Michelle Yeoh Reveals What She Will Miss Most from Her Wicked Experience (Exclusive)

Michelle Yeoh’s love for the Land of Oz is ‘unlimited.’

The 63-year-old Oscar winner caught up with PEOPLE at the New York City premiere of Wicked: For Good on Nov. 17, where she reminisced about filming the pair of magical musical-movie adaptations.

“I think I’m going to miss everything about the Land of Oz because we’ve had such a fabulous, insane, wonderful time doing it,” she tells PEOPLE.

Wicked: For Good, directed by Jon M. Chu, captures the second act of the Broadway musical, Wicked. With two acts taking shape as two separate movies for the big adaptation, the sequel follows Glinda and Elphaba as their friendship is put to the test.

Yeoh steps into emerald-crusted shoes to return to her role as Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Hall at Shiz University with a knack for weather control. In the first film, she teaches Elphaba to use her magical powers and later turns against her, naming her the Wicked Witch of the West.

The actress stars alongside Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode.

Although Yeoh has nothing but rave reviews for her three-year journey through the Land of Oz, she didn’t always know of the magic that awaited her in the Emerald City.

When Chu, who previously worked with her on Crazy Rich Asians, approached Yeoh about playing a key role in his adaptation of the Broadway musical, she wasn’t immediately on board.

“I at that point had no clue what he was talking about because I had not seen Wicked the musical before,” she told The Hollywood Reporter at the Nov. 9 premiere in L.A.

She said she was familiar with the Wizard of Oz but had taken a leave from the theater.

“I hadn’t been going to the theaters and not doing what I love, which is watching musicals, for quite a while I hate to say,” she continued.

Yeoh, who won Best Actress in a Leading Role for 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once, was initially put off by the idea of singing.

“I was terrified, I was not just nervous,” she said. Previously, Yeoh had told PEOPLE that she’s not a natural vocalist.

“I love singing. But normally it’s in the shower, not when there’s other people around,” she quipped.

Clearly, her work with a vocal coach and full embrace of musical journey changed her ‘for the better.’

Last November’s Wicked, after wowing critics and the box office alike, became the highest-grossing stage-to-screen adaptation of all time. The film earned two Oscars and 10 total nominations at the 2025 ceremony. 

Wicked: For Good premieres in theaters on Nov. 21. Wicked is available to stream on Peacock.