KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — Award-winning martial arts movie star Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh has been conferred with her third Legion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) award for her contribution to culture and the movie industry.
She was presented the Commander of the Legion d’Honneur award by French President Francois Hollande during a ceremony at the French ambassador’s residence here today.
Yeoh, 54, was previously conferred Knight and Officer of the prestigious award by the French Government in 2007 and 2012, respectively.
Also present at the ceremony was her mother, Datin Janet Yeoh, sister-in-law Megan Yeoh and French Ambassador to Malaysia, Christophe Penot.
Clad in a stunning emerald green dress by Elie Saab, the actress said it was an honour to be conferred the award by Hollande.
“I am overwhelmed and so deeply honoured... in his very, very tight schedule, for President Hollande to do this, I am truly honoured,” she told Bernama.
The Legion d’Honneur award was created by French military leader and Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.
It consists of five degrees — Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and Grand’Croix (Grand Cross) — and is presented to both French and foreigners for their services to France or to causes supported by the nation.
Other Malaysian recipients of the Legion d’Honneur award include Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin in 2010, as well as AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes in 2010 and 2013.
Famous recipients of the award include Hollywood film director Martin Scorsese in 2005, Harry Potter series author J. K. Rowling (2009) and Hollywood action star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (2011).
Born in Ipoh, Perak on August 6, 1962, Yeoh shot to international stardom when she co-starred with Pierce Brosnan in the 1997 James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies.
She went on to star in Ang Lee’s critically-acclaimed film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000 and is slated to be in the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery television series as Captain Georgiou, captain of the ‘Starship Shenzhou’.
Hollande, who is on a two-day state visit to Malaysia since yesterday, later met with the French community in Malaysia before departing for a state banquet at Istana Negara. — Bernama
