Michelle Yeoh has always been a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the screen. She rose to fame as an action star in Hong Kong and reached the pinnacle of her career with her Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
But before the actress was battling multiverses and scheming in Wicked, she was performing death-defying stunts. Let’s dive into a jaw-dropping story behind one of her most commendable sequences that established her status as an action icon.
Michelle Yeoh’s deathly stunt in Jackie Chan’s Supercop
In the third installment of Jackie Chan’s Police Story, titled Supercop, Michelle Yeoh performed a daring stunt that left everyone speechless. The scene in question is when Yeoh’s character leaps onto a moving train while riding a motorcycle, then slides on the surface as she rolls off, and her vehicle flies away on the other side.
In an interview with the Independent, she referred to this particular scene, where no stunt doubles were used. “I just learnt, when I got past a point and there was nowhere else to go, to jump off the bike.” Looking back, even the actress was astonished about the stunt, as she said, “Can you imagine doing all that”?
Journalists at the time couldn’t believe that this deathly feat involved no use of green screens whatsoever. Yeoh even expressed her disapproval for this scene as she exclaimed, “When I look back at it, I go, ‘What the hell were you thinking?’” Her reaction is understandable because she could’ve easily been injured or dead with the slightest of misjudgment.
The risks of stunt work: Michelle Yeoh reflects on Hong Kong’s dangerous era
Michelle Yeoh’s fearless approach to stunt work deserves praise, but it could have cost her heavily. Not just her, but most artists who put their lives at risk in the bygone days of Hong Kong’s cinema to get that perfect shot. The actress further spoke about CGI’s advancement and how early stunt work was a gamble.
Now, with the help of CGI, it’s all done in relatively safe conditions. But in the old days, in Hong Kong, we didn’t have the luxury of that kind of budget. So they had to be creative. But it’s really too dangerous for anyone, even a stunt person – we took a lot of risks, and some people were hurt. I can say I’m glad I did it, but now, it’s not worth the risk.
Without the safety nets and advanced technology available today, filmmakers relied on creativity and sheer bravery to pull off jaw-dropping action sequences. However, the stuntmen who often put their lives at risk were barely recognized or appreciated for their work. Yeoh’s words are a much-needed reminder of the sacrifices made by these artists and actors who go above and beyond to bring thrilling action to our screens.
You can watch Police Story 3: Supercop on Prime Video.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
