Sandra Miju Oh is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC's medical drama Grey's Anatomy, for which she has won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards. She has also played notable roles in the feature films Under the Tuscan Sun, La...
National Theatre School of Canada, Sir Robert Borden High School
Nationality
Canada
Spouse
Alexander Payne (m. 2003–2006)
Parents
Joon-Soo Oh, Young-Nam Oh
Siblings
Grace Oh, Ray Oh
Partner
Andrew Featherston (2005–)
Nicknames
Sandra Miju Oh , 오미주
Awards
People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Character We Miss Most, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an En...
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic TV Actress, People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Gal Pals, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Dr...
Movies
Sideways, Under the Tuscan Sun, Tammy, The Princess Diaries, Rabbit Hole, Hard Candy, Defendor, Dancing at the Blue Iguana, The Night Listener, Big Fat Liar, Ramona and Beezus, Mulan II, Double Happiness, Wilby Wonderful, Sorry, Haters, Catfight, 3 Needles, Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity, Blindne...
TV Shows
Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, America in Primetime, Odd Job Jack, Arliss, Grey's Anatomy, Denim Blues
[on the differences between acting in Canada and in Hollywood]: Huge, huge difference, both good and bad. First of all in Canada, someone like me can be a star, a leading lady. In the U.S., much more difficult. They always want to keep you in the supporting roles. It is also debatable if there is even a star system in Canada, or an indigenous film industry. Canada is still at the mercy of the U.S. film industry. In Canada, it is very difficult to make a living as an actor...In the U.S., there is more drive towards a certain kind of broad reaching success, and with that comes much more stress and sacrifice. In Canada, even if you are very successful, you can lead a very normal and healthy life. Maybe not much glamour or wealth or world reaching success, but quite normal.
2
I work very hard, sometimes too much, at my job because I love it so much. It is more than wonderful when all your hard work is noticed and honored by your peers and the industry. Winning the Golden Globe was one of the best moments of my life.
3
I did not start acting until I was 10. I started dancing when I was four, though. My parents were not the ones who brought me to acting. I brought myself, and when I found it, I could never go back. I was very fortunate because although I loved dance [ballet] with all my heart, I knew I was not good enough to be a professional dancer. I knew I loved performing. Still, nothing beats being on stage for me; I prefer the stage
4
[on the importance of stage experience for actors in film and television] Essential, essential, essential, essential. You gotta do plays, you gotta do play, you gotta do plays. Theatre will constantly and always feed me.
5
And on a Canadian set, everybody is equal. You get paid the same. You live together in barracks. You have a communal kitchen. You buy and cook your own food.
6
You just don't care about what people think. But it's hard to do because people tell you what they think all the time. It's sort of nuts. We actors, we're a fragile bunch, and yet we need to be strong because 90% of our lives is rejection. You have to figure out what really is important.
Speaks fluent Korean, English, French and Spanish.
4
Has a sister named Grace and a brother named Ray.
5
She loves Spain and especially the city of Barcelona.
6
In Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000) her character came from Seattle, Washington, to work in Southern California. In Grey's Anatomy (2005) her character came from Southern California to work in Seattle.
7
Attended the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec.
8
She has the distinction of playing two characters that co-exist in Armistead Maupin's fictional universe. In Further Tales of the City (2001), she played a bitchy newswoman who complicated "DeDe Day"'s mission to protect her twins, Anna and Edgar. In The Night Listener (2006), she portrays an adult "Anna Day".
9
In Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) her girlfriend was played by Kate Walsh, who went on to co-star with her in Grey's Anatomy (2005). Coincidentally, Kate also played a doctor in the film.
10
At the 2005 SAG awards she presented the award for actress in a TV comedy, to Teri Hatcher. At the 2006 Golden Globes, Hatcher presented the award for best supporting actress on TV to Oh. Hatcher later said it was good to see her again!.
Attended Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean, Ontario.
13
When asked who her favorite rock-star is, she answered Wayne Coyne (lead singer of The Flaming Lips), the reason being he looks enough like her husband, Alexander Payne, for her to pretend her fantasy about being married to a rock-star is true!
14
Was a member of a National Champion Canadian Improv Team at The Canadian Improv Games in the late nineties.
$25 Million
