Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh said yesterday that she was “shocked and terribly

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh said yesterday that she was “shocked and terribly saddened”, when Myanmar authorities deported her on June 22, shortly after she arrived in the country, reported Malaysian media.

“The immigration authorities treated me cordially but deported me upon arrival for no reason and without providing any justification,” added Yeoh, who plays Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in French director Luc Besson’s upcoming film “The Lady”.

However, the 48-year-old fomer Bond girl pointed out that she harbored “no ill will resulting from this incident and continue to remain fond of Burma (Myanmar) and the Burmese (Myanmar) people”.

“I continue to cherish hopes to see this country continue its progress towards peace and democracy and to be able to return soon,” said Yeoh in her statement.

A Myanmar government official said earlier this week that Yeoh had been blacklisted and had been refused entry into Myanmar, but did not say why.

Yeoh, a former Miss Malaysia, made her big screen debut in films like 1985’s “Yes, Madam” and 1993’s “The Heroic Trio” and is best known for her role in Ang Lee’s 2000 martial arts film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.

Yeoh’s upcoming film “The Lady” also stars UK actor David Thewlis (who played Remus Lupin in the “Harry Potter” films) as Aung San Suu Kyi’s husband Michael Aris.

Source AFP