Guess What? Michelle Yeoh

Sun, 06 May 2001 | Source: AP

Michelle Yeoh, the fist Asian to ever star in a James Bond movie, said Tuesday it was time to help out local filmmakers and showcase "the new generation of talents" in the region.

"We don't want people to come here and make films about us. We can do it, and we should do it ourselves," said the Malaysian- born actress who shot to Hollywood fame after the 1997 James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

Yeoh, who won the Miss Malaysia beauty pageant in 1983 and gained fame starring in Hong Kong martial arts films, was in Taiwan to launch a foundation for young overseas Chinese filmmakers.

"We are not making films to compete with Hollywood. We are doing this to showcase the talent that we have," Yeoh said at a news conference immediately after her arrival.

Yeoh is a source of enormous pride in the region. Last month, the 38-year old actress was awarded the honorary title of Datuk, a knight-like title which is the second-highest that can be conferred by anyone other than Malaysia's king. (AP)

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