Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh is one of the recipients of this year's Presidential Medal of Freedom.
A video was shared on the official @POTUS X/Twitter account, announcing the 19 individuals who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony at the White House on May 3. The clip for Yeoh showed her Oscar-winning turn in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Folks, it's my honor to present the nineteen extraordinary Americans who will join me at the White House this afternoon to receive our nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. pic.twitter.com/hkzP3ng5BU
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 3, 2024
A press release from the White House states that the President of the United States presents the medals each year to a group of "individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors."
Yeoh is known for her memorable roles in numerous blockbusters over the past four decades, including her starring turn in Ang Lee's martial arts movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Rob Marshall's lavish film adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha, and Destin Daniel Cretton's MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Recently, she made history with an acclaimed performance as Evelyn Wang in A24's Everything Everywhere All at Once. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first Asian to win in that category. The White House notes that she is an actress who "continues to shatter stereotypes and enrich American culture."
Other recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024 are Michael Bloomberg, Gregory Boyle, James Clyburn, Elizabeth Dole, Phil Donahue, Medgar Evers (posthumous), Al Gore, Clarence B. Jones, John Kerry, Frank Lautenberg (posthumous), Kathleen Ledecky, Opal Lee, Ellen Ochoa, Nancy Pelosi, Jane Rigby, Teresa Romero, Judy Shepard, and James Thorpe (posthumous).
The 19 honorees will be presented with their awards during a Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House this afternoon.
Image credit: Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
