Grey’s Anatomy star Sandra Oh reveals her time on the show was difficult

Grey's Anatomy is a popular American television series about doctors who work in a Seattle hospital. It debuted in 2005 and was founded by Shonda Rhimes.

The main character, Dr. Meredith Grey, begins as a young surgical intern and progresses to become a top surgeon. The show follows her and her coworkers as they navigate medical issues and personal challenges. Many characters have appeared and disappeared over time.

According to Sandra Oh, her ten years on Grey's Anatomy were the most difficult period of her life. She talked about embracing discomfort, personal development, and creative challenges, and in addition to helping to develop the character, her commitment to the role of Cristina Yang taught her important lessons. These were mainly about resilience, teamwork, and trust.

More about Sandra Oh and Grey's Anatomy

Sandra Oh recently spoke about her time on Grey’s Anatomy. This was particularly during a graduation speech at Dartmouth College in 2025, and she called her ten years on the show “one of the most challenging decades” of her life.

Grey's Anatomy gave her fame and stability. However, it also came with many personal and professional challenges, and Oh played Dr. Cristina Yang. As per the storyline, the character is a smart and driven surgeon.

She cared deeply about the Grey's Anatomy character and often shared her thoughts with the writers, and if something didn’t feel right in the script, she spoke up, and this helped shape a strong and realistic character, but it sometimes caused tension with the team.

To help with communication, the show had a staff member. They worked closely with her, and the famous actress shared a moment when she disagreed with a line in the script, and she spoke to the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes. She told her to trust the process, and this moment helped her see things in a new way and taught her to work through difficult situations.

Oh said learning to deal with discomfort helped her grow with Grey's Anatomy. She encouraged graduates to stay open during hard times. Discomfort, she said, can teach important lessons and help people become stronger. She shared that this mindset helped her become a better actor and team member.

She ended her speech with advice inspired by her character. She said,

“When the world gets hard, or when it’s good—especially when it’s good—take the time to dance it out.”

Sandra Oh’s journey on Grey’s Anatomy was filled with growth, learning, and self-discovery.

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