Sandra Oh has one of the covers for Marie Claire’s TV Issue. Oh currently stars on the beloved series Killing Eve. Oh is committed to doing TV work, but I still remember one of the first things I saw her in: Under the Tuscan Sun. She was great in that. She’s always been talented, but it absolutely feels like her 30s and 40s have been a time of “blossoming” for her career. I mean, she’s 47 years old and playing the lead role – a rarity for an actress of Asian descent – in an acclaimed series. You can read Marie Claire’s whole cover package here. Some highlights:
On the success of Killing Eve: “I’m grateful that this happened at 47, because I’ve done enough work on myself to really experience it. And then, too, it just has deeper meaning for me.”
On realizing she was offered the leading role in Killing Eve: “I was like ‘Where’s my part?’ When my agent said, ‘You’re f*cking Eve,’ I just couldn’t see it. I couldn’t see myself in a leading role… it’s like a f*cking shard in my heart. We work really hard because we love what we do, but we understand how important it is to be visible and to see ourselves, right? To catch myself in a moment where I’m still not doing that was really difficult.”
On maintaining her balance: “I know a big part of my job is to rest, do you know what I mean? The outcome is tremendous, and if you do not rest, you will not be balanced. And if you’re not balanced, you’re an a–hole.”
Whether she thinks about having kids: “I went through that period, I’d say in my mid to late 30s into 40, where it was like, I make a great living and I could do this on my own. And I didn’t. I have an extremely fulfilling life as an aunt, not only to my nieces and my nephews but also to a lot of my friends’ children.”
You know what I love about Sandra Oh? She’s not cool and she doesn’t try to be. She really owns her own dorkiness and earnestness. She also works hard and wants you to understand it. I also love how matter-of-fact she is about being childfree: “it was like, I make a great living and I could do this on my own. And I didn’t.” I feel similarly? Like, of course I considered it. Of course I had openings and of course I could have done it on my own too. But I didn’t. And that’s the way it goes.
Marie Claire did a cute video with balloons – Sandra prefers chocolate over cheese (yay), believes every woman should know how to fight and how to undress in a sexy way, and she loves her anxiety weighted blanket.
Photos courtesy of Thomas Whiteside for Marie Claire, sent from promotional email.
First thing I saw her in was the movie Sideways, where she played a vapid sexpot who beat the spit out of Thomas Hayden Church with a motorcycle helmet when she found out what a creep his character really was. She was just great in that movie.
Yes. Yes she was.
And I am still curious, to this day, what went down with her and Alexander Payne because for a couple that was private, their divorce was not.
Really? I never heard any news about the divorce other than the announcement. So what happened in the divorce?
“YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED???” Love that scene! Love her!
My hero, you should see her in Cat Fight, it’s so harsh. Funny and really innovative take on female relationships.
I love her and always have. I think she’s a great actress and I love that she is not, and has never been, a limelight kind of celeb. Plus, she looks amazing at 47.
The first time I ever saw her was in Sideways and then I watched the first few years of Grey’s.
She’s delightful. She’s just so genuine and fun.
I just love her, and am so happy for her success. I’m glad she feels more able to appreciate it now too, but that moment of “which (supporting) part is mine” is pretty telling in how unusual it is for her to be offered a lead.
I had a moment too, in my 30s, where I very briefly debated if I should be looking into foster/adoption on my own, but just knew it wasn’t for me. I’m a cat mom and aunt to my friends’ kids, and that is the right path for me.
Love her!
I’ve loved her ever since she was on Arliss, although she was great in Sideways too. She is fantastic and so vocal and open and cool and I really want to be her BFF. Also, she looks incredible in that shot in the chair with the suit. Oh, and Killing Eve is incredible and my boyfriend is obsessed with it (so all those Hollywood execs who think men in flyover country only want to see other white dudes do stuff are totally wrong – no surprise there.)
I remember her from Princess Diaries! It was a blink and you miss her. She was a member of the school faculty if I recall.
I’m still butthurt that she left Grey’s! Lol I know I should be over it by now, but I keep hoping she will make a guest appearance at some point. She is Meredith’s person!! 😭
I remember her in Sideways but my fave is Under the Tuscan Sun.
I haven’t seen Killing Eve yet but will watch. I’m not sure what it’s about.
I’ve said it a million times and to my own kids…
If you don’t really, really want to have children then DON’T.
They cost a fortune, you never know how they will turn out (health/mental/emotional issues etc.) and you are going to make sacrifices. Also, even the good ones will break your heart sometimes.
My son has three; one is a step-son and a good kid.
All the kids are good kids but my two daughters decided a long time ago they didn’t want children.
They are focused on education, careers, world travel and options.
