Basic Information:
Name: Sandra Miju Oh
Date of Birth: July 20, 1971
Nationality: Canadian-American
Profession: Actress, Producer
Social Media Links:
Instagram: @iamsandraohinsta
X: @IamSandraOh
Spouse: Alexander Payne (m. 2003–2006)
Biography:
Sandra Miju Oh is a highly acclaimed Canadian-American actress and producer, renowned for her versatile performances and her advocacy for diversity in the entertainment industry. Born on July 20, 1971, in Nepean, Ontario, Canada, to Korean immigrant parents, Oh Young-nam, a biochemist, and Oh Jun-su (John), a businessman, Oh discovered her passion for acting around the age of eight after seeing a production of Annie at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. This experience sparked her transformation into a "merciless" theatre kid. She immersed herself in school productions, improv, and drama club activities, finding her "tribe" early on, and participated in the Canadian Improv Games, showcasing her comedic talent. Although her traditional Korean parents were not initially supportive of her acting aspirations, this challenge proved to be character-building. After meeting collaborator Mina Shum in the early 1990s, she was cast in Double Happiness, a coming-of-age story that mirrored her own struggles between personal desires and family expectations. This film helped her parents accept her career path. Oh eventually moved to Los Angeles, where she achieved fame through roles in Sideways and Grey's Anatomy. Despite her success in Hollywood, she strongly identifies as Canadian, recognizing how the country's culture has shaped her. She has a fondness for Canadian independent films, recently starring in Can I Get a Witness? Oh's career is marked by her commitment to complex characters and diverse representation, solidifying her position as a leading figure in the industry.
Career Timeline:
Key Milestones:
1981: Began her acting career in the school play The Canada Goose.
1993: Starred in the CBC TV movie The Diary of Evelyn Lau, earning a Gemini Award nomination.