Ellen Pompeo was welcomed back with open arms as she made her first appearance on the set of Grey’s Anatomy since confirmation of its 19th season was announced.
The actress will reprise her role as Dr. Meredith Grey for what is rumoured to be the final season of the long-running medical drama, which has enjoyed enormous commercial success following its launch in 2005.
Greeted by co-star Debbie Allen on Wednesday, Ellen, 52, looked delighted to be back at work as she relaxed off-camera with a takeaway coffee.
Here she is: Ellen Pompeo was welcomed back with open arms as she made her first appearance on the set of Grey’s Anatomy since confirmation of its 19th season was announced
The actress previously admitted financial security had been a major factor in her staying with the show as one of its longest-serving cast-members.
She told the Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast: ‘You know, I made choices to stay on the show.
‘For me, personally, a healthy home life was more important than career. I didn’t grow up with a particularly happy childhood.
‘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.’
Upbeat: Greeted by colleagues on Wednesday, Ellen, 52, looked delighted to be back at work as she relaxed off-camera with a takeaway coffee
She added: ‘And so I made a decision to make money, and not chase creative acting roles, 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.’
Ellen is married to 55-year-old musician Chris Ivery and the couple has three children, daughter Stella, 12, daughter Sienna, seven, and son Eli, five.
Starring role: The actress will reprise her role as Dr. Meredith Grey for what is rumoured to be the final season of the long-running medical drama
It was revealed in 2018 that she had negotiated a salary of $20 million per year, making her one of the highest paid actresses on TV.
She also earns an undisclosed sum for producing the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, Station 19.
In December Ellen told Insider she has ‘been trying to focus on convincing everybody that [the show] should end.’
Security: The actress (left, with co-star Sarah Drew) previously admitted financial security had been a major factor in her staying with the show as one of its longest-serving cast-members
The actress claimed she’s often focused on the creative possibilities for the series, whereas others focus on its commercial success.
‘I feel like I’m the super naive one who keeps saying, “But what’s the story going to be, what story are we going to tell?”’ she said. ‘
And everyone’s like, “Who cares, Ellen? It makes a gazillion dollars.”‘
