Killing Eve star Sandra Oh says UK is 'behind' when it comes to diversity in TV

The UK is “behind” in terms of diversity in television according to Killing Eve star Sandra Oh, who has said she is often the only person of colour on the set of the hit show.

Canadian-born Oh, who is no stranger to the industry, said the UK-made assassin thriller is not as diverse as sets she has been on in the US.

The 48-year-old stars alongside Jodie Comer and Fiona Shaw in the show, with Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge taking on role head writer for the first series.

Read more: Jodie Comer planned to ditch Scouse accent but which actor persuaded her not to?

Grey’s Anatomy star Omade the comments while talking with Kerry Washington on Variety’s Actors On Actors series.

She said: “Being the sole Asian person is a very familiar place for me. But the UK, I’m not afraid to say, is behind.

“I am not only the only Asian person on set, sometimes it changes, very exciting when that does and someones comes on set, but the development of people behind the camera is very slow in the UK, I don’t know about the rest of Europe.

“Sometimes it would be me and 75 white people and I have not come from that.

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“I’ve not come from that in my film career which has been much more independent, mostly working with women and women of colour.

“And my relationship with television, and in the United States has not always been all white. Being the sole Asian person is a very familiar place for me.”

Oh’s comments come after British director Steve McQueen made a similar assessment about the film industry.

The Oscar-winner told the Guardian earlier this month: “The UK is so far behind in terms of representation, it’s shameful.

“Basically, if you want to examine race and class in this country, start by going in a film set.”