Michelle Yeoh’s family in Singapore celebrates her Oscar win with champagne, plans to meet her for a party

SINGAPORE — After five back-to-back operations, Singaporean eye surgeon Ronald Yeoh, 66, quickly turned on his television in his office to catch the Oscars ceremony held in the United States. Even though he may be miles away, Dr Yeoh was nervous — after all, it is not every day that your half-sister gets nominated, let alone wins, best actress at the annual prestigious award show.

"We're all nervous, even if the pundits say the prize would likely be hers," he said in an interview with TODAY.

Three of Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh's siblings, including Dr Yeoh, are based in Singapore.

While relatives in Malaysia jumped in jubilation during a watch party in Kuala Lumpur, those in Singapore popped a bottle of champagne and made a toast to the actress on Monday night (March 13).

The Oscars was telecast earlier in the day (Sunday night Los Angeles time).

The actress, who was based in Hong Kong for most of her career, became the first Malaysian and Asian to take home the Best Actress trophy at the Oscars for her role in sci-fi comedy film Everything Everywhere All At Once.

She plays Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant who follows her husband to seek the American Dream and gets embroiled in a multiverse war, allowing her to display her chops as the martial arts performer that she has been known for as well in Lee Ang’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.

Her brother, Dr Yeoh, said: "We had all been hoping for her success, having been in the (entertainment) business for a long time. After entering your 40s, it can be hard to get good roles in the industry.

"But even at 60, Michelle's career is strong and she is carrying the torch for Asians and women. We are obviously delighted."

Similarly, Ms Tan Chee Koon, 74, was filled with pride as she watched her half-sister hold the famous golden trophy, making another step for female Asian representation in the limelight. 

"Our whole family was over the moon... When she acknowledged mum, her brothers and sisters and her family, I was personally very touched that she remembered us in her acceptance speech," Ms Tan, who is Singaporean, said.

Both Dr Yeoh and Ms Tan share the same father — the late Yeoh Kian Teik, a lawyer and Malaysian Chinese Association politician — as Michelle Yeoh. Dr Yeoh and Ms Tan are the children of their father's second wife, while the actress is from his fourth wife. 

The siblings are getting a taste of what it is like to be under the spotlight. Ever since the Oscar win, they have been getting congratulatory messages from friends and acquaintances via phone.

Dr Yeoh said: "My patients and friends from around the world all texted me to ask me to send their congratulatory messages to Michelle. It's been hard to work with our phones buzzing non-stop. We have to take some time to reply."

Even though Dr Yeoh, Ms Tan and other relatives in Singapore were not able to be with their relatives in Malaysia, the family is planning to organise a proper party for the actress in Malaysia.

"We may have a big family, but we're all in boring professions like lawyers, doctors and economists. Michelle is the only one who has gone on to entertainment, so it is why we are all so delighted because we know all too well how hard it is to get into the entertainment industry," Dr Yeoh said.

The actress maintains family ties faithfully, her siblings said. She and her siblings all meet up in Ipoh, Malaysia yearly to celebrate their father's birthday — a tradition they all uphold even eight years after their father's death in 2014.

Both Ms Tan and Dr Yeoh may have met the actress six months ago when she was in Singapore for work, but they are looking forward to seeing her again to celebrate her win.

On the sibling phone chat group, too, they are wanting to replace the photo of them in Singapore celebrating her win with one that has the whole family in it.