Killing Eve's Sandra Oh: Why was she at the Queen's funeral?

19 September 2022

Sandra Oh in procession in Westminster Abbey at Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral

By Indrani Basu

BBC News

Among the familiar faces from around the world at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was actress Sandra Oh.

Best-known for her roles in Killing Eve and Grey's Anatomy, Oh was dressed in black with a Canadian badge pinned in front.

The Canadian-American actress, 51, was appointed to the Order of Canada as an Officer in June this year.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Patrick Vallance were also among those at the service at Westminster Abbey.

Dame Kiri, the retired opera singer, was appointed to the Order of New Zealand in 1995, and British physician Sir Patrick, who has been the UK government's chief scientific adviser since 2018, attended as a member of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Some fans have taken to Twitter to express their surprise at Oh's appearance.

"Was it just me or did I really see Sandra Oh at the Queen's funeral?" asked one.

Oh was made an Officer - the second-highest civilian honour in Canada - for her "artistic career filled with memorable stage, television and film roles in Canada and abroad".

It was created in 1967 by the Queen, to honour people "whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities".

The actress was part of a procession of the holders of the Victoria Cross, the George Cross and the Orders of Chivalry, along with other Officers of the Commonwealth nominated to take part in the service.

Other members of the Canadian delegation included Olympic swimming champion Mark Tewksbury and musician Gregory Charles. The delegation was led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

Governor General Mary Simon, who appointed Oh to the Order of Canada, was also in attendance.

Oh was born in Canada to South Korean immigrant parents. For a decade, she played Dr Cristina Yang in the medical series Grey's Anatomy, for which she won various awards, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy.

Sandra Oh was appointed to the Order of Canada as an Officer in June this year. — Image caption,
Sandra Oh was appointed to the Order of Canada as an Officer in June this year

More recently, she starred alongside Jodie Comer in the enormously popular TV series Killing Eve. She made history in 2018 when she became the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for an Emmy as a lead actress in a drama series.

In her decades-long career, she has won two Golden Globes, four Screen Actors Guild awards and been nominated for 13 Primetime Emmys. In 2019, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.

Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and representatives of regiments of the Canadian Armed Forces joined personnel from other Commonwealth countries for the service on Monday.

Canada is marking the Queen's funeral with a national day of mourning and a national commemorative ceremony held at Christ Church Cathedral, the Anglican cathedral in Ottawa.

Art historian Neil MacGregor, who is the former director of the National Gallery and the British Museum, was at the Queen's funeral as well. — Image caption,
Art historian Neil MacGregor, former director of the National Gallery and the British Museum, was at the Queen's funeral

Art historian Neil MacGregor, the former director of the National Gallery and the British Museum, was there because of the Order of Merit, for which he was appointed in 2010.

Peep Show actress Sophie Winkleman, who is married to Lord Frederick Windsor, son of the Queen's cousin Prince Michael of Kent, and adventurer and television star Bear Grylls, representing the Scout Association as chief scout, were also there.

After the Queen's passing, Mr Grylls shared a lengthy tribute. "I will miss her quiet leadership, her values and integrity, and her wonderful sense of humour," he wrote. "Her smile would light up the room."

Also in attendance was Zara Tindall, the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips. She was with her husband Mike, the former England rugby union international. They were among 2,000 people who attended the Queen's funeral.