Sandra Oh is best known for playing Christina Yang on the hit ABC series Grey’s Anatomy. While the show’s debut season turned the original cast into television royalty, the actor recently opened up about the challenges she faced during her time on the medical drama.
During her commencement speech at Dartmouth College, Oh said while playing Christina for 10 seasons brought her “financial stability, fame, and privilege,” it was also “one of the most challenging decades” of her life. “I learned profound lessons during this time because so much of it was so uncomfortable,” she explained. The actor went on to cite her inexperience in the industry as part of the reason for her struggles.
“When I started Grey’s, I was in my early 30s, so I had an idea of who I was and what the work entailed, but I had no idea what was coming,” Oh admitted. “I demanded a lot from myself and from the writers. If something bothered me in a script, I would fight for what I believed, what was right for the character of Cristina, because I felt responsible for her.”
“And while this contributed to the creation of a memorable character, my desire to make the dialogue fit and my belief that I knew what was best for the character also caused grief for the writers and for me,” Oh continued. “One time… the writers and I were at an impasse about something in this script, and I had to have a call with the big boss and [series creator Shonda Rhimes].”
“I’ll never forget, she said to me, ‘Sandra, we have been here before. You got to trust me. Something will come through if you just say the damn words.’ It has stayed with me. I heard her.” Although Oh candidly admitted that the Grey’s Anatomy production hired a “dedicated Sandra whisperer” to “deal with” her, that chapter of her life is in the past as she serves as her own whisperer these days.
Sandra Oh Might Be Open To A Grey’s Anatomy Return
Although Oh previously said she has no intention of returning to Grey’s Anatomy, her stance on the matter seemed to soften in March 2025. “For the longest time, it has always been a hard no,” she told Entertainment Weekly about reprising her role as Christina. “And it’s just… I don’t know. I just don’t know. When you finish something, it’s a deep process… I just cannot tell you…”
“I can’t stress to you enough how consciously I tried to fully process leaving,” the actor explained. “I don’t feel the need to revisit, but I also profoundly understand the audience’s love for this character, because I’ve seen it for the past 10 years. That’s the part that makes me just go, hmmm,” Oh added.
