Sandra Oh was born to Korean parents in the Ottawa suburb of Nepean, Ontario, Canada. Her father, Oh Junsu, a businessman, and her mother, Oh Young-nam, a biochemist, were married in Seoul, South Korea. They both attended graduate school at the University of Toronto. Sandra began her career as a ballet dancer and eventually studied drama at the National Theatre School in Montreal. She then starred in a London .
Was a member of a National Champion Canadian Improv Team at The Canadian Improv Games in the late nineties.
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!
Attended Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean, Ontario.
She has played a pregnant woman in three films: Under the Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane , Cake with Heather Graham and Last Night with Don McKellar.
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!.
In Under the Tuscan Sun her girlfriend was played by Kate Walsh , who went on to co-star with her in "Greys Anatomy" . Coincidentally, Kate also played a doctor in the film.
She has the distinction of playing two characters that co-exist in Armistead Maupin s fictional universe. In "Further Tales of the City" , she played a bitchy newswoman who complicated "DeDe Day"s mission to protect her twins, Anna and Edgar. In The Night Listener , she portrays an adult "Anna Day".
Attended the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec.
In Dancing at the Blue Iguana her character came from Seattle, Washington, to work in Southern California. In "Greys Anatomy" her character came from Southern California to work in Seattle.
She loves Spain and especially the city of Barcelona.
Has a sister named Grace and a brother named Ray.
Speaks fluent Korean, English, French and Spanish.
Has co-starred with Callum Keith Rennie in three films: Double Happiness , Last Night and Wilby Wonderful .
Often eats at Los Feliz restaurant Little Doms. Katherine Heigl , Hannah Telle , Michael Cera , Drew Barrymore , and Giovanni Ribisi also frequent this local hot spot.
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.
[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.
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,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.
[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. .
