Michelle Yeoh plays a synthetic human named Olwen in the forthcoming sci-fi series Blade Runner 2099. Yeoh, 64, insisted on playing a replicant rather than a human character. She describes Olwen as having "a very cold, steely look in her eyes" and moving "not robotic" but "fluid. Like a dragon. Like a serpent."
Series creator Silka Luisa sent Yeoh a letter to recruit her for the project. Yeoh won an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once. During preparation for Blade Runner 2099, Yeoh focused on the question: "What is it to be human? Are you born with humanity or does it come from the things you go through?"