Sandra Oh
Sandra Oh, pictured here with actor Giacomo Gianniotti, has been nominated for a Golden Globes Best Actress award. She will also host the event in January 2019. (Photo: Wikimedia/Canadian Film Centre)

Two half-Asian Hollywood television stars earned an acting nomination at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Korean-Canadian actress Sandra Oh received a Drama Best Actress nomination for the BBC America spy series "Killing Eve," while Filipino-American Darren Criss was nominated as Best Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for the biographical drama "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story."

This is the second time that the Golden Globe Awards has recognized Oh's work. In 2005, the actress walked away with her first Golden Globe trophy for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Dr. Cristina Yang in the hit medical drama series "Grey's Anatomy." If the 47-year-old star wins again this year, she will be the first Asian star to win more than one honor in the history of the Golden Globes, according to IndieWire.

In "Killing Eve," Oh plays MI5 operative Eve Polastri who becomes consumed by her hunt for a psychotic female assassin named Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Phoebe Waller-Bridge created the critically-acclaimed series based on the books that Luke Jennings wrote.

In the original story, Oh's character was described as Caucasian. But Waller-Bridge specifically wanted the half-Asian star to lead the TV adaptation because of her caliber as an actress.

But Oh will be up against equally talented actresses for the Best Actress plum in the tough drama series category at the Golden Globe Awards. Also nominated  are Julia Roberts for "Homecoming," Keri Russell for "The Americans," Elisabeth Moss for "The Handmaid's Tale" and Caitriona Balfe for "Outlander."

There's also another reason for Oh to look forward to attending the upcoming awards ceremony. The Golden Globe has tasked the actress to host the event, alongside "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" lead star Andy Samberg. According to Variety, Oh and Samberg were chosen to work together because of the chemistry they exuded when they got up on stage during the Primetime Emmy Awards last September.

Meanwhile, it's a first Golden Globe nomination for 31-year-old Criss, who was nominated for his role as the serial killer Andrew Cunanan. Though his acting resume is extensive, Criss has only recently come under the radar of critics because of his performance in the "Versace" series.

If Criss wins the Best Actor trophy for his category, he will also make history as one of the youngest winners. Typically, previous winners for the TV Movie or Limited Series acting plum are a lot more seasoned and experienced.

Criss will be competing for the acting trophy against Hugh Grant for "A Very English Scandal," Benedict Cumberbatch for "Patrick Melrose," Antonio Banderas for "Genius: Picasso" and Daniel Bruhl for "The Alienist."

The 76th Golden Globe Awards will air on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. on NBC.