Sandra Oh Reveals "I Think My Whole Body Was Very, Very Sick" While Filming "Grey's Anatomy"

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Sandra Oh starred on the ABC show Grey's Anatomy for 10 seasons, from 2005 to 2014, but the sudden rise to fame took a heavy toll on her health.

Sandra Oh posing for a photo
Charley Gallay / Getty Images for Netflix

She recently sat for an Actors on Actors Variety interview with Jung Ho-yeon of Squid Game where they talked about how their health took a hit due to the sudden popularity of the roles they played.

Jung Ho-yeon and Sandra Oh sitting across from each other
Variety / Via youtube.com

Ho-yeon revealed that she got physically sick and Sandra said she suffered from body aches and insomnia because of the stress.

Jung Ho-yeon and Sandra Oh
Netflix/ Richard Cartwright / ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

"When ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ came, I think my life changed very much. It’s tricky to imagine, because this is almost 20 years ago. So the context is very different."

Sandra Oh and Patrick Dempsey
Karen Neal / ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

"But the stress is the same, or the confusion is the same…when people are in extremely amazing, privileged, heavy responsibility positions like this. Your personal health is, I think I realized, came first."

Sandra Oh and the cast of Grey's Anatomy
Vivian Zink / © ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

She explained, "Honestly, I got sick. I think my whole body was very, very sick. Even though you keep on working, but it’s just like, ‘Oh, I can’t sleep. Oh, my back hurts, I don’t know what’s wrong with my skin.'"

sandra oh in Greys anatomy sitting on the couch with a blanket with ellen pompeo
Ron Tom / ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

"I learned that I had to take care of my health first,” Oh said. “But that’s not only your body. That is your soul. That is definitely your mind. So even those things like doubt, question."

Sandra Oh and Ellen Pompeo
Kelsey McNeal / ABC / courtesy Everett Collection

"‘Cause you can’t, ultimately, depend on anyone else. You have to somehow find it within yourself. You ask people’s opinions, yes of course, but ultimately, we are alone with ourselves...The ability to be present is a part of our job."

Kevin McKidd, Sandra Oh, Jessica Capshaw
Danny Feld / ABC / courtesy Everett Collection

Watch the full interview here.