“You’ve got to go do it yourself”: Sandra Oh opens up about her childhood and the impact of her working parents
-
Sandra Oh opens up about her childhood and the impact of her working parentsIn a recent interview with The New York Times Sandra Oh gave us a close look into her early life. She talked about what it was like to grow up where both her mom and dad worked all the time. She didn't see her childhood as hard or as a far-off memory.
Instead, Sandra Oh talked simply about how her family worked and lived. She shared stories about everyday life, how she learned to stand on her own at a very early age, and how her parents' hard work shaped her own way as an actor. By going back to these early days Sandra Oh showed us what life is often like for kids in working-class, immigrant families.
How Sandra Oh's immigrant upbringing shaped her drive and mindset
When Sandra Oh was asked how her mom and dad made her aim high as a kid; she thought about what it was like to be from another place. She was raised in Canada with a mom who worked as a biochemist and a dad who ran his own shop. She said watching them work hard had a big effect on her.
She said that when you grow up in a family that came from another place, you see both what you can and can't have right from the start. You know what you can get, what you don't have and what you can't touch. She learned fast that nothing comes easy. She pointed out this makes you feel like you must act quickly: if you want something, you need to go get it yourself and not give up. She said,
"I think that's a part of when you grow up a child of immigrants. You see your parents work so hard. You know what you have, and you know what you don’t have. And then you can also see what you want in your life and realize that you cannot bother people for that. You've got to go do it yourself."
Sandra Oh revisits a childhood diary entry that reveals the roots of her emotional depth
Thinking back to a time when she was young, Sandra Oh looks at the first words she ever put down in a diary, a deep, raw look at her feelings as a kid. Right before sharing it, she said two small words: "Don't worry." These words show both their open heart and how much they know about themselves making it clear that what is coming might be very real and strong.
It’s more than just talking about old feelings; it links the person she was back then to the person she is today, showing how deep feelings have shaped them from the start. Then she started reading an excerpt from the diary:
"Sunday, the 3rd of October, 1982. Dear Ary — like diary — I hate myself. That’s all. Oh yeah, I also think I’ll commit suicide. Spelled S-U-C-I-C-I-D-E. Nothing is worth living for. I’m no good at anything. I’m never happy anymore. I try so hard but I never succeed. Spelled S-U-C-C-I-D-E. Mom and Dad always laugh at me when I try, I do stupid mistakes, Mom always yells at me. I have no self confidence. I don’t believe in myself. I can’t do anything. Someday I’ll run real far, so far that no one will ever find me. I have a lot of thoughts but I can’t write them all down. I hate myself."
How writing became Sandra Oh's quiet way to process emotions as a child
When asked if looking back at that part of her life brought any surprises, she reflected with a sense of knowing instead of shock. What was clear to her wasn't a lost memory or a sudden clear idea, but a fresh understanding of how much feeling she had held at such a young age and how naturally she had made room for it by writing. At 11, without planning to, she had found a secret way to deal with big emotions. Writing turned into her release, a place of calm control when a lot else seemed unsure.
It was not a fun thing in her house; her mom often asked about her non-stop writing, feeling that the words might be about her and not always keen to find out what she said. In her words:
"I just have so much compassion for that young person. I’m so pleased with myself that at 11, with so much feeling, I unconsciously found some place to regulate myself, which was writing. I remember my mom didn’t like it, because I would always be writing, and she knew it was about her. It was like, “What are you always writing?” That has just been a receptacle that started out as an unconscious place to feel safe but eventually helped me figure out who I am."
The need to express emotion through art was always in her. She didn't learn it; it was just there. From a young age, performing and dancing felt like a way to let things out. It wasn't just fun. It helped her cope. She began ballet at four. It gave her structure. But more than that it gave her a way to release feelings that were too big to hold inside.
Sandra said in the interview that she felt a strong pull inside, hard to control or say in words then. Moving turned into her way to speak when words couldn't help. Her mother saw this, not by changing or stopping it, but by letting it grow as it was. This gave her the room to be deeply emotional, not quieted or softened.
It let her see that making art was not just fun; it was needed. It wasn't about getting claps or being perfect; it was about living, about giving all that deep feeling somewhere to flow. What started as dances when she was a kid turned into a life of shaping feelings into form. She said,
"I think I knew it real young. I loved performing, and I loved dancing. I started ballet when I was 4, and I loved it. I just had so much feeling. It was very hard to manage. I really remember my mom with this. She would just let it all happen, just let it run its course. I think it was a natural thing that I found an avenue to be able to express that, because I just had so much of it inside."
Who is Sandra Oh?
Sandra Oh is a well-known actress with roots in both Canada and the U.S. She's made big marks in TV, movies and even in voice roles. Sandra first got known for her work in Canadian shows like Double Happiness and The Diary of Evelyn Lau. She then made a splash in the U.S. by playing Rita Wu on HBO's Arli$$.
It was her role as Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey's Anatomy that turned her into a big star bringing her many award nods and huge praise over ten years. With Killing Eve, where she plays Eve Polastri; she won a Golden Globe and got Emmy nods, breaking new ground.
Beyond real films, she has voiced big roles in drawn hits like Turning Red, Raya and the Last Dragon and Invincible.She also acted in works like Quiz Lady and The Sympathizer, where she helped off the set as a maker.
Keep reading PRIMETIMER for more informative content!
TOPICS: Sandra Oh