Michelle Yeoh Felt ‘Like Such a Failure’ for Not Having Children After Fertility Treatment

Michelle Yeoh admitted to feeling "like such a failure" for not having children. During an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Woman’s Hour, Broadcast on November 18, the Oscar-winning actress shared her struggles with fertility. At 62, she reflected on her desire to start a family, stating that she underwent fertility treatment while married to her first husband, Dickson Poon. Their marriage, lasting from 1988 to 1992, revolved around hopes of having children.

Yeoh expressed her feelings about the experience, saying, "The worst moment to go through is every month you feel like such a failure." This recurring disappointment led her to question why this was happening. Clarity came with acceptance when she noted, "Certain things in your body don’t function in a certain way." Eventually, she found strength in letting go and moving forward.

She clarified, "Not having my own children was honestly not for lack of trying. I have always and still do love babies." She confessed that thoughts about motherhood still arise occasionally.

Reflecting on her first marriage with Poon, Yeoh stated that their inability to have children was a crucial factor in their separation. She emphasized the importance of having honest discussions within a relationship. Yeoh proposed that partners need to be mindful of future desires. "You really must face difficult conversations early on," she stated, suggesting that resolve in such matters prevents future pain.

Her experience taught her the value of open dialogue, especially concerning differing aspirations. "It was very brave of us to admit and say, ‘OK, let’s not drag this out, because we’ve tried,’" she remarked about her past.

In July 2023, Yeoh married motor racing executive Jean Todt after a 19-year engagement. She shared newfound joy in being a grandmother, thanks to Todt’s son Nicolas. Nicolas and his wife Darina welcomed their son, Maxime, on January 1.

Yeoh concluded, "I’m 62. I’m not going to have a baby right now. But we just had a grandchild." With a reassuring tone, she reflected, "Then you feel you’re still very, very blessed because you do have a baby in your life."