Actress Sandra Oh made a name for herself while portraying Cristina Yang on Grey's Anatomy. She was nominated for several awards for her performance, and even won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. However, she's not afraid to open up about her experience on the show, and she recently admitted the toll the show took on her health.
Oh recently spoke to Squid Game star Jung Ho-yeon on an episode of Variety's Actors on Actors video series. Admitting that the show changed her life, it also created stress and confusion for her when it came to her career. She also noted that the show and her casting took place almost 20-years-ago.
Although fans have wanted Oh to make a cameo as Yang, she has repeatedly stated that she will not be returning to the show. However, they have thrown little things into the show to ensure fans knew that her character was still part of Meredith Grey's (Ellen Pompeo) life. One of the more notable features was her character texting Grey about a "gift," referring to the arrival of Dr. Cormac Hayes (Richard Flood). Flood's character was on the show for a short time, but he earned the nickname "McWidow."
Her Experience On The Show May Not Be Surprising To Most People
During the episode, she asked Ho-yeon how she was taking care of herself and admitted, "I feel like, honestly, I got sick. I think my whole body was very, very sick." While continuing to talk about her experience, the actress would say to herself, "Oh, I can't sleep. Oh, my back hurts. I don't know what's wrong with my skin." After learning how to take care of her health first, Oh stated that she couldn't depend on anyone else and, "You have to somehow find it within yourself."
Several other celebrities have discussed the toll on what acting can do to your body physically and mentally. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey are notable actors who've gone above and beyond for roles. DiCaprio slept in an animal's carcass and swam in frozen rivers for The Revenant, while McConaughey lost forty-seven pounds for Dallas Buyers Club. Both men won the Academy Award for Best Actor for their roles.
Oh Has Since Learned To Prioritize Her Health In Any Acting Role
By the time she was cast in Killing Eve, the actress knew how to take care of herself better. "Now, as I'm deeper into my career, the more time I realize that I have to spend with my creative self: That could be sleeping, that could be walking in the woods, that could be meditating, that could be actually going to class, that could be all those things. Because I realize that part sustains all the — almost the immediacy, the ability to be present," she told Ho-yeon.
Oh was praised for her work in Killing Eve, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. She starred in her latest film Umma, for which she received praise. She currently stars in Amazon Prime's show Invincible. The show has been renewed for a second and third season, but there is no word on a release date as of this publication.
More episodes of Variety's Actors on Actors are available to stream on Variety's website. As of this publication, no other projects for Oh have been announced.