Ellen Pompeo Reveals Why She Really Hasn’t Left Grey’s Anatomy (2025)

“To me, it doesn’t make any sense that everybody [else] gets to profit off of my hard work,” she continued. “And emotionally, the show means a lot to people. I want to have an attitude of gratitude toward the show.”

And she’s not the only original star who is compelled to stay in the Shonda Rhimes-led series. Her costar Chandra Wilson(who has played Miranda Bailey since the show’s 2005 premiere) expressed a similar mindset in April 2023, telling People that she’s challenging herself to be involved in the show until its “very last episode.”

Though devoted to the series, Ellen has slightly slowed her connection to Grey’s Anatomy over the years. She’s appeared in fewer episodes in the shows 20th and ongoing 21st season, in favor of focusing on her executive producer duties and other works at the time.

That shift also includes her latest major role in Hulu’s Good American Family, a project that made her “test” her acting abilities again.

“I’ve been playing the same role for 20 years, I had no reason to believe that I could do anything else,” Ellen explained to El Pais of the new show, which is inspired by thereal life case ofNatalia Grace. “I can’t expect my audience to believe me as anything else. If I’m going to ask them to watch me as a new character, then I’d better deliver on all fronts.”

As for her extended time as a fictional surgeon, she isn’t the only Grey Sloan doctor that’s limited their time from the show. Keep reading to see other actors who’ve moved beyond the Grey’s Anatomy universe…