After nearly two decades as Meredith Grey on the hit medical series Grey’s Anatomy, actress Ellen Pompeo has officially said goodbye to the role that made her name. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pompeo opened up about the difficult but necessary decision, and why she turned to more artistically oriented projects.
Pompeo said that her long tenure on Grey’s Anatomy has brought her significant stability, both financially and professionally. She doesn’t deny that this is the main reason why she has continued to stay with the show for so long. “I’m not really looking for recognition or awards. My priority is security – financially and professionally – and that’s why I’ve stuck with the show for so many years,” she said.
But as she reached a new stage in her career and life, Pompeo began to realize that she wanted to challenge herself with new roles—and, more importantly, be taken seriously by the industry. She openly admitted that the opportunity to be nominated for prestigious awards usually comes in the early seasons of a long-running TV series, and that time has passed for her.
“If I had been chasing professional recognition, I probably wouldn’t have stayed on Grey’s for as long as I have,” Pompeo shared. “But now, as I start a new chapter, that recognition can be a necessary stepping stone for me.”
She also added that after more than 500 episodes, she knows that she needs to prove her ability in roles other than Meredith Grey. “I haven’t shown anyone that I can do anything else. If I were to try something different and get some recognition – even an Emmy nomination – maybe I would give myself a little pat on the back. I’m not good at it, but I think after all these years, I deserve a little trophy.”
The decision to leave Grey’s Anatomy is not only the end of a long journey, but also an opening for Ellen Pompeo to step into more challenging roles, with the goal not only of stability, but also of affirming her personal artistic value – something she is ready to face in the next phase of her career.
