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Ellen Pompeo Re-Ups For ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ Says She Would Have Left If She Were Younger

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 21:58 PST, Jul 26, 2016

Fans are thrilled that Ellen Pompeo will be back for at least one more season of Grey’s Anatomy as the title character, Meredith Grey, but Pompeo is admitting that it would be tempting to leave if she were younger, and if the entertainment industry didn’t suffer from so much ageism. In the last year, Patrick Dempsey and now Sara Ramirez departed from Grey’s Anatomy, so with her contract expiring, it was totally possible that after so many years, Ellen Pompeo could make her exit. But Pompeo renegotiated for one more year at a record $300k per episode, so for now, Ellen Pompeo and Meredith Grey will return to Grey’s Anatomy.

According to The Inquisitr, even though Sandra Oh had left Grey’s Anatomy after playing Dr. Cristina Yang for years, she has said she would be willing to return to tie up loose ends. Sandra Oh admits that she loved her time on Grey’s Anatomy, but it was time to move on and do new and different work. Oh says she will always be grateful to Shonda Rhimes for leaving the door open so that she could come back to the series.

Page Six quoted Ellen Pompeo when she spoke of her years on Grey’s Anatomy, and ageism.

“My decision to stay was based solely on age. If I’d been younger, I probably would have… gone out to search for other things.” Ellen Pompeo just signed a record deal for $300k per episode to stay on Grey’s Anatomy for another year, so she believes it is for the best to stay put, as there is likely nothing else out there that would pay as well, and that she enjoys so much.

“Why would I leave something that is super successful and pays me great?… I am very happy that I made the decision to stay. It’s only gotten better with time.”

People Magazine reported that Ellen Pompeo claims that she was wise enough to know, even at age 33 when she started on Grey’s Anatomy, that in Hollywood, her clock was already ticking. Pompeo explains that in Hollywood years, she got a late start which has molded her decisions ever since.

“My decision to stay on Grey’s was based solely on age. At 33, I was wise enough to know my clock was already ticking in Hollywood.”

Pompeo explains that it is true that roles for women in their twenties are far more varied and plentiful than for those in their forties and fifties, and she is very aware of that, and it makes her appreciate her role of a lifetime of Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy even more.

“I probably would have done my time, then gone out to search for other things.” But as contract her contract renegotiations loomed she “was definitely aware of how challenging it would be to find other roles in my late 30s and early 40s.”

The one hang-up Pompeo says that she has after so many years on Grey’s Anatomy was that she has gotten to see herself get older on screen.

“Watching myself age on TV is miserable. To be honest, it’s the toughest part of my job.”

But this is one more reason that Ellen Pompeo was excited to team up with Philosophy, the skin care company, to change the way women and girls feel about aging and beauty. Pompeo and Philosophy would like to put aside many of the stereotypes about aging and move forward gracefully.

“I was flattered to join the campaign because it speaks to stereotypes I feel strongly about. As a woman you’re not over or on the decline after having children or after 40. It all just gets better!”

Fans can look forward to at least one more season of Grey’s Anatomy with Meredith Grey at the helm.

Are you excited that Ellen Pompeo will be coming back for one more season of Grey’s Anatomy?

[Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images]

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