During her 10 seasons on Greys Anatomy, Sandra Oh was so deeply invested in playing Dr. Cristina Yang, shed often get into heated debates with the writers about her character.
In an interview with Varietys Actors on Actors issue, Oh spoke to Kerry Washington who starred in Scandal about what it was like going to-to-toe with Shonda Rhimes, who created both shows.
I spent a lot of time with writers, and television is all about your relationship with the writer, Oh said. What I was able to get from Greys is to have the responsibility and the relationship with the writer to be able to direct where shes going. If something kind of came up which was like, That is completely wrong, I would go toe-to-toe with Shonda and a lot of the writers, which has been challenging. But I think ultimately, for the entire product and our relationship, if youre fighting for the show, if youre fighting for your character, people can tell that.
Oh recalled a story line in Season 3 of Greys Anatomy when Cristina was going to marry Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington).
Most of the shows that I have done have not been Asian-specific purposefully, Oh said. When we did Greys, for at least the first 10 seasons we would not talk about race. We would not go into race, and that was purposeful. And, whatever, it was the right thing to do when it was. In Season 3, Burke and Cristina were getting married and there were the two mothers, the Asian mother and the Black mother, and Im like, Come on, there is a lot of story that we can do here! But they didnt want to touch it, for whatever reason. Now my interest is much more in bringing that story in.
Kerry Washington said that when she read the scripts for Scandal, shes always start with positive feedback before suggesting any notes.
Any of the writers who I worked with, Im sure they know my face, Oh said. What can I say? I have a Korean mom, and shes got a tough face to place. Shes got a tough face!
Its the truth, Washington said. Youre a truth-teller, which is a beautiful thing.
I feel like, when I look back, because its been six years now since I left Greys, I feel like one of my biggest successes, for me, was I dont feel I gave up, Oh said. We did 22 episodes, but in the early years, it was 24. It was crazy. Then you have to kind of pick your moments of where you can lay off the gas pedal, because it is such a slog. There would be scenes that I would just go, I dont know, 10 rounds on, and I know I was difficult. And I really respect all the writers there who rode it out with me.
What does that mean, you would go 10 rounds? Washington asked.
I would go 10 rounds in saying, Its not right,' Oh said. Youve got to do different levels with the writer, and then you bump it up and you eventually get to [Shonda]. Youve got to bother her. When it felt like such an impasse, we would both be digging in our heels hugely. But just the friction itself, a lot of times a third thing would come out, and it would not be in my sight of consciousness at all; it would take that pushing against someone equally as strong. I started to learn how to trust that.
Oh recently wrapped the third season of Killing Eve, and Washington stars as Mia on the limited series Little Fires Everywhere.
For more from Varietys conversation with Oh and Washington, read our full story here.
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Sandra Oh Reveals Why She Fought With Greys Anatomy Writers and Shonda Rhimes - Variety
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