'Grey’s Anatomy' Star Sandra Oh Gives Fans a Definitive Answer About Cristina Returning
Season 17 of Grey’s Anatomy pulled at everyone’s heartstrings with the return of several beloved characters. The medical drama shocked fans with unforeseen appearances by Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), George O’ Malley (T.R. Knight), Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) and April Kepner (Sarah Drew). Though folks wondered if Sandra Oh’s character, Cristina Yang, could possibly be next, the season 17 finale didn’t fulfill these wishes. Instead, we saw Cristina check in with a few quick text messages.
That said, many are still clinging to the hope that we’ll get to see Sandra’s character again. As Grey’s fandom may remember, Cristina danced it out one last time with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) before leaving Grey Sloan Memorial behind in the season 10 finale. Ahead of her last season, Sandra opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about how she felt closing this acting chapter of her life.
“Creatively, I really feel like I gave it my all, and I feel ready to let her go,” Sandra told the outlet in 2013. “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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The decision didn’t come easy for her, though. Sandra admitted that she began thinking about departing from the show in May 2012 when some of the original cast members were finalizing their new two-year deals. After reportedly going to therapy to fully explore the decision of leaving and then giving herself “two years to emotionally let go,” she ultimately walked away.
But will Sandra Oh ever come back to Grey’s Anatomy?
Since saying goodbye to viewers in 2014, the 49-year-old actress has continuously mentioned timing as a major factor in reprising her role as Cristina. Speaking with Access Hollywood Live in 2017, Sandra said, “At this point … No, I don’t think so. I just don’t know. It would have to feel right.”
