| Cristina Yang | |
|---|---|
| Grey's Anatomy character | |
 The season nine promotional image of Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang | |
| First appearance | "A Hard Day's Night" (1.01) March 27, 2005 |
| Last appearance | "Fear (of the Unknown)" (10.24) May 15, 2014 (as series regular) "She's Leaving Home" (11.22) April 30, 2015 (body double) |
| Created by | Shonda Rhimes |
| Portrayed by | Sandra Oh |
| In-universe information | |
| Title | M.D. Ph.D. |
| Occupation | Chief Medical Officer Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery Attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon Board Director at Grey Sloan (9-10) Cardiothoracic Surgical Fellow at Grey Sloan (9-10) Cardiothoracic Surgical Fellow at Mayo Clinic (9) Surgical resident (4–8) Surgical intern (1–3) |
| Family | Mr Yang (father, deceased) Helen Rubenstein (mother) Saul Rubenstein (step-father) Zola Shepherd (goddaughter) Sofia Robbin Sloan Torres (goddaughter) |
| Spouse | |
| Significant other | Preston Burke (ex-fiancé) Colin Marlow (ex-boyfriend) Jackson Avery (kisses) Shane Ross (ex-boyfriend) |
| Children | Miscarriage (with Burke) Abortion (with Owen) |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Alma mater | Smith College(BS) University of California, Berkeley(PhD) Stanford University(MD) |
Cristina Yang, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, which has aired for 20 seasons on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. The character was created by series producer Shonda Rhimes and is portrayed by actress Sandra Oh. Cristina was introduced as a surgical intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, and over the course of the series, she rose to become a cardiothoracic surgical fellow. Her relationships with fellow doctors Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) and George O'Malley (T. R. Knight) were central to the show's early seasons.
Cristina became engaged to Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington), a cardiothoracic surgeon, but the relationship ended on the day of their wedding. Cristina also had a past romantic relationship with renowned surgeon and mentor Colin Marlowe (Roger Rees), and later married but eventually divorced trauma surgeon Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd).
Interestingly, Oh originally auditioned for the role of Miranda Bailey, but the part ultimately went to Chandra Wilson. Oh's portrayal of Cristina Yang earned her widespread critical acclaim, with Mark Perigard of the Boston Herald highlighting Cristina's friendship with Meredith as "the secret-core of Grey's Anatomy". Oh’s performance garnered her numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006. She also received five consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series from 2005 to 2009.
Cristina was characterized by ABC as competitive, ambitious, and highly intelligent, with her main flaw being her aggressive and tactless attitude. In May 2012, E! Online reported that Oh had signed on for two more years, alongside her fellow cast members. However, she ultimately left the show after Season 10, with her character being written out of the main storyline. Cristina's departure marked a significant moment in Grey's Anatomy, as she had been one of the central characters from the inception of the series. Her exit, though bittersweet, was written in a way that honored her character's ambition and professional dedication, leaving her to continue her career in Zurich as the head of a prestigious cardiothoracic department.[1][2][3][4]
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (13 August 2013). "Grey's Anatomy Shocker: Sandra Oh Leaving After 10 Years -- 'I Am Ready to Let Cristina Go'". tvline.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ Cheeda, Saim (2020-03-09). "Grey's Anatomy: 10 Best Character Exits, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ Clarendon, Dan (2020-06-11). "15 'Grey's Anatomy' Exits Ranked From Most to Least Climactic (PHOTOS)". TV Insider. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ Mason, Charlie (2024-06-19). "As Grey's Anatomy Braces for a Mass Exodus, a Look Back at How the Series Has Handled Past Exits". TVLine. Retrieved 2024-09-06.