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Michelle Yeoh first Asian nominated for Best Actress in 88 years

by Akemi Tamanaha for AsAmNews

Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian to be nominated for Best Actress in 88 years.

On Tuesday, the Academy Awards announced the complete list of Oscar nominations, including a Best Actress nomination for Yeoh for her role as Evelyn in Everything Everywhere All At Once. She is the first Asian to be nominated for Best Actress since Merle Oberon in 1936 (The Dark Angel).

Many fans and critics were happy for Yeoh but expressed disappointment that it took 88 years for another Asian actress to be nominated.

The Hollywood Reporter called Yeoh the first actress who identifies as Asian to be nominated. While they received some criticism for their phrasing many felt it was important to point out the context surrounding the outlet’s phrasing.

According to record keepers, Oberon is the first Asian actress to win Best Actress. However, The Hollywood Reporter noted that she was white-passing and hid her Asian ancestry (her mother was part Sri Lankan).

Tanya Chen, a digital culture editor for Insider, described the context as sad.

“asian actors have long felt the need to conceal or white-wash their asian identity to have a chance at success in Hollywood,” Chen wrote in a tweet.

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