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Ellen Pompeo’s performance as Meredith Grey on the popular ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy became truly unforgettable. When the show first started, Meredith was introduced as a young, eager intern who wanted to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. She was curious and full of hope about her future in medicine.
As the series went on, Meredith grew into one of the most respected surgeons and researchers in the hospital. Throughout the show, she faced many challenges that doctors often experience, and she worked hard to become the top surgeon.
However, Ellen didn’t always have control over the decisions her character made. Over the years, her excitement about playing Meredith faded a little, but she always cared deeply about making sure the story was well told. At one point, she noticed the show changed — it moved away from focusing on the characters’ emotions and personal stories, and instead became more about dramatic events and complicated plots.
Ellen once shared that there was a storyline centered on Meredith that she really didn’t agree with, but she had to act it out because the writers insisted on it. She told Variety magazine that she strongly disagreed with a choice Meredith made in one episode.
In that story, Meredith finds out that another doctor (played by Lena Waithe) lied about her wife’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis so she could qualify for a liver transplant. Ellen felt her character’s reaction wasn’t true to how Meredith would really behave.
She said, “The Meredith Grey I created would have been mad that she lied, but then she’d be like, ‘Okay, let’s figure out how to work the system to get you that liver.’” But instead, Meredith reported the doctor’s lie to the authorities, which didn’t fit with the character she knew. Meredith was always someone who challenged the system, helped people by doing free surgeries, and did whatever it took to make a difference. So this choice felt out of place to Ellen.
Despite all this, Ellen Pompeo remains one of the most beloved characters on TV. In recognition of her impact, she will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 29 — a huge milestone in her career.
Even though it’s a big honor, Ellen said she feels a bit shy about the attention. She told Variety, “I find it a little embarrassing, but I also know it’s a huge honor, so I’m very thankful.”