Enduring Commitment to Grey’s Anatomy

Since the premiere of Grey’s Anatomy in 2005, Ellen Pompeo has been synonymous with the role of Meredith Grey. Although her screen time has diminished in recent seasons, she remains committed to the long-running series. In a recent interview, Pompeo expressed her reasoning for staying involved with the show.

“That would make no sense, emotionally or financially. The show was streamed more than a billion times in 2024. More than a billion times,” Pompeo stated in a conversation with El País. This statistic underscores the show’s extensive reach and financial success.

She elaborated on her financial motivations, noting, “If I were to walk away completely, everybody gets to make money from my hard work for 20 years and I wouldn’t make any money. To me, it doesn’t make any sense that everybody gets to profit off of my hard work. And emotionally, the show means a lot to people. I want to have an attitude of gratitude toward the show.”

The Legacy of Grey’s Anatomy

Created by Shonda Rhimes and Michelle Lirtzman, Grey’s Anatomy has aired 444 episodes as of April 10 and is currently in its 21st season. The series has seen numerous cast changes over its long history, but notable former actors include Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson, and Kevin McKidd, among others.

Exploring New Roles

Alongside her steadfast relationship with Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo has taken on new challenges. She recently discussed her involvement in the Hulu limited series Good American Family, stating, “Well, this is a limited series, so I won’t appear as this character again. I was just looking for something that was very different from Meredith Grey, and this offer presented itself.” This venture represents her desire to diversify her acting portfolio and explore new characters.