Grey's Anatomy Alum Sandra Oh Particulars How Her Script Requires Introduced on “Pain” on Region
Grey's Anatomy's Sandra Oh printed there changed into once a “devoted” staffer tasked to “take care of me” about script adjustments throughout her 10-season plod as Cristina Yang.
For Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy helped her learn what it takes to be your salvage particular person.
The actress reflected on her 10-season tenure as Cristina Yang on the long-running ABC scientific drama, calling it “one of many most not easy a protracted time” of her lifestyles despite the quiet bringing her “financial balance, reputation and privilege.”
“Once I started Grey's, I changed into once in my early 30s, so I had an thought of who I changed into once and what the work entailed, but I had no thought what changed into once coming,” she recounted to Dartmouth College's graduating class in a June 15 graduation speech. “I demanded loads from myself and from the writers.”
“If something me in a script, I’d fight for what I believed what changed into once lovely for the persona of Cristina because I felt accountable for her,” she persisted. “And whereas this contributed to the introduction of a memorable persona, my ought to assemble the dialogue match and my belief that I knew what changed into once simplest for the persona additionally introduced about nervousness for the writers and for me.”
The Fifty three-year-conventional acknowledged there changed into once even a “devoted” staffer who changed into once tasked to “take care of me” about the narrative adjustments. But all of it came to a head on season six, when she and the writers had been “at an impasse” over a line in the script.
“I had to have a name with the mountainous boss,” she shared, referring to Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes. “I'll if truth be told not neglect, she acknowledged to me, 'Sandra, we have now been right here before. To have to belief me. One thing will come by whenever you happen to lovely say the rattling words.'”
Per Sandra, these words opened her eyes to an complete new manner of navigating lifestyles's difficulties.
“The discomfort didn't lag away, but my relationship to it started to change,” she explained. “Once I executed attempting to bend issues to my will and stayed delivery to my discomfort, a new thing came by—something that wasn't lovely mine or lovely the writers, but something richer that gave me a deeper conception of myself because the persona, as an actor and as a collaborator.”
And for the Emmy winner, “Nothing has taught me more than being with discomfort.”
“It also can additionally be our excellent discovering out opportunity, and it’s a ways additionally inevitable,” she instructed graduates. “Even as you are going to also prepare your self not to shrink back but to learn to be with your discomfort and belief that it goes to even be telling you something you don't but know, it goes to enable you abolish an internal energy that will support you to face the challenges lifestyles affords you with out losing your values or your sense of self alongside the diagram.”
Referencing her persona's iconic line, Sandra added, “When the arena will get laborious, or when it's wonderful—especially when it's wonderful adore as of late—by your self, with folks you like, with strangers, constantly take some time to bounce it out.”
To discover what diverse Grey's Anatomy alums were as much as since leaving the quiet, learn on.
Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke
In season three, Burke deserted Cristina at the altar after which lovely took off, indirectly winning a Harper Avery award in other locations after which one day, intriguing to Zurich, Switzerland to delivery his salvage hi-tech scientific institution. He bought married, started a family, after which in season 10, he invited Cristina to his scientific institution to take it over for him as he retired.
Isaiah Washington left the series after it changed into once reported that he known as costar T.R. Knight a homosexual slur throughout an argument on region with Patrick Dempsey, and all his defenses lovely saved making it worse before he at final changed into once let lag from the series. It appears to be he and ABC made up, because they let him return for a 2nd in 2014.
As for what Washington has acknowledged of the incident? He later issued a public apology, adding in a single more advise, “I’m in a position to additionally no longer announce to myself that there are factors I obviously ought to peek inner my salvage soul, and I've asked for support.”
In the years since his Grey's Anatomy departure,he has starred as Thelonious Jaha on The CW's The 100, unless his persona died in season five, followed by Starz' seriously acclaimed P-Valley.
Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens
Izzie Stevens bought most cancers, married Alex Karev, survived the most cancers, after which sorta lovely disappeared in season six. She indirectly returned for a 2nd and admitted she didn't if truth be told feel adore Seattle changed into once her home anymore. Later, Alex bought despatched divorce papers, and now every person is aware of Izzie secretly had Alex's twins, lives on a ranch in Kansas, and changed into a surgical oncologist.
