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| From Johor to Netflix Gun-slinger: Yeo Yann Yann’s Global Glow-Up in Havoc |
If you thought Michelle Yeoh was Malaysia’s only export to the global screen, think again. Enter Yeo Yann Yann (杨雁雁), Johor-born, award-stacked, and now blasting her way through the criminal underworld in Netflix’s latest action-thriller Havoc alongside Tom Hardy, Timothy Olyphant, and Forest Whitaker.
The gritty flick follows a drug heist gone south and a weathered detective battling his way through a corrupted city to save a politician’s son. And smack in the middle of this chaos? Yann Yann as Clarice Fong, aka “Mother” – calm, deadly, and absolutely unforgettable.
But before she was laying down the law with guns and grit, Yeo Yann Yann’s story began somewhere a little less dramatic – a humble fishing village in Johor. Let’s get into 6 fascinating things you might not know about Malaysia’s very own screen chameleon.
1. She Grew Up in a Fishing Village in Johor
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Yeo Yann Yann hails from Pontian Kecil, in the seaside town of Kukup Laut. While her roots are modest, her dreams were anything but. At 19, she packed her bags and headed to Singapore to study at the Intercultural Theatre Institute – a move that would kick-start her career. Her first acting gig came in the Singapore theatre scene, and she’s been based there ever since.
2. She’s Already a Heavyweight in the Awards Scene
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Havoc might be her latest project, but it’s far from her first rodeo. Yann Yann’s been making waves internationally for years. She shot to prominence with the Singaporean film Singapore Dreaming (2006) and hasn’t looked back.
Her trophy shelf includes a Best Actress win for Ilo Ilo at the Vladivostok Film Festival, Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Horse Awards in 2013, and another Best Leading Actress win for Wet Season in 2019. Oh, and did we mention she was nominated at the International Emmys in 2020 for Invisible Stories? She’s not just good – she’s unstoppable.
3. She Made Her Hollywood Debut Alongside Michelle Yeoh (Sort of)
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In 2023, she broke into the American market with American Born Chinese on Disney+. She played the mum of the main character, while Michelle Yeoh played the goddess Guanyin. While they didn’t share scenes, Yann Yann called it a dream come true. The role even earned her a nom at the 3rd Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards. Not bad for a first time, eh?
4. Bollywood? Tick That Box Too
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Not one to stay in her lane, Yann Yann made her Bollywood debut in Amazon Prime’s Modern Love Mumbai. In the third episode, Mumbai Dragon, she flexed her linguistic chops switching from Cantonese to Hindi – proving that language barriers don’t apply when you’ve got screen presence like hers.
5. She’s Open About Her Mental Health Journey
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Behind the glamour, Yann Yann has also bravely opened up about her struggles with postpartum depression after having her daughter in 2012. She shared how a simple argument spiralled into dark thoughts, but with support from friends, family, and doctors, she got the help she needed. These days, she’s doing better – and using her platform to keep the conversation going.
6. She Channels Her Inner Godmother in Havoc
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Yann Yann isn’t just a side character in Havoc – she’s a force. Playing “Mother” Clarice Fong, she draws inspiration straight from The Godfather. “I watch The Godfather every few weeks. There’s such power in their stillness,” she told Malay Mail.
And yes – she got to wield guns. “I had weapons training for the first time ever,” she shared with The Straits Times. “It was serious business on set – they made sure we handled the guns with absolute care.”
Where To Watch
Catch Havoc streaming now on Netflix. And trust us – you don’t want to miss Yeo Yann Yann showing us all how it’s done.