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This was published 5 years ago

Sandra Oh reflects on 'traumatic' rise to fame after being cast in Grey's Anatomy

Natacha Maloon

Sandra Oh didn't adjust well to becoming an overnight celebrity thanks to her role in Grey's Anatomy.

The Chair actress was cast as Christina Yang in the hit medical drama in 2005, and her life would never be the same.

"To be perfectly honest, it was traumatic. It was traumatic," Oh, 50, said in a preview from her Sunday Today With Willie Geist interview. Watch above!

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Sandra Oh played Dr Christina Yang in Grey's Anatomy for 16 years. ABC

READ MORE: What happened to Katherine Heigl?

"And the reason why I'm saying that is the circumstances you need to do your work is with a lot of privacy. So when one loses one's anonymity, you have to build skills to still try and be real. I went from not being able to go out, like, hiding in restaurants, to then being able to manage attention, manage expectation, while not losing the sense of self."

In order to cope with the limelight, Oh sought help from a professional, saying, "Well, I have a good therapist. I'm not joking. … It's very, very important."

Grey's Anatomy cast

Sandra Oh was one of the original stars of Grey's Anatomy. ABC

READ MORE: Where is Kate Walsh and what is she doing now?

Oh exited the series eight years ago, in the 10th season of the show.

"Creatively, I really feel like I gave it my all, and I feel ready to let her go," she told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. "It's such an interesting thing to play a character for so long and to actually get the sense that she wants to be let go as well. [Cristina] wants to be let go, and I am ready to let her go."

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Oh went on to star in the psychological drama Killing Eve, and is now the star of the new Netflix series The Chair.

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