Katherine Heigl's exit in total started in 2008 when she withdrew her name from Emmy consideration because she didn't if truth be told feel adore the topic materials deserved it. In 2010, the persona disappeared fully. She acknowledged in the years since that she would favor to come to the persona, but creator Shonda Rhimes didn’t. “I'm executed with that narrative,” she instructed TVLine in 2015.
Heigl, then a burgeoning romcom megastar, went on to megastar in about a more romcoms before returning to TV with Say of Affairs, then Doubt, and more only in the near previous, she had an arc Suits and starred in Firefly Lane unless it resulted in 2023.
Edward Herrmann as Intern Norman
Intern Norman arrived in season four and had to fend off assumptions that he changed into once an attending, in region of an intern, due to the his age. He tousled and instructed the defective patient she changed into once dying, and later he collapsed and had a stroke. He had surgical operation to take away the blood clot, and decided after his surgical operation that he changed into once going to transfer to psych.
Edward Herrmann, a somewhat legendary actor, is mostly neatly is named Richard Gilmore on Gilmore Ladies. He additionally looked in numerous episodes of The Simply Wife, Harry's Law, and even American Dad before his loss of life in 2014.
Kali Rocha as Sydney Heron
Sydney changed into once the perky resident who took over for Bailey throughout her maternity leave and drove every person crazy with her perkiness. She even went on a date with Derek at one point, but assemble of disappeared in early season four. She briefly reprised her role for season 21 in 2024.
Kali Rocha most only in the near previous starred on Disney's Liv and Maddie and Man with a Conception plus a 2024 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
T.R. Knight as George O'Malley
One of many excellent tearjerkers on this list, at the cease of season five, George had lovely decided to enlist as a trauma surgeon in the navy and changed into once on his manner to achieve so when he saved a lady from getting hit by a bus, excellent to be hit himself. He changed into once in such rude form when he bought to the scientific institution that no-one recognized him unless he used his finger to write down his nickname, 007, in Meredith's hand. They had been unable to connect him, and he tragically died.
After several tumultuous seasons in the back of the scenes (alongside side Isaiah Washington the exercise of the f-phrase whereas allegedly referring to him), Knight struggled with about a of George's storylines and the reality that George barely looked in the muse of season five, and asked to be released from his contract.
Knight returned to Shondaland in 2017 for an arc on The Fetch, and has additionally looked on The Simply Wife, 11.22.63, and Genius, among diverse series. In 2019, he started say performing for The Bravest Knight before departing in 2024. He additionally looked in HBO Max series The Flight Attendant with Kaley Cuoco between 2020 and 2022.
He additionally returned to Grey's for one episode to satisfy Meredith throughout her COVID-19 coma in season 17.
Brooke Smith as Erica Hahn
Erica Hahn and Callie Torres started a relationship that if truth be told also can have gone somewhere, unless Erica learned about the time Izzie Stevens lower Denny Duquette's LVAD wire in makes an strive to connect his lifestyles. The coronary heart that then went to Denny changed into once taken from one of Erica's patients. When Callie refused to file the region, Erica up and left the relationship and her job in early season five.
Brooke Smith went on to appear in Bosch, Bates Motel, Supergirl, The Simply Physician, Chicago Med, and The Simply Fight, and the 2019 film Bombshell.
Most only in the near previous, she had arcs in Ryan Murphy's Grotesquerie, The Recruit and The Hunting Occasion.
Brandon Scott as Intern Ryan
Intern Ryan disappeared in early season six and Brandon Scott most only in the near previous starred on Netflix's Dumb To Me, 13 Causes Why, This Is Us and The Simply Physician.
Molly Kidder as Intern Megan
For the complete drama that almost all Grey's interns are inclined to trigger, Megan lovely also can take the scalpel. She bought proper into a love triangle with Steve and Pierce, as she changed into once relationship Pierce, but slept with Steve, after which Pierce wished to execute Steve, and Megan bought pregnant by Steve, after which she later married Steve, and he or she hasn't been considered since season six after Derek Shepherd rehired her.
Molly Kidder has executed about a performing gigs since Grey's, alongside side a guest space on Outsourced in 2010 and some goal motion photography. She additionally looked as an additional in Ghosts in 2025.
