The role of a lifetime is how actress Michelle Yeoh describes playing Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.<br/> A campaigner for Burma's freedom from crippling military rule, she was famously under house arrest in Rangoon for almost fifteen years, rarely seeing her family in England.<br/> "The Lady" tells the story of the painful separation from her two sons and husband, Dr. Michael Aris, who were only allowed rare visits to Burma.<br/> Yeoh described meeting the woman and Nobel Peace Prize winner she considers to be a living legend.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS MICHELLE YEOH, SAYING:<br/> "The minute I met her, all she did was she threw open her arms gave me the biggest hug, like she was welcoming a family member. When you sit next to her, I forgot I was making a film, I forgot everything, I just looked at her. She's warm she's articulate, she's straight-forward, she loves to tease, she's quick to laugh. she's also very curious. She kept asking me about my family, myself, my country -- because when you think about it, she's not been out of Burma since '88. So when someone comes from abroad they're bringing a part of the world to her."<br/> Throughout all those years of being locked away, Suu Kyi had the full support of her husband. Despite seeing each other infrequently, they had a loving relationship.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHELLE YEOH, ACTRESS, SAYING:<br/> "It's not that he didn't understand and I think this where true love comes in. When you love somebody you enable them to be who they are and you help them to realise their potential, and I think he knew this was his wife's calling and you know, why would you try to stop something so important when someone can make a difference. That was what he was doing. That was what the whole family was doing. They were putting the needs of others [first] and it's a very noble cause."<br/> Michael Aris was diagnosed with cancer in 1997. Desperate to see his wife, he applied for a visa to visit her, thirty times.<br/> Each application was rejected and he died in 1999, having not seen Suu Kyi since 1995.<br/> Shecontinues to live in Burma and is still campaigning for the country's freedom.<br/> "The Lady" is in cinemas from the end of December.<br/> Nickie Omer, Reuters.
