Primetime TV heavyweight Ellen Pompeo has finally opened up about her plans for the future once she leaves hit drama Grey’s Anatomy. For the past 19 years, Pompeo has portrayed lead character Meredith Grey in the ABC medical drama, a role that has scored her numerous personal accolades and awards over the years, including a Satellite Award win, and a Golden Globe Award nomination. For her role in the popular show, Pompeo was listed as the third-highest paid actress on television in 2018, with estimated earnings of more than $23.5 million. Additionally, the 51-year-old has appeared in the 2003 movies Old School and Daredevil, as well as guest starring in an episode of Friends.
With Grey’s Anatomy season 19 currently airing, there are no clear signs whether the show may continue past this point. Having been on the air since 2005, the show has become a juggernaut for ABC, and, in 2019, it surpassed fellow medical drama ER to become the longest-running medical drama in television history. Receiving acclaim for its rich storytelling, racially diverse casting, and tackling of important themes, Grey’s Anatomy has become something of a cultural phenomenon, scooping 4 Emmys, 3 Golden Globes, and 16 NAACP Image Awards, as well as spawning two spin-offs, Private Practice and Station 19.
Star Pompeo’s contract is set to finish at the end of the current season, and it remains unclear whether or not the Massachusetts native would want to extend it beyond this season again. In an interview with Dax Holt of Audacy (via Deadline), the actress has said that it is unlikely that she would go into a movie career, and would instead stick to TV, with a particular interest in streaming projects. Read some of her comments below:
“Before, being on a network for so long, you’d literally be doomed. That definitely is not the case anymore so I probably wouldn’t do movies per se, but I probably will do some streaming television. I’m just trying to play in some different areas and do a few new things but I’m sure I’ll act again.”
Known for being a perfectionist, Pompeo once argued with director Denzel Washington on the set of Grey’s Anatomy, and is obviously not afraid to speak her mind creatively. As a woman with a lot of acting experience, as well as trying her hand at directing and producing, there are bound to be many people keen to work with her, and multiple projects she would be interested in. Her 16 straight years on primetime television could account for her reluctance to branch into movies, especially with streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video allowing for so much choice for TV actors now.
It is clear that the legacy left by Grey’s Anatomy when it does finally end will be a big one, and how well cast members fare after the show will likely vary. For Pompeo, walking away from a hugely successful hit show is always going to be a huge risk, but with the experience she has, it should be only a matter of time before she lands on her feet. With big character returns hinting Grey’s Anatomy season 19 could be its last, Pompeo will likely have thought about the next direction her career is going to take.