Ellen Pompeo is The face of Grey’s Anatomy for 20 years now. When the actress, who had previously only had to book small supporting roles in other series and films, became more unknown at the time, Pompeo became a mega star through the hospital series from season to season.
Two years ago, she made the decision to step back from Meredith Gray to devote herself to other projects. Now Pompeo revealed more detailed what was really behind the decision.
Ellen Pompeo could “no longer do” Grey’s Anatomy
Pompeo explained in the podcast call her daddy (via variety) that she felt increasingly narrowed from her work at Grey’s Anatomy:
I didn’t know what I would do. I only knew that I couldn’t do Grey’s Anatomy anymore. It came to the point where I felt like an animal in the zoo. I am a large fan. I thought that if there was something for which I am definitely, it will find me. But I know that I have to leave this.
During the conversation, Pompeo tied to many different topics that affect the popular hospital series. Among other things, she spoke about the imbalance in the payment between her and her long-time co-star Patrick Dempsey, who left Grey’s Anatomy after season 11:
To be fair, things went differently on television at the time. [Patrick Dempsey] Had 13 pilot episodes beforehand. Nothing against him personally, only in general, only one man can have made 13 failed TV pilot sequences, and his value increases, right? But in all fairness, his value was what he was. At that time he was a larger star than me. Nobody knew who I was. Everyone knew who he was, so he made the money. I don’t say that he didn’t deserve it. It’s just As the title of the series, I would have deserved the same and that was more difficult to get.
In 2018 Pompeo became the best earning actress in a TV series with a fee of $ 20 million per season. In 2023, Pompeo resigned as the main actress of the series. Since then she continues to act as a narrator and was also seen in individual episodes of subsequent seasons. So she will also return in season 21 in individual episodes, which will start on Disney+ on April 28, 2025.
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Ellen Pompeo’s first series after Grey’s Anatomy comes to Disney+
Pompeo’s first big project since Grey’s Anatomy is the Good American Family series, which celebrated its premiere on March 19, 2025 in the USA on the Streamer Hulu. In the True Crime series, Pompeo slips into the role of Kristine, who fulfills the desire to have children with adoption with her husband. But the two of them soon begin to suspect that in little Natalia there could be an adult woman who only pretends to be a child.
The first two episodes of Good American Family are in this country on May 7, 2025 on Disney+ be seen. This is followed by an episode every week.