Sandra Oh, the acclaimed actress who portrayed Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC's long-running medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," has stated she has no regrets about her departure from the show in 2014 after 10 seasons. Oh, who is now 55, received significant critical praise for her role as the cardiothoracic surgical fellow, a character initially conceived as 'a pert little blonde.'
Dr. Yang's exit from the Seattle Grace Hospital involved accepting a leadership position at a new research hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, a role previously held by Dr. Preston Burke. Oh shared in an interview on Jesse Tyler Ferguson's podcast "Dinner's On Me" that "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes approached her at the end of season nine to discuss her future with the show.
"I said, 'Let me think about it.' And I really, really thought about it," Oh recounted. She emphasized that her decision was guided by her creative instincts. "The creative being will dictate, and you've got to follow it. You've got to ask it, 'What do you want to do? What should I do?'"
Oh feels she fulfilled her role on the show, stating, "I felt very much like I did my job. I really did my job. I feel like I created a full character. I feel I grew the character [in] 10 years time, where it's a believable growth. Like, people grow in 10 years, and I think she really did grow."
The actress also described her exit as a privilege, noting the rarity of being able to meticulously plan a character's departure. "And the privilege was to actually plan an exit and all the writers to be able to plan the exit to support that. And I know that it is extremely rare to have. So, that was a real, real gift," she said.
While Oh had previously maintained a firm stance against returning to "Grey's Anatomy," her position has softened in recent times. In an interview last year, she acknowledged the audience's deep affection for the character, stating, "For the longest time, it has always been a hard no. And it's just.... I don't know. I just don't know." She added that while she doesn't feel the need to revisit the role, she profoundly understands the audience's connection to Dr. Yang. "That's the part that makes me just go, hmmm."
"Grey's Anatomy" concluded its 22nd season on May 7, drawing approximately 5.99 million total viewers. Season 23 of the series is scheduled to premiere on ABC on October 15. Additionally, a Shondaland spin-off series set in rural West Texas is slated for a midseason 2027 debut.
Oh is currently engaged in other projects, including a role as novelist Alice in Martin Crimp's modern adaptation of Molière's "The Misanthrope," which runs through Saturday at London's National Theatre. The play will broadcast in the UK on September 22. Her upcoming film projects include an untitled Universal flick, the animated film "Lala – A Fairy's Heart," and the psychological thriller "Child's Play."