Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh is a Canadian actress who has made history as one of the most acclaimed performers of Asian descent in Western entertainment. Born in Nepean, Ontario, to Korean immigrant parents, Oh discovered her passion for acting at a young age and pursued it against her parents’ initial wishes. She studied drama at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, graduating in 1993 and quickly establishing herself in Canadian film and theater before making the transition to Hollywood.

Oh’s breakthrough came with her role as Dr. Cristina Yang on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-2014). Over ten seasons, she became one of the most beloved characters on television, earning five Primetime Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for the role. Her portrayal of the fiercely ambitious and emotionally complex surgeon resonated with audiences worldwide and made her one of the highest-paid actresses on television, reportedly earning around $350,000 per episode in her later seasons.

After leaving “Grey’s Anatomy,” Oh took on the role that many consider her finest work — Eve Polastri in the BBC America thriller “Killing Eve” (2018-2022). Her performance as an MI5 intelligence officer engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with an assassin earned her historic recognition: she became the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and she won the Golden Globe and SAG Award for the role. She also made history as the first Asian woman to host the Golden Globe Awards in 2019.

Oh has continued to build an impressive body of work in film and television, including voice acting in Pixar’s “Turning Red” (2022) and starring in Netflix’s “The Chair” (2021). She has been a vocal advocate for representation of Asian performers in Hollywood and has used her platform to champion diverse storytelling. Her career spanning over three decades has established her as both a trailblazer and one of the most respected dramatic actresses working today.