Vera-Ellen

Though she suffered from anorexia earlier in her life, she died of cancer. In October 2004, Yeoh denied reports she was engaged to Formula One Scuderia Ferrari team principal Jean Todt. She was born in Norwood, Ohio, and became best known for her roles in Hollywood musicals such as White Christmas and On the Town. Like many other Hong Kong stars, Yeoh has attempted to break into Hollywood. Despite starring in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and the popular Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which also starred Zhang Ziyi, she has not won a mainstream audience in the English-speaking world. Vera-Ellen Westmeyer Rohe (February 16, 1921 - 30 August 1981) was an American actress and dancer known best by just her hyphenated first name. Dato' is an honorary Malaysian title somewhat like an English knighthood, and it lies below the ranks of Dato' Seri, Tan Sri and Tun. In 2001, Yeoh was given the title of dato' by the Sultan of Perak, her native state.

In some of her early films, she recited her dialogue by rote. Yeoh learned English and Malay before Chinese (Cantonese dialect), and still cannot read Chinese. She is one of the few women Jackie Chan allows to do her own stunts in his movies; they first worked together on a commercial in 1984. She relies on her dance training and instructors, and does many of her own stunts.

Despite having no formal martial arts training, Yeoh is best known for her roles in action and martial arts movies (notably The Heroic Trio 1993, Wing Chun 1994 and Police Story 3). Yeoh is a Chinese Malaysian born in Ipoh, Malaysia. Dato' Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊 pinyin: Yáng Zǐqióng; born August 6, 1962) is a Hong Kong-based actress and dancer, sometimes billed as "Michelle Khan".