birthdays: Sandra Oh

. 20 July_

Sandra Oh

(45th anniversary)

20 July 1971

Nepean, Ontario, Canada

5' 5" (1.65 m)

Known for Dr. Cristina Yang in "Grey's Anatomy"(TV Series). She then starred in a London (Ontario) stage production of David Mamet's "Oleanna" and appeared as the title character in the Canadian television production The Diary of Evelyn Lau (1997), beating out over 1,000 applicants.

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 (Ontario) stage production of David Mamet's "Oleanna" and appeared as the title character in the Canadian television production The Diary of Evelyn Lau (1997), beating out over 1,000 applicants. Her list of awards includes the FIPA d'Or for Best Actress at the 1994 Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels at Cannes, France, two Genie Awards (the Canadian Oscar), a Cable Ace Award, a Theatre World Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2003, she married writer-director Alexander Payne and their first film together was the Oscar-winning Entre copas (2004). - IMDb Mini Biography By: sub city

Spouse
Alexander Payne (1 January 2003 - 21 December 2006) (divorced)

Trivia
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: Bajo el sol de la Toscana (2003) with Diane Lane, Bodas por encargo (2005) with Heather Graham and Last Night (1998) with Don McKellar.

At the 2005 SAG awards, Sandra Oh presented the Actor for actress in a TV comedy - Teri Hatcher won the award. A year later at the 2006 Golden Globes, Hatcher presented the award for best supporting actress on TV - Oh won that award and later said it was good to see her again!

In Bajo el sol de la Toscana (2003), her girlfriend was portrayed by Kate Walsh, who went on to costar with her in Anatomía de Grey (2005). 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 Vecinos peculiares (2001), she portrayed a bitchy newswoman who complicated "DeDe Day"'s mission to protect her twins, Anna and Edgar. In Voces en la noche (2006), Oh portrays an adult "Anna Day".

Attended the National Theatre School in Montreal, Quebec.

In Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), Sandra's character came from Seattle, Washington to work in Southern California. In Anatomía de Grey (2005), 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 (1994), Last Night (1998) and Wilby Wonderful (2004).

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.

Has a role in ABC's Anatomía de Grey (2005). [February 2005]

Personal Quotes
You just don't care about what people think. But it's hard to do because people tell you what they think all the time. It's sort of nuts. We actors, we're a fragile bunch, and yet we need to be strong because 90% of our lives is rejection. You have to figure out what really is important.

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.