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Michelle Yeoh says she didn’t have to choose between her career and personal life, thanks to her husband, former Ferrari CEO Jean Todt.
In an interview with People published on Sunday, the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actor spoke about her husband’s support for her work and ambitions.
“I am so blessed because he’s so supportive of what I do. I love my work. This is my passion. He never turns around and says you spend a lot of time away from me, which I have sometimes, but he’s very understanding,” Yeoh told People. “On the day of our anniversary, I actually was flying.”
Yeoh met Todt in Shanghai in June 2004. After being engaged for 6,992 days, or around 19 years, the couple married in Geneva in July 2023.
Reflecting on their journey to the altar, Yeoh shared the philosophy that shaped their relationship.
“What we say is, ‘Every day should be a celebration.’ Why do we wait for a special day?” she said.
She added that Todt shows his romantic side in the way he commemorates their time as a couple.
“He doesn’t count by years. He tells me we’ve been together 7,000-[something] days. And if I really ask, he’ll give me hours and minutes too,” Yeoh said.
During a January 2024 appearance on “The Tonight Show,” Yeoh called Todt one of the “most patient” people in the world.
“And I think that’s what we all deserve, it’s to have someone who loves us for who we are and what we do. And we have a busy lifestyle, but he’s always been so supportive,” she told host Jimmy Fallon.
Yeoh was previously married to Dickson Poon, a Hong Kong businessman, from 1988 to 1991. During a January 2024 appearance on the “Goop” podcast, Yeoh said she stepped away from acting during her first marriage in order to focus on the relationship.
“You know, with our work, we’re always traveling. If you’re filming outside of the country, it’s like, you know, maybe we’ll not see each other for a couple of months. And when both parties work, it’s hard to find that balance,” Yeoh told host Gwyneth Paltrow.
However, her inability to have kids was one of the main reasons for her divorce from Poon.
Yeoh isn’t the only Hollywood celebrity who says having a supportive partner helped keep their relationship strong.
In February 2024, Blake Lively said she and Ryan Reynolds agreed “not to work at the same time” when they started dating, so that they could always prioritize their personal lives.
In March 2024, Susan Downey said she and her husband, Robert Downey Jr., don’t go more than two weeks without seeing each other and their family.
A representative for Yeoh did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.
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