I’m fine with that and I’ve never understood women whining, “When are you going to give me grand kids??”
High-five to you @nancypants!!! I’m the same way, being child free and it’s like saying you have leprosy. Why bring kids into the world you can’t afford, I’m still in school going for my BCBA certificate and I’m around kids for my job. Dog lady it is for me!
🙂 My One of my daughter’s middle name is Victoria.
Best to you in your adventures!
Thank you for not hassling your daughter for not wanting kids. I have 4 siblings who have all given my mom grandkids and she still hassles me at 34 about when I’m having kids. Silly, because I’ve always known I dont want any and she knows that.
No f**** way she’s 47!!!!!! I’m a big fan of her a work and I had no idea!! I really thought she was in her mid/late 30s…She’s such a cool actress. I had to binge the last episodes of Killing Eve on a row yesterday ’cause she, Jodie Comer and Fiona Shaw are just amazing. I’m happy for her that she was recognized with this leading role. Her interview is pretty down to earth. Just love her!
I will be 35 soon, and I am also starting to debate kids in my head, which is something new for me and honestly scary. So, when I hear stories like this from the women I admire, such as Sandra Oh (I honestly think she is fantastic) I can really respect that.
Even if you don’t have nieces, nephews, etc in your life, it can still be fulfilling. I have never wanted kids, but at 38, I do admit that now that it’s not really an option anymore – it does give me a strange feeling. As in, before, I didn’t want them, but I still could have them if I changed my mind. Now, I may not be able to have them even if I changed my mind.
I’m honestly so stressed out by the kids thing. I don’t know if I want any at all, I just can’t decide and don’t even know where to start considering with the pros and cons and how I feel about any of it. I think I don’t have a preference, but I’m not even sure about that. And I definitely am not up to doing it myself, I’m single and only open to a relationship if it happens naturally and I don’t have to actually go looking for a husband. I think I was just going to have kids if I had a husband who’d want them and be ready to take good care of them….. But I don’t, so I guess it’s a pass on kids for me? I’m not even sure if I’m sad about it or just stressed my life isn’t what society told me it should be – education, job, marriage, kids.
When people talk about overpopulation, I feel a sort of a relief – like it’s ok to not have kids. I’d like to pass my dna but I don’t know, it feels like an ego thing.
Hey Katherine, Here is the honest truth from a mom of three. Do what feels right to you. Don’t stress … just think. It is so, so, so much work to do this right. The food, the clothing, the house, the socialization, the watching them 24 hours a day when they are little. I swear, I have hated my partner some days, some weeks. XO We are still not at a point where most families split the work 50/50. I have convinced myself you shouldn’t be allowed to divorce if anyone in the home is under 8. XO There is too much work and not enough time for your partner, let alone yourself. It is a HUGE job, the biggest one you will ever do. Don’t do it unless you are sure because even sure …. you have NO IDEA what you are getting into. It has lovely pros, family life, laughter is wonderful. Watching them. But man, it isn’t a joke. And it isn’t a heavenly, fluff, fluff dream.
Thank you for this. Seriously, thank you. Your honesty is so refreshing.
Thanks! I kind of understand this from what you hear from people but I don’t think I really do grasp what it means, even reading your reply – I don’t think I get it, although there picture sounds pretty clear. But this is also kind of why I say a lot depends on the husband – I don’t think I could handle this if the husband did less than 50% of the job. I’m not even sure about 50, tbh. Ideally, it’d be more, I have days when I can’t bring myself to feed myself properly or shower – because I’m tired or sad or overwhelmed. I know you just pick yourself up and take care of children but do that too often and one’s bound to snap…. Thank you once again, my last non-starter of a relationship was with someone who wouldn’t be able to handle any of what you describe and people in my life told me that but I thought he’d step up. But yeah this sounds like too much of a stretch, the job’s just too hard plus it puts a strain on everything and any weak parts are candidate numero uno for snapping.
I’ve never wanted kids. I just have such limited energy in life I am 100% the stress of managing a kids life would make me extremely depressed. Kids are amazing, I love them. But the other parents, the bullying kids, the teachers, the important errands and phone calls etc etc sounds like a damn nightmare. Not to mention my own childhood was a bullying shitstorm and I wouldnt be able to look my child in the eye and say «no, you CANT stay home, you have to go back to kindergarden/school/college».
Its very nice to see that someone I admired already like Sanda doesnt have kids. Makes me feel less alone in that regard.
I loved her in Sideways as well but truly fell in love with her as Christina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy. She brought so much to that character and I too was heartbroken when she left, but thankfully she wasn’t run over by a bus or killed in a plane crash LOL 🙂 I need to check her out in her latest role that is getting all this attention – she is definitely a great actress and someone I have always enjoyed.