Joe Williamson as Intern Pierce
Pierce, one corner of the Megan/Pierce/Steve love triangle, changed into once indirectly fired in a round of layoffs and left in season six. Joe Williamson has since looked on displays adore Here and Now and the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari with Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
Note Saul as Intern Steve
Steve changed into once the various corner of the intern love triangle, indirectly marrying Megan and fathering her shrimp one. Steve survived the layoffs and made it the complete manner to season eight, excellent to if truth be told not be considered all over again.
Note Saul has looked on diverse TV displays since his mysterious disappearance from Grey's, adore Franklin & Bash, Mom, The Enormous Indoors, Grace & Frankie, Up to the moment Family and I Have You Will have to quiet Leave.
Sarah Utterback as Nurse Olivia
Nurse Olivia changed into once laid off throughout the merger with Mercy West in season six, but returned for a 2nd in season 14 when her son swallowed a toy whereas she changed into once visiting her mother and father in Seattle. No doubt, her son changed into once handled by Alex, the one who once gave her syphilis, and he or she had a variety of time to talk over with Jo, his then-fiancée.
Sarah Utterback has made about a TV appearances in the years since leaving Grey's in 2009, alongside side on the displays Reception and Mysteries of Laura. In 2024, she had a tiny role in 9-1-1.
Gloria Garayua as Intern Graciella
Intern Graciella changed into once final considered throughout the scientific institution taking pictures at the cease of season six, but Gloria Garayua has been working in total nonstop, alongside side a recent arc on The diagram in which to Net Away with Assassinate and appearances on S.W.A.T., The Simply Physician, American Housewife, Animal Kingdom, Snowfall, Criminal Minds, NCIS: LA, Madden Management, Bones, and the 2019 miniseries Reckoning. She additionally looked as Rona on a 2024 episode of Tracker.
Nora Zehetner as Reed Adamson
Nora changed into once the first casualty of Gary Clark, who introduced a gun to the scientific institution desiring to execute Derek. She died directly after being shot in the head in season six.
Nora Zehetner looked in a couple episodes of Furious Males after her Grey's loss of life, and only in the near previous starred on Designated Survivor and the 2019 series The Simply Stuff. In 2025, she looked as Melissa in Grosse Point Backyard Society.
Robert Baker as Charles Percy
Percy additionally died throughout the season six taking pictures, even though his loss of life changed into once rather more drawn out as he changed into once trapped in a room with a patient (Mandy Moore!) and Bailey, and shot at proper shut range. Bailey did her simplest to connect Percy, but when the elevators had been disabled in the evacuation, he changed into once doomed.
Robert Baker has executed lovely ravishing ever since, acting on Riverdale, Up to the moment Family, The Originals, and most only in the near previous as Otis Graves on Supergirl. In 2025, he scrubbed back in at a definite scientific institution—acting in an episode of St. Denis Scientific.
Rachael Taylor as Lucy Fields
OBGYN Lucy kinda sorta stole an improbable job in Africa lovely out from under Alex's nostril, partly because Alex hadn't even talked to her about the reality that he also can pass to Africa. So she moved to Africa as a substitute and changed into once if truth be told not heard from all over again after season seven.
Rachael Taylor is now simplest recognized as Jessica Jones' friend Trish on Netflix's Jessica Jones, as neatly as The Defenders. She additionally looked in a 2024 episode of Hacks.
Kate Walsh as Addison Sir Bernard Law
Addison, the girl who started as Derek's bitter estranged associate and indirectly changed into a fan fave with her salvage spinoff, changed into once final considered as a stylish on Grey's Anatomy in that severely controversial musical episode in season seven, when she helped attach Callie after her car accident. She additionally looked in the 2012 episode the build Meredith imagined that her mother changed into once quiet alive and happily married to Richard, whereas Derek and Addison had been quiet unhappily married and returned all over again for an arc in 2023.
She ended Private Apply married to Jake (Benjamin Bratt) with a son, Henry.
She went on to appear in Fargo, have her salvage fast-lived present Circulate Resolve, megastar as a grieving mother in 13 Causes Why, and support bring about the cease of the arena in The Umbrella Academy. She additionally stars on the 2020 present Emily in Paris and looked in a 2025 episode of Optics.
Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey
The loss of life of Lexie, Meredith's perky half of-sister, changed into once one more predominant tearjerker, as she perished in a single of the most devastating storylines the quiet has ever had: the plane rupture. She if truth be told not even made it back to the scientific institution (then known as Seattle Grace) alive after being beaten by piece of the plane whereas the love of her lifestyles, Note Sloan, cried over her. She and Note returned to reunite with Meredith throughout her COVID-19 coma and hinted that the couple discovered each and every diverse all over again in the afterlife.
Chyler Leigh starred in the hilariously named series Taxi Brooklyn before taking on the role of the badass Alex Danvers on Supergirl. Since 2023, she has starred as Kat Landry in Hallmark's The Manner Dwelling.
Eric Dane as Note Sloan
Note, a.sufficient.a. McSteamy, additionally died in the plane rupture of season eight, but finally. He made it back to the scientific institution and lived for about a days, but his accidents had been too severe. The scientific institution is now named in his and Lexie's honor after the leisure of the plane rupture survivors sold it with the money they received from their lawsuit. Note returned with Lexie to talk over with Meredith in her coma, hinting that the couple reunited after loss of life.
Eric Dane left the quiet to megastar in TNT's The Final Ship, which ended after five seasons in November 2018. He currently stars on the HBO series Euphoria with Zendaya, region to appear in the awaited season three of the series.
In April 2025, the actor shared his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), additionally recognized as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Charles Michael Davis as Jason Myers
Have in mind that OGYN resident who Jo dated back in season nine? They bought proper into a fight after he discovered out about the complete issues she hadn't instructed him, and the fight changed into bodily, touchdown Jason in the scientific institution after he fell and hit his head. Alex convinced him not to press expenses in opposition to Jo, after which he changed into once if truth be told not considered all over again.
Charles Michael Davis went on to megastar in The Originals on The CW, then Younger on TV Land, then For the Of us on ABC, and Chicago P.D. on NBC. Most only in the near previous, he looked on a 2022 episode of Legacies.
Tina Majorino as Heather Brooks
Quirky intern Heather died in season 10 throughout the mountainous storm, after she changed into once electrocuted whereas attempting to support Richard Webber.
Tina Majorino most only in the near previous looked on CBS' Scorpion and an episode of The Simply Physician.
Geena Davis as Nicole Herman
Dr. Herman changed into Arizona's unreasonably anxious mentor in fetal surgical operation, even though she gave the impression rather more cheap when Arizona learned about Nicole's broad terminal brain tumor. Amelia fastened the tumor, but Herman lost her eyesight and ended up leaving in season 11. Nevertheless, she returned to support Arizona leave the quiet at the cease of season 14 by offering her grant money to delivery a middle for ladies's health in Unique York.
Geena Davis starred in the Fox series The Exorcist in 2016, before her closing return to Grey's. Today, she has had habitual roles on Netflix's GLOW and the engaging She-Ra reboot series. Nevertheless, she mostly works as a producer for the time being, govt producing Mission Unstoppable With Miranda Cosgrove.
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang
Cristina Yang went by a seriously great time after the plane rupture, and it took a truly very long time for her to fully improve. Then she lost the Harper Avery award, discovered that whereas working at that scientific institution she also can if truth be told not salvage the award and started to admire she also can ought to pass on. Her long in the past love Preston Burke then invited her to Zurich to plod the lowering edge scientific institution he had opened, so he also can retire alongside with his family. She left, after one final dance celebration with Meredith, in season 10.
Sandra Oh is currently one of many excellent TV stars, starring as Eve in the seriously acclaimed BBC America series Killing Eve, for which she has received a Golden Globe. Fancy Geena Davis, she too additionally has a habitual role on Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Vitality. She additionally additionally lends her say to a persona on Robert Kirkman's engaging series Invincible.
Gaius Charles as Shane Ross
Shane changed into once the cocky intern changed into resident who almost killed himself working too mighty, but he bought shut to Cristina and asked if he also can apply her to Zurich, which he then did.
Gaius Charles, additionally recognized as Friday Evening Lights' beloved Rupture Williams, starred in the displays Aquarius and Taken, and most only in the near previous looked on The Walking Dumb: Dumb City.
Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd
Derek Shepherd had a tough couple of seasons as he bought a job working for then-President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. and tried to assemble Meredith and the family come with him. She refused and so they lived apart for a whereas, unless he decided to assemble issues lovely and pass home to achieve the job more remotely.
