MICHELLE YEOH - YEOH DEFENDS NON-JAPANESE CASTINGS

Malaysian-born actress MICHELLE YEOH has hit out at criticism that she and two other leading Chinese actresses were cast as Japanese in her latest movie MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.

The CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON beauty argues that the nationalities of the movie's female stars will be irrelevant when audiences watch the film, based on ARTHUR GOLDEN's best-selling novel.

The 42-year-old says, "Director ROB MARSHALL said he cast actors and actresses who are perfect for the roles rather than by their nationalities. And some of the biggest Japanese names are in the movie too, like KEN WATANABE and KOJI YAKUSHO."

Yeoh stars alongside ZHANG ZIYI and GONG LI in the tale of a Japanese escort girl.