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Ellen Pompeo may be best known as the legendary Meredith Grey, but for her kids, the ultimate mom flex was starring in Taylor Swift’s star-studded “Bad Blood” music video.
During her recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Pompeo opened up about how her brief cameo in Swift’s 2015 girl-power anthem made her a household hero at home. “Taylor is such a good girl,” she said. “I didn’t know her and she invited me to be in the video, and I thought, ‘Oh, that will be fun.’ Honestly, it was the easiest thing. It was like an hour or two.” Just like that, cool-mom status: unlocked.
The video—which featured a who’s who of Hollywood and fashion icons like Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, and Mariska Hargitay—has become one of Swift’s most iconic visuals. And fun fact: Taylor has been a Grey’s Anatomy superfan for years, even naming her cat Meredith Grey after Pompeo’s character.
But the story gets even sweeter. Pompeo shared that during the video shoot, she made one heartfelt request of Taylor—one that had nothing to do with fame or screen time. At the time, Ellen and her husband Chris Ivery were deeply involved with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, particularly a special program that creates custom music and audio recordings for premature babies in the NICU.
“It helps the babies respond better when they hear familiar voices,” she explained. “Working parents can record lullabies or nursery rhymes, and it really improves outcomes.”
When the program needed funding, Pompeo didn’t hesitate to shoot her shot. “I asked Taylor, ‘Could you write me a big old check for Children’s?’ and she knew me all but 20 minutes,” Pompeo recalled. “That girl wrote me the biggest check without blinking an eye.”
Swift’s generosity left a lasting impact—not just on the hospital, but on Pompeo, who called the experience a testament to Swift’s character.
These days, Ellen Pompeo is starring in Hulu’s Good American Family, a gripping limited series inspired by the bizarre real-life case of Natalia Grace. The cast includes Mark Duplass, Christina Hendricks, Dulé Hill, and Sarayu Blue.
So whether she’s saving lives on screen, raising her kids, or teaming up with Taylor Swift for a good cause, Ellen Pompeo keeps proving she’s a total icon—with a heart to match.