it “was an indictment of a system that regularly overlooks, and sometimes even works against, actors and actresses of color.”
once again.
michelle yeoh’s instagram post was not a personal attack against cate blanchett, and neither was the original article she posted.
it was an indictment of a system that regularly overlooks, and sometimes even works against, actors and actresses of color. that is all.
— a (@thisisnotahmad) March 8, 2023
Michelle Yeoh screencapped 8 slides worth of paragraphs from that article she posted on Instagram! Do not go messing with her reputation during the last week of this thing by acting like she’s calling out Blanchett!
— Valerie Ettenhofer (@aandeandval) March 7, 2023
michelle yeoh just stated the facts SHE DID NOT target a particular person the post she had made is because of what she had felt after like 40 plus years of being in an industry full of racism y’all just creating misconceptions and making shit up
— cola (@evclynwang) March 8, 2023
Michelle Yeoh Wins Big in Gucci
Everything Everywhere All at Once, top-billed by Michelle Yeoh, swept the board at the 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards presented on March 4 at the Santa Monica Pier.
The absurdist comedy-drama took home seven awards out of its eight nominations, including Best Feature, Best Director, Best Lead Performance, Best Supporting Performance, Best Breakthrough Performance, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing.
Daniel Scheinert, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, and Daniel Kwan at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 4, 2023 (Credit: Axelle Woussen / BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
“I promise, no swearing tonight,” Michelle Yeoh joked (in reference to her SAG Awards speech, wherein she let out some surprising curses) as she accepted the Best Lead Performance honor.
Clad in a Gucci gown, Yeoh continued: “The Daniels, my boys, thank you for writing such an incredible script that gave us the opportunity to be here, to be seen, to be heard.”
“I want to dedicate this to all our mothers. Without our mothers, none of us would be here. Thank you to all of you for believing in us and giving us a seat at the table. And for all the little girls and boys who look like us and think that it is possible, thank you.”
Michelle Yeoh wows in a Gucci gown made from midnight blue velvet with structured ruffles (Credit: Axelle Woussen / BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
Michelle Yeoh looked every inch the night’s big winner in her elegant midnight blue velvet gown, a bespoke creation by Gucci.
The exaggerated sculptural ruffled swirls around the strapless bodice lent a dramatic element to the otherwise modest, ruched gown.
Jordan Johnson Chung, her go-to stylist, accessorized her look with statement rings and a set of Niwaka Fine Jewelry “Kyo No Matsuri” earrings in 18k white gold and 18k yellow gold with diamonds and blue sapphires.
Michelle Yeoh pairs her Gucci velvet gown with Niwaka Fine Jewelry earrings and a Richard Mille watch (Credit: Axelle Woussen / BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
She completed her ensemble with her favorite Richard Mille watch, which didn’t exactly go with her custom dress, and Jimmy Choo “Saeda” pumps in matching metallic blue shade.
Michelle Yeoh complements her gown with blue Jimmy Choo Saeda pumps (Credit: Axelle Woussen / BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
Available in several colors at Farfetch, Nordstrom, and Mytheresa, these pumps boast crystal-encrusted ankle straps, notched vamps, and approximately 4-inch heels.
The Saeda pumps by Jimmy Choo are defined by the crystal-embellished straps, pointed toes, and stiletto heels
Sabrina Berdani, makeup artist to stars like Heidi Klum, Gal Gadot, and Sofia Vergara, kept Yeoh’s makeup simple by curling her eyelashes and adding mascara, eyeliner, and a swipe of pink lipstick.
Michelle’s hair was swept to one side and fashioned in soft retro curls by hairstylist Aaron Light using Fable and Mane hair products.
Michelle Yeoh wears soft retro curls and curled eyelashes with mascara and eyeliner (Credit: FAYES VISION / startraksphoto / Cover Images)
Cate Blanchett Rewears Her Loewe Fall 2018 Suit
Out of its seven nominations, Tár took home only one award, Best Cinematography, at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Despite losing against Michelle Yeoh in the Best Lead Performance category, Cate Blanchett appeared to be in high spirits while posing on the blue carpet in yet another recycled look.
Cate Blanchett rewears her Loewe 2018 suit from the 2018 Cannes Film Festival at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 4, 2023 (Credit: Axelle Woussen / BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
Known for advocating sustainable red-carpet dressing, the 53-year-old award-winning actress wore a sleek, contemporary suit from Loewe’s Fall 2018 collection.
The Jonathan Anderson creation, which Blanchett debuted at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, included a pair of slim-fit flared pants and a black blazer with gathered puff shoulders and flowing cape sleeves.
In addition, it had a plunging V-neckline that showed a hint of cleavage and contrast light blue piping, giving the traditional red-carpet suit a more modern feel.
Cate Blanchett’s Loewe black suit features puff shoulders, cape sleeves, flared pants, and light blue piping (Credit: Axelle Woussen / BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
Styled by Elizabeth Stewart, the An Ideal Husband star kept the look classy with minimalist jewelry that included a pair of stud earrings and rings. She then added pointy black pumps to complete her ensemble.
Blanchett had her blonde tresses styled by Robert Vetica in loose waves, and makeup artist Mary Greenwell used Armani Beauty to accentuate her features. She applied lip color and eyeliner with a dab of pink blush.
Cate Blanchett wears her blonde hair in loose waves and accentuates her features with Armani Beauty makeup (Credit: FAYES VISION / startraksphoto / Cover Images)