Fact-Check: Michelle Yeoh as Aung San Suu Kyi in The Lady
Since Myanmar’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown from power in a coup by the military group on February 1, 2021, many news, photos, videos and rumors have been circulated on social media by Khmer-speaking social media users. One of them is that a photo was published by a Facebook user. The social media user claimed the woman in the photo is Aung San Suu Kyi who dared to stand in front of guns pointed by soldiers. After running Google Reverse Image, however, it proves the claim is false.
Social Media Claim
On February 9, 2021, a Facebook user posted a photo showing a woman standing in front of guns pointed by a group of soldiers. The social media user claimed the woman in the photo is Myanmar’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was overthrown from power in a coup on nine days ago by the country’s military. The claim had been shared multiple times by Khmer-speaking social media user along with reactions.
Below is a capture of the photo with text written “Aung San Suu Kyi” and the post read: “Self-devotion is a political action taken by Myanmar’s democratic icon Aung San Suu Kyi; she does not run for a self-exile because of threat from the military. This is a historical fact that no one can be falsified...”
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo Cambodia begins checking the photo by running Google Reverse Image – leading us to the same photo and its information.
The photo showing a woman looks like Aung San Suu Kyi was published in an article of the United Kingdom-based media The Guardian on January 1, 2012. The media said the photo is a scene in the movie “The Lady” played by well-known Hong Kong-based actress Michelle Yeoh and produced in 2011.
Below is a capture of The Lady – review read: “The Lady: a love story that shows exemplary courage” by The Observer.
The Guardian’s report | Archived Link
“The Lady” shows Myanmar’s democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her love, and family and political struggle for democracy in the country ruled by junta for around a half century.
The movie was produced by French film producer Luc Besson in 2011 and played by Hong Kong-based movie actress Michelle Yeoh. While Michelle Yeoh’s role is Aung San Suu Kyi, David Thewlis – the British actor, writer, producer, director and script writer – plays Michael Arris who is Aung San Suu Kyi’s husband.
Conclusion
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found out the claim mentioned above is false. The woman in the photo is not Myanmar’s democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She is Michelle Yeo, Hong Kong-based actress who played as Aung San Suu Kyi in “The Lady” produced in 2011.
