That Canadian Award

Over her 15-year acting career, Nepean, Ont.-born Sandra Oh has won her fair share of kudos, including several Geminis and a Golden Globe. But yesterday the actress said ACTRA's award of excellence – presented to her at the home of the Canadian consul-general in Los Angeles – ranks up there as one of the most special. Primarily because it originated from her home turf.

“Getting an award from Canada is always more private – and thoughtful for me,” says the actress, on the phone during a break from ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, where she plays nakedly ambitious doctor Cristina Yang. “It's completely different on so many levels. First, it's my union and the first one I ever joined. … And it's not about one performance, but a larger and continuing body of work,” adds the 37-year-old graduate of Montreal's National Theatre School who starred in HBO's Arli$$ and such films as Sideways.

“It will always be important to me to be recognized by my country. I'm Canadian!”

And she adds that she's always eager to return home to work, citing her most recent Canadian film, Defendor, shot in Hamilton and co-starring Woody Harrelson and Kat Dennings.

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