4 October 2007

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysian-born action star and former Bond girl Michelle Yeoh beamed with delight when she received France's top civilian honour in a ceremony on Wednesday.

The French ambassador to Malaysia, Alain du Boispean, presented Yeoh with the chevalier (knight) of the Legion of Honour at his embassy residence in Kuala Lumpur.

Yeoh, 45, a former Miss Malaysia, shot to international fame when she co-starred with Pierce Brosnan in the 1997 James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies" as a tough but beautiful Chinese spy.

She then starred in Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" -- a Chinese-language martial arts epic that was an international hit -- and "Memoirs of a Geisha" based on the best-selling novel by Arthur Golden.

"Deep down I am a small town girl ...who has been living a magical dream," said Yeoh.

The actress is currently filming "Mummy 3, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" and she is next year planning to film an environmental documentary in Malaysia.

The Hong Kong-based actress is engaged to Formula 1 Ferrari motor racing team boss Jean Todt, a previous Legion of Honour recipient.

The pair also have Malaysian titles. Yeoh received an honorary knighthood with the title "Datuk" from the sultan of her home state, Perak. Todt is a "Datuk Seri" courtesy of the sultan in eastern Terengganu state.

AFP

Subject: French news