Why did Cristina quit Grey's Anatomy​?

Cristina quit Grey's Anatomy to pursue a career opportunity in Zurich.

Grey’s Anatomy is a superhit American medical drama made by Shonda Rhimes for ABC. It was released in 2005 and currently has 21 seasons. The 21st season aired recently in September 2024. The show is set in the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, formerly known as the Seattle Grace Hospital. The storyline focuses on the personal and professional lives of interns, residents, and attending doctors in the hospital.

Dr. Cristina Yang was one of the main leads of Grey’s Anatomy. She is one of the original 6 cast members of the show. Her character was portrayed as a hardworking and ambitious doctor. She shared a strong bond with Dr. Meredith Grey and they were best friends. Fans were heartbroken when they learned that she had left the show, as she was one of the fan favorites. Here’s a look at the reasons why Cristina left Grey’s Anatomy.

Why did Cristina quit Grey's Anatomy?

Dr. Cristina Yang’s exit was because of personal and professional reasons. Cristina was always a hardworking and ambitious doctor. From the moment she joined the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, she always aimed to become a leading cardiothoracic surgeon. Over the seasons, she faced many ups and downs. In Season 10, she faced many challenges like hospital politics including arguments with Dr. Owen Hunt.

She decided to leave the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital when she received a big opportunity that could boost her career. She was offered the position of director in one of the best hospitals in the world for cardiothoracic surgery in Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Preston Burke, her former mentor and fiance, offered her this job when she came to Zurich to give a lecture. He wanted her to take over his position as he would be leaving soon. She always wanted this kind of job and accepted the offer. In the Season 10 finale, she says her final goodbyes to her friends and leaves for Zurich. In the end, she settles into her office in Zurich, with her nameplate on the door.

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Who played Dr. Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy?

Sandra Miju Oh, also known as Sandra Oh, played the role of Dr. Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy. She is an American and Canadian actress, born on July 20, 1971 in Nepean, Ontario. She started her acting career in the 1990s. She rose to fame in Canada with the film Double Happiness in 1994. In 1996, she starred in HBO's dark comedy series, Arliss. She received critical acclaim for her performance as Rita Wu in 6 seasons of Arliss.

In 2005, she was cast as Dr. Cristina Yang in ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. She gained worldwide popularity and praise from the critics for her performance. She won many awards for Grey’s Anatomy including Golden Globe Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She also received nominations for awards like Primetime Emmys, People's Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, etc.

After leaving Grey’s Anatomy in 2013, she starred in the comedy web series, Shitty Boyfriends, in 2015. In 2018, she played a leading role in BBC America’s spy thriller series, Killing Eve. She played the role of Eve Polastri, an intelligence agent, in Killing Eve. The show had 4 seasons and ended in 2022. For this role, she won the Golden Globes Award, Critics’ Choice Award, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She became the 1st Asian-origin actress to be nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2018.

In 2019, she became the 1st Asian Canadian woman to host SNL. In 2021, she starred in the Netflix film The Chair. She was also the executive producer of the film. In 2023, she starred in the comedy film Quiz Lady and received her 1st Primetime Emmy Award as a producer for the film in 2024.