Gorgeous as he and Mer had been happy all over again in season 11, he changed into once on his manner back to tie up some free ends and took region upon a broad car accident. He spent hours taking care of the victims, excellent to then be hit by a truck as quickly as he bought back into his salvage car. The scientific doctors at the scientific institution the build the ambulance took him had been unprepared for trauma and failed to score a head CT, ensuing in his loss of life.
Patrick Dempsey acknowledged that he left the quiet because “it changed into once laborious to enjoy the storylines inspiring” and he wished to have more time to use alongside with his family, and he asked to be let out of his contract early. Because the cease of his time on Grey's, he starred in Bridget Jones' Limited one, a miniseries known as The Truth In regards to the Harry Quebert Affair, the quiet Devils, and commercials the build he reminds us he changed into once once a TV doctor. For the time being, he's starring in Dexter: Long-established Sin.
He shockingly returned to Grey's for a series of dream sequences in season 17.
Tessa Ferrer as Leah Murphy
Oh Leah Murphy. This sad resident went by a complete lot before getting fired in season 10 because she lovely wasn't lower out to be a surgeon. Then out of nowhere, she returned in season 13 to work with Maggie. A couple of episodes later, lovely as , she changed into once gone all over again.
Tessa Ferrer additionally starred in the Hulu adaptation of World Battle II miniseries Fetch-22 with George Clooney in 2019, and Grotesquerie in 2024.
Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres
Callie left Grey Sloan when her severely controversial girlfriend Penny bought a love fellowship in Unique York. After losing a if truth be told devastating custody battle with Arizona, she changed into once going to cease in Seattle, but Arizona had a metamorphosis of coronary heart and despatched her on her manner with Sofia at the cease of season 12.
Sara Ramirez left to take a new gig on CBS' Madame Secretary. They have since played the divisive Che Diaz on HBO's Intercourse and the City spinoff And Gorgeous Fancy That. In 2024, they additionally voiced Amber in Velma.
Samantha Sloyan as Penelope Blake
Penelope's time at Grey Sloan changed into once tough from originate to achieve. She arrived as Callie's new girlfriend with the reputation as one of many scientific doctors who had killed Derek, and discovered herself having to work for a grumpy Meredith. Then when she bought a prestigious job in Unique York and Callie decided to exercise her, she region off the devastating custody battle between Callie and Arizona. Final we heard, she and Callie had broken up (hence Arizona's intriguing to Unique York), but that relationship changed into once constantly doomed.
Samantha Sloyan went on to megastar in The Haunting of Hill Dwelling as Leigh, and looked on displays equivalent to SEAL Crew and The Rookie. In 2025, she reentered the ER flooring by becoming a member of The Pitt.
Marika Dominczyk as Eliza Minnick
In Season 13, Minnick arrived to take over for Richard Webber in teaching the residents, but actually every person hated her (Meredith even bought suspended over it), and he or she changed into once fired when she changed into once so obsessed with protocol that she left out to tell the police that a resident changed into once unaccounted for throughout a fireplace. Stephanie almost died!
Marika Dominczyk later joined ABC's fast-lived Whiskey Cavalier, alongside her husband (and Grey's alum) Scott Foley.
Jerrika Hinton as Stephanie Edwards
Stephanie decided to pass off and explore, attempting something new at the cease of season 13 after almost dying in a fire following months of exhaustion and grieving over her pointless boyfriend Kyle (Wilmer Valderrama).
Jerrika Hinton went on to megastar in the fast-lived HBO drama Here and Now in 2018, and additionally joined the solid of the Amazon series Hunters as a Nazi hunter. In 2024, she looked as Lycia in The Accused.
Martin Henderson as Nathan Riggs
Nathan left Grey Sloan in early season 14 when his excellent dream came lovely and his fiancee, Megan Hunt, returned from being held captive for a decade. Collectively, they moved to LA with the infant she had adopted whereas abroad. It broke up his blossoming relationship with Meredith, then all over again it changed into once a heck of a happy ending for Riggs.
Martin Henderson (who, fun reality, looked in Britney Spears' video for “Poisonous”) later looked in the series Virgin River unless 2024.
Source credit : eonline.com
