In an inspiring speech at Dartmouth College’s June 15 commencement, actress Sandra Oh spoke deeply about her time playing Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy – a journey she called “one of the most challenging decades of my life,” despite the fame, financial stability and many perks.
Having started the role when she was just entering her 30s, Sandra said she had a certain image of herself and her work, but did not anticipate the level of pressure that would come. “I demanded a lot from myself – and from the writing team,” she said. Because she always felt responsible for the character of Cristina, Sandra often struggled to make her lines reflect the true nature of the character. She admitted that this not only contributed to the role being unforgettable, but also caused a lot of stress for both her and the writers.
The actress revealed that at one point, the production team assigned a dedicated staff member to “work with her” whenever there was a disagreement over the content. The climax came in season 6, when she and the writing team were at an impasse over a line in the script. The situation was so serious that she had to call the series creator, Shonda Rhimes, directly. Sandra recalls that conversation as a turning point: “I will never forget Shonda saying to me, ‘Sandra, we’ve been through this before. Trust me. Just say that line, and something will happen.’”
That statement made Sandra Oh realize something big: she needed to learn to let go of her need to control everything. “The discomfort didn’t go away,” she says, “but the way I approached it changed.” From then on, she began to open up to uncertainty, allowing the creative process to be guided not only by her own ego but also by the resonance between her and the writers. It was in that uncertainty that something new emerged – something deeper, something that helped her understand her character, herself as an actor, and as an artistic collaborator.
“Nothing has taught me more than learning to be uncomfortable,” she asserted. According to Sandra, discomfort is inevitable in life – and if we learn not to turn away from it, but dare to listen to what it has to say, we will develop an inner strength that helps us overcome challenges without losing our values or identity.
Sandra ended her speech by borrowing from her character Cristina Yang to send a gentle but profound message to the graduates:
“When life gets tough – or even when it gets good, like today – whether alone, with loved ones, or among strangers… remember to take time to dance. Dance it out.”
