Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh's acting roots can be traced back to Manchester, as the city's Metropolitan university has revealed she graduated with a BA in creative arts in 1983.
Yeoh took home the Oscar for best actress - and made history - for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, which scooped a clutch of major awards.
The multiverse sci-fi epic, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, claimed seven prizes including three acting gongs, best directing and best picture, the biggest of the night, with Yeoh, 60, becoming first woman from an Asian background to win the prize.
Now it's been revealed she graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a bachelor's degree in creative arts with a minor in drama in 1983.
Paying tribute to her Oscar success, the university said: "Never dreaming of becoming a film actress, her passion was ballet, but a career-ending back injury ended any hopes of becoming a professional dancer.
"Shortly after graduating, Michelle went home for the summer and won the Miss Malaysia beauty contest. She then rose to fame in the 1990s after appearing in a series of Hong Kong action films.
"Moving to the US, Michelle carved out a successful career in film, starring in box office hits including Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha."
The actress become the first south-east Asian performer to win the award for her role as laundromat manager Evelyn Wang in the comedy-drama.
Born in Malaysia to Chinese parents, Michelle defeated strong competition, including from Cate Blanchett for Tár and Michelle Williams for The Fabelmans.
In her acceptance speech, Yeoh dedicated her award to 'all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight'. "This is the beacon of hope and possibility. Dreams do come true," she said. "Ladies, never let anyone tell you you are past your prime. This is history in the making."
The university said it recently opened the Grosvenor East Building, a new creative hub for arts and humanities dedicated to training the next generation of performers, writers, journalists and linguists. Grosvenor East is home to the Manchester School of Theatre whose famous alumni includes Steve Coogan, Zawe Ashton and Julie Walters, and continues to deliver the university's drama courses.
Speaking in the winners room later, she told reporters that she had 'kung-fud' the 'glass ceiling' with her win.
"I think this is something that we have been working so hard towards for a very long time and tonight we frigging broke that glass ceiling," she said. "I kung-fud it out and shattered it, and we need this because there are so many who have felt unseen or unheard."
Yeoh’s co-star Jamie Lee Curtis, 64, also won her first Oscar, for supporting actress, and paid tribute to all the special people in her life.
Vietnam-born American star Ke Huy Quan, meanwhile, received a standing ovation as he took to the stage after claiming best supporting actor for his role in the film, also becoming the first person from an Asian background to win the category.
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