Michelle Yeoh in The Lady
But her new movie The Lady sees her take on a new type of strength as she portrays Aung San Suu Kyi in the Luc Besson directed movie.
I caught up with the actress to talk about the movie, how she prepared for such a role and meeting Aung San Suu Kyi herself.
- You are about to star in The Lady so can you tell me a little bit about the film?
The lady is an incredible love story about how a family was cut off from each other, about sacrifice, about the ability to put the needs of million of people before your own.
The movie is also about Aung San Suu Kyi who is a living legend, where one person is able to make a difference. But The Lady truly is an incredible love story.
- You take on the role of Aung San Suu Kyi so what was it about this script and Aung San herself that drew you to this movie?
As an actor you are always looking for roles that will challenge you and when I came upon Aung San Suu Kyi it wasn't just about that but also about stepping into the shoes of someone who means so much to millions of people.
And to give you an understanding of democracy means to you as a person and also the pursuit of democracy in a none violent way in this day and age.
I think there are not so many heroes, especially Asian women, and as an Asian actor this movies are few and far between so to have this opportunity is really like a dreams come true.
- What sort of research did you do as you prepared for the role? You speak Burmese for the part so how difficult was that to tackle?
I think that learning Burmese has to have been one of the most challenging things that I have had to do for a movie.
Aung San Suu Kyi is such a recognisable figure and what she represents is so well know, this is not a political film but it was important to know what were the politics. It was also important to follow that journey so you are not just looking like her outwardly but inwardly you are going through the journey as her and with her.
So I read all of the books that I could get may hands on, I also read all of the books that she had written; that was important because it give you an idea of a person's thoughts, what fed her soul and who were her heroes.
What she is is not just a cardboard figure but there is a certain aura about her and what I loved, and found most challenging, is the silence and what she doesn't say - but you understand because she makes you feel this great emotion.
Then learning Burmese was like... oh my god. I speak English quite well, I know Marlay because I am for Malaysia, Mandarin and Cantonese and I thought that I would find similarities because we come from the same Asean countries - but there was none.
I had an amazing teacher, who was Burmese, and she was living in Paris at the time and she is one of very few who doesn't actually receive a credit in the film because she still has family over there
I was blessed because she was so patient and I persevered. At the end of the day we broke it down in sentences because every sentence was different - there were no similarities; even in the structure.
(Speaks Burmese) At the end of the day you know that is her and that was the first speech that she made to her people, which is very well documented, she spoke with such conviction and passion - there were close to a million of her people who were listening to her - we knew we just had to get it right.
This is more than just a movie to all of us that were involved so when you are committed and it's a labour of love you just roll up your sleeves and go 'I'm going to get this right'.
- You had the chance to meet with her so what did you learn from her about her passion for her people and her country and the cause that she stood for in that time with her?
I was learning about all that while I was trying to be her, so I could understand where she was coming from, so when I had the opportunity to be with her you forget the movie because at that moment I was meeting a hero of mine.
This is someone who is so good and I feel that we need more of these people around. There is no pretence, there is genuine warmth, curiosity and she is very straightforward, articulate and wise.
But at the same time she makes you feel like a family member and you just bask in that warmth - it was truly memorable experience.
One thing that really touched me most was to see the love between Daw Suu and Kim, her youngest son, they hadn't see each other for more than ten years and it was wonderful to see that nothing will break the bond with the people that you love.
- One of the things that she took strength from in that time was her relationship with her husband so how did you find working with David Thewlis and what did he bring to the movie?
He is one of the most amazing actors of our time, he is like a chameleon; you have to constantly tell people 'oh he has done this and that'.
You don't see David Thewlis you see the character that he is trying to bring to life. I thin that it was very important, especially when the two of us were together, to show the immense love that these two people have for one another.
And the way he was with the sons he is laid back and subtle but he brought the nuances - but I am sure that every single father who sees this film can understand all the things that he went through.
For people who understand love you see the commitment of Michael Aris to his wife, the were soul mates; he knew who she was, what she was and what her calling was and he never thought about himself.
They were such nobel people - if you were to right a fictional character people would say 'that's too good to be true' but the amazing thing was they were. When you understand the needs of others and the lives of others and that you can make a difference you no longer put yourself head - the cause becomes bigger than anything.
- Luc Besson directs the movie so how did you find him as a filmmaker?
