Why did Sandra Oh leave Grey's Anatomy​?

Sandra left Grey's Anatomy to focus on new opportunities after 10 seasons.

Grey’s Anatomy is an American medical drama series made by Shonda Rhimes for the ABC network. It was released on March 27, 2005, and currently has 21 seasons. The 21st season aired recently in September 2024. The show is set in a hospital called Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital formerly known as Seattle Grace Hospital. The story revolves around the personal and professional lives of interns, residents, and doctors in the hospital. The original cast of the show included Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Katherine Heigl, Isaiah Washington, T. R. Knight, James Pickens Jr., and Chandra Wilson.

Sandra Oh played the role of Dr. Christina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy. She was part of the original cast of the show. She was portrayed as an ambitious, witty, and loyal character. Her exit from the show left viewers heartbroken and raised questions regarding the reason behind her exit. Here’s a look at the reasons why Sandra Oh left Grey’s Anatomy.

Why did Sandra Oh leave Grey’s Anatomy?

Sandra Oh signed a 2 year deal in 2012 which confirmed her return in season 10. She announced her exit from the show in 2013 at the end of Season 10. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she shared that she had given it her all and felt ready to let go of the show. The creator of the show Shonda Rhimes supported her decision to leave. It was difficult for Sandra Oh to emotionally process her decision as she was on the show for 8 years.

Unlike the majority of the characters in Grey’s Anatomy, Sandra Oh’s character got a proper ending instead of being killed off. Her ending was written in a way that was fitting with her character. Cristina was a hardworking person, and in Season 10, she received a big opportunity to work as a director in one of the best hospitals in the world for cardiothoracic surgery. In the end, she decided to leave Seattle and accept the job position in Zurich, Switzerland. This ending was perfect for her character as she was ambitious and hardworking.

Related: Did Ellen Pompeo leave Grey's Anatomy

Sandra Oh’s career after Grey’s Anatomy

After being a part of the successful show Grey’s Anatomy for 8 years, Sandra Oh went on to work on other successful projects. In 2015, she starred in a comedy web series Shitty Boyfriends. She starred in the film Catfight in 2016 with Alicia Silverstone and Anne Hesche.

In 2018, she received critical acclaim for her leading role as Eve Polastri in the BBC America spy thriller series Killing Eve. The show ran for 4 seasons and ended in 2022. She won many awards for her performance in Killing Eve including Golden Globe Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She also received nominations for awards including the Primetime Emmys. She became the 1st Asian Canadian woman to host the Saturday Night Live in 2019. In 2021, she produced and acted in the Netflix comedy show Chair. She played the role of Jenny Yum in the film Quiz Lady in 2023. She also worked as a voice artist in projects like Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Turning Red (2022), and The Tiger's Apprentice (2024).