Sandra Oh on battling 'internal racism' to embrace career success, tell Asian stories

If you ask Sandra Oh, Pixar's spotlight on the emotional tumult of a Chinese-Canadian girl's entry into puberty in 'Turning Red' is a turning point -- not just for Hollywood and its growing platform for underrepresented stories, but for her own career.

"I'm just so thrilled to be part of a Pixar family unit," a smiling Oh says in a recent video call from Toronto before attending the film's Canadian premiere.

Part of her happiness, Oh says, is that "Turning Red" is a sign of change, and that makes it a "point of celebration."

She plays Ming, the incredibly loving but equally overprotective mother of 13-year-old Mei.

For the Ottawa-born actress, it was imperative that Ming be culturally accurate, minus any whiff of stereotype. She was keen to veer away from the controlling Asian "tiger mom" persona.