Celebrity

Ellen Pompeo Reveals Why She Stayed On ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ While Her Co-Stars Left

"I’d rather just see this as the blessing that it is"

Ellen Pompeo has opened up about the real reason she has decided to stay on Grey’s Anatomy, while her co-stars have all left the series.

The actress, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey on the show, spoke on the Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast regarding her decision.

“For me, personally, a healthy home life was more important than career. I didn’t grow up with a particularly happy childhood” she admitted.

“So the idea that I have this great husband and these three beautiful children [and] a happy home life was really something I needed to complete, to close the hole in my heart,” Pompeo revealed. “And so I made a decision to make money, and not chase creative acting roles.” Currently, Pompeo ranks as one of the highest-earning actresses on television.

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She continued: “I don’t like chasing anything ever, and acting to me, in my experience, was a lot of chasing. You’ve got to chase roles, you’ve got to beg for roles, you’ve got to convince people.”

“And although I produce and it’s the same kind of thing, I think I still do it from a place of, I’m never that thirsty because I’m financially set,” Pompeo concluded.

She also revealed that her age did help sway her decision to stay on the show. “If I started the show when I was younger, [like] 25, I probably would have dipped out when I was 31, 32, [when] my six-year contract was up, but my age had a lot to do with it,” she added.

Pompeo confirmed that she’s comfortable with her decision, concluding with: “I knew coming up on 40 [years old], it’s like, I don’t want to be out there chasing things, running after things, begging. I’d rather just see this as the blessing that it is.”

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