Actor Sandra Oh has opened up about the possibility of her returning as Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy during a future episode. Oh debuted as Cristina in the show’s first episode, continually being a major character throughout her time on the series. She eventually left the series at the end of season 10, after she accepts a job as head of a new hospital in Zürich, Switzerland. This gave Cristina a proper ending as she said goodbye to her fellow doctors.
Speaking with ET, Oh addressed how likely it would be for her to come back as Cristina in any upcoming episodes of the show, such as Grey’s Anatomy season 21. The star said that, while she’s grateful viewers want to see more of her on the series after all this time, she’s satisfied with how her story ended and doesn’t have plans to continue it. Check out what Oh had to say below:
I love that I love that people are still [fans]. I love that you asked me that, because Cristina Yang is, of course, near and dear to my heart. [But] I will say, not anytime soon, my love. I hope people feel like I did my job, which is that I brought to life a character and she had a growth over 10 seasons, and that it was true. She was ready to move on, and so have I.
Why Sandra Oh’s Cristina Probably Won’t Come Back To Grey’s Anatomy
Cristina’s storyline in the series by becoming head of a hospital in Switzerland, reflects how driven and career-oriented she is while giving her a proper sendoff. While Oh herself hasn’t returned as the doctor since departing, she was last seen portrayed by a body double at Derek’s funeral in season 11. Season 16 also features text messages she sends to Meredith, leading to her meeting Cormac Hayes, who becomes a major character in the series for a few seasons.
Despite how much the character has continued to have a presence in the series, Oh’s answer about not coming back signals her story arc will not continue. Cristina’s storyline ended in a satisfactory place, as her new job means she can now pursue the medical career she wants. Her happy ending is coupled with the actor taking on a variety of exciting new roles, like appearing in the positively-received The Sympathizer. Because she’s spent the last decade taking on roles beyond the medical franchise, her return seems unlikely to happen soon.
It’s still possible Cristina could make a guest appearance in a later episode, with Oh briefly reprising her role despite the character’s story being over. However, the chances of her coming back appear slim, even if she were to show up one last time at some point so viewers can learn what her life has been like since leaving the hospital. Although it seems her time on the show is permanently over, her contribution to Grey’s Anatomy allowed for a stellar character to help define the drama’s first decade.