‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Ellen Pompeo Won’t Quit Anytime Soon – ‘I Don’t Want To Walk Away From The Golden Goose’

Thirteen years after the first season of Grey’s Anatomy aired, many are wondering if lead actress Ellen Pompeo will soon leave to explore other opportunities. The 46-year-old considers herself blessed because the medical drama remains a success despite its lengthy run. She tells the Hollywood Reporter that as long as the people’s love for the show reflects on their ratings, she won’t walk away.

“As long as the show’s a success — I mean, it’s so fun! It’s such rarified air. To have a show on the air for this long and have it be this successful and have it be driving a whole night of television and be the network’s No. 1 show — I’m super grateful. And I don’t want to take that for granted, and I don’t want to walk away from the golden goose. I want to put a leash around it and take it everywhere with me.”

For the past 13 seasons, some cast members have gone and moved on. Pompeo admits that they do get sad at times about this.

“It’s strange because when we’ve lost people from the show, you feel sad and you feel like, ‘Is it going to be the same? Is it going to be more fun?’ But in a funny way, the evolution really helps us continue. And we’re finding our way. The writers are doing a great job. I don’t know what it is, but we’re having a great time.”

Patrick Dempsey used to be a lead character of Grey’s Anatomy. Fans loved his character Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd. It’s been a year since the 50-year-old left the show but he remains thankful because it had been a great platform for his career. He lauded creator Shonda Rimes for her talent in producing iconic characters.

Dempsey said that while the paycheck and the security that came with the work were enticing, he just felt the need to move on. Now that he is free from the hectic filming schedule, he says he has more time to reflect on his life choices.

Derek died in Season 11 which naturally left Meredith devastated. Since then, she has been trying to rebuild her life and be a great mother to their young children. At the end of Season 12, Meredith has stepped into the dating avenue again.

Nonetheless, even if it seems that Meredith will be in a love triangle with Riggs and her half-sister Maggie, viewers shouldn’t anticipate catfight because Rhimes doesn’t find a show interesting if it’s “about a guy coming between two women.”

Grey’s Anatomy Season 13 will then focus on Meredith, Alex, Bailey, and Richard – some of the original cast members of the series. Justin Chambers, who plays the role of Alex, recognizes that Meredith is the show’s “nucleus” but it’s “pretty amazing” that Grey’s Anatomy still has the four originals. Rumors have previously emerged that it might be the last season for the show. Some have also speculated that Meredith could die in the finale.

Rhimes appreciates the advantage of working with people for so long. She describes them as family members which makes it easier to ask if they are still on board for the succeeding seasons.

She told Entertainment Weekly that she no longer needs to cross her fingers and hold her breath because she knows “where everybody’s head is at.” Rhimes explains that it is ordinary for them to have conversations about what they want to do and how long they want to do such things. “It’s because everybody is so mature, and we’ve all had this relationship for so long,” she gushed.

Grey’s Anatomy airs every Thursday on ABC.

[Featured Image by Mark Davis/Getty Images]