Michelle Yeoh Says She Felt Like 'a Failure' for Not Having Children: ‘Main Factor That Broke Up My First Marriage'

Mar. 15, 2025

Michelle Yeohis opening up about how infertility has impacted her life.

On Monday, Nov. 18, the actress, 62, spoke to BBC Radio 4’sWoman’s Hourabout how she “felt like a failure” for not being able to have children.

“And I think the worst moment to go through is every month you feel like such a failure,” she said. “And then you go, why? And I think at some point you stop blaming yourself. I go, there are certain things in your body that doesn’t function in a certain way. That’s how it is.”

She added, “You just have to let go and move on. And I think you come to a point where you have to stop blaming you.”

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Michelle Yeoh.Pascal Le Segretain/amfAR/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/amfAR/Getty

She also opened up about how her infertility impacted her first marriage with businessman Sir Dickson Poon, to whom she was married from 1988 to 1992.

Explaining that it “took a long time” for her to come to terms with not having her own biological children, Yeoh added “because that also maybe would be the main factor that broke up my first marriage.”

Michelle Yeoh and Jean Todt in 2023.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

However, theWickedstar revealed that the breakup was necessary as “in 10 years or 20 years, I still can’t give him the family that he craves.”

Yeoh went on to urge couples to have conversations about family planing at the beginning of their relationships.

Poon went on to have children, with Yeoh being the godmother of his first child.

Michelle Yeoh in 2023.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Nowmarried to French motor racing executive Jean Todt, the star added that although she still thinks about not being able to have children of her own,she is grateful to be a grandmotherthanks to her stepson.

Wickedpremieres in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.

source: people.com