Sandra Oh (‘Quiz Lady,’ ‘The Sympathizer’) set to join elite group of double Emmy nominees
In 2019, Sandra Oh simultaneously received her seventh and eighth acting Emmy nominations for “Killing Eve” (drama lead) and “Saturday Night Live” (comedy guest). Five years later, her performance bid total is set to reach an even dozen thanks to her respective lead and supporting performances in the telefilm “Quiz Lady” and the limited series “The Sympathizer.” Earning TV academy recognition for these two roles would make her the eighth woman to compete for both possible limited program acting awards at once.
In “Quiz Lady,” which premiered on Hulu last November, Oh plays Jenny Yum, a vivacious yet reckless woman who reunites with her estranged younger sister (Awkwafina) to resolve their mother’s gambling debts. “The Sympathizer,” which began airing on HBO in April, features her in the role of Sofia Mori, a 1970s Japanese American secretary who becomes entangled with a communist spy (Hoa Xuande).
Prior to amassing her four acting bids for “Killing Eve” (2018-2020, 2022) and one for “Saturday Night Live,” Oh racked up five consecutive supporting notices for the drama series “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-2009). As she now seeks two more shots at winning her first Emmy, she is poised to make history as the first Asian performer ever concurrently nominated for multiple non-continuing program awards.
The female precedent for competing for both TV movie or limited series acting Emmys at once was set by Vanessa Redgrave (lead: “Second Serve”; supporting: “Peter the Great”) in 1986. She was then followed by Anne Bancroft (“Mrs. Cage”; “Broadway Bound”) in 1992, Angelina Jolie (“Gia”; “George Wallace”) in 1998, Holly Hunter (“When Billie Beat Bobby”; “Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her”) in 2001, and Helen Mirren (“The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone”; “Door to Door”) in 2003.
The two most recent additions to this roster are also the only ones who managed to triumph on their dual outings. The first was Sarah Paulson, who won the 2016 lead award for “American Crime Story” but lost on her featured bid for “American Horror Story.” Then came Patricia Arquette, who conversely took the 2019 supporting prize for “The Act” but came up short on her lead nomination for “Escape at Dannemora.”
Not counting voice work, Oh would be the 13th actress to score dual (or triple) Emmy nominations at multiple points in her career. Those who joined this group during the 20th century are Cloris Leachman (1973-1976, 1984, 2005-2006), Sada Thompson (1976, 1978), Colleen Dewhurst (1989-1991), and Swoosie Kurtz (1990, 1994).
Since 2000, said club has grown to include Blythe Danner (2005-2006), Alfre Woodard (1987, 2006), Tina Fey (2009-2011), Melissa McCarthy (2012, 2014), Christine Baranski (2010, 2015), Allison Janney (2014-2016), Jean Smart (2001, 2021), and Harriet Walter (2022-2023).
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