Oh demanding, not just on all of us but also on himself; if not more so. And I think when you have a director who is as devoted as that you have trust that he will bring out - he will wring it out of you if necessary because it is important.
The lady has become more than just a movie it has become a labour of love for all of us. We have this chance to show and this one chance to do it right and so all of us were there.
Luc was completely devoted and committed and, as an actor, that is the one thing that you must have the trust that your director will keep you going until you think you have nothing more to give.
- How daunting was it to take on a part that was based on history and feature a person who is still alive?
Whenever you do a movie about someone who is still alive the responsibility is much greater because they are there and you cannot take liberties - especially when it is someone like Daw Suu and what she represents; not just the cause but for the million of people who love and revere her and what she stands for.
So in that sense it is very daunting but at the same time you step back and you think that it's such a compelling story that needs to be told and you are in the privileged position to have this opportunity.
So you take a deep breath and think 'I am doing this with love and the greatest respect and we will defend fiercely and protect not just her but of Michael Aris, the family and the people of Burma in this pursuit of democracy. When you have that in your heart you can only give your best.
- She is a very political figure all around the world so how have you found the reaction to the movie?
So far everywhere we have gone we have been so warmly welcomed, the standing ovations are something that we weren't expecting.
What I think really moved us was every country we went to there were some Burmese, where they were refugees or just Burmese people, who attended the screening and some you would see crying from the first image of Burma because they understand.
The rest of the world we care for them and I think that it's very important this love that we have to share with each other
The Lady is released 30th December
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
But her new movie The Lady sees her take on a new type of strength as she portrays Aung San Suu Kyi in the Luc Besson directed movie.
I caught up with the actress to talk about the movie, how she prepared for such a role and meeting Aung San Suu Kyi herself.
- You are about to star in The Lady so can you tell me a little bit about the film?
The lady is an incredible love story about how a family was cut off from each other, about sacrifice, about the ability to put the needs of million of people before your own.
The movie is also about Aung San Suu Kyi who is a living legend, where one person is able to make a difference. But The Lady truly is an incredible love story.
- You take on the role of Aung San Suu Kyi so what was it about this script and Aung San herself that drew you to this movie?
As an actor you are always looking for roles that will challenge you and when I came upon Aung San Suu Kyi it wasn't just about that but also about stepping into the shoes of someone who means so much to millions of people.
And to give you an understanding of democracy means to you as a person and also the pursuit of democracy in a none violent way in this day and age.
I think there are not so many heroes, especially Asian women, and as an Asian actor this movies are few and far between so to have this opportunity is really like a dreams come true.
- What sort of research did you do as you prepared for the role? You speak Burmese for the part so how difficult was that to tackle?
I think that learning Burmese has to have been one of the most challenging things that I have had to do for a movie.
Aung San Suu Kyi is such a recognisable figure and what she represents is so well know, this is not a political film but it was important to know what were the politics. It was also important to follow that journey so you are not just looking like her outwardly but inwardly you are going through the journey as her and with her.
So I read all of the books that I could get may hands on, I also read all of the books that she had written; that was important because it give you an idea of a person's thoughts, what fed her soul and who were her heroes.
What she is is not just a cardboard figure but there is a certain aura about her and what I loved, and found most challenging, is the silence and what she doesn't say - but you understand because she makes you feel this great emotion.
Then learning Burmese was like... oh my god. I speak English quite well, I know Marlay because I am for Malaysia, Mandarin and Cantonese and I thought that I would find similarities because we come from the same Asean countries - but there was none.
I had an amazing teacher, who was Burmese, and she was living in Paris at the time and she is one of very few who doesn't actually receive a credit in the film because she still has family over there
I was blessed because she was so patient and I persevered. At the end of the day we broke it down in sentences because every sentence was different - there were no similarities; even in the structure.
(Speaks Burmese) At the end of the day you know that is her and that was the first speech that she made to her people, which is very well documented, she spoke with such conviction and passion - there were close to a million of her people who were listening to her - we knew we just had to get it right.
This is more than just a movie to all of us that were involved so when you are committed and it's a labour of love you just roll up your sleeves and go 'I'm going to get this right'.
- You had the chance to meet with her so what did you learn from her about her passion for her people and her country and the cause that she stood for in that time with her?
I was learning about all that while I was trying to be her, so I could understand where she was coming from, so when I had the opportunity to be with her you forget the movie because at that moment I was meeting a hero of mine.
Tagged in Michelle Yeoh