Oscars 2023: Michelle Yeoh makes history with best actress win at Academy Awards - CBS News

Michelle Yeoh at the 95th Annual Academy Awards held at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images In her Oscar-winning role, Yeoh plays a Chinese immigrant who can explore alternative lives in other universes.

Her family and friends watched the Oscars at a large viewing party in Kuala Lumpur, with the crowd erupting and many embracing her mom when Yeoh won.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim congratulated Yeoh on behalf of the country where she was born.

"The Government joins the nation in expressing warmest and heartiest congratulations to Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh for winning the highly coveted Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 95th Academy Awards in Los Angeles today," he tweeted.

Yeoh's co-star Ke Huy Quan, who got his start as a child actor in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "The Goonies," took home best supporting actor award, becoming just the second performer of Asian descent to win that award.