Actress Ellen Pompeo has always been open about her experiences on Grey’s Anatomy, and now she’s dishing more details about Patrick Dempsey’s controversial departure from the long-running medical drama. In an unfiltered chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Ellen provided fresh insights into their off-screen relationship and how his exit ultimately played a role in her negotiating a bigger paycheck with ABC.
Ellen, now 48, revealed that Patrick’s decision to leave the show in 2015 marked a turning point in her contract negotiations. For years, network executives had used Patrick as leverage against her, subtly implying that they didn’t need her if they had him. “They could always use him as leverage against me—‘We don’t need you; we have Patrick’—and they did that for years,” Ellen said. “I don’t know if they also did that to him because honestly, he and I never discussed our deals.”
Why Didn’t They Team Up for Negotiations?
Ellen went on to explain that she had tried multiple times to team up with Patrick to negotiate better terms for both of them. However, he wasn’t interested in collaborating. “There were so many occasions where I reached out to him about joining forces, but he wasn’t into it,” she admitted. “At one point, I even asked for $5,000 more than him just on principle. After all, the show is called Grey’s Anatomy, and I’m Meredith Grey. But they wouldn’t budge. I could have walked away, but why didn’t I? It’s my show. I’m the star. I’m sure a lot of other actresses feel the same way—why should I leave a great role because of a guy? You know, it’s like, ‘I’m not letting some guy drive me out of my own house.’”
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Ellen and Patrick on Grey’s Anatomy. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Ellen Pompeo on Finding Her Voice
Ellen also opened up about how she felt when Patrick left the show. She recalled being on vacation in Sicily, trying to unwind after a long and sometimes tense working relationship, when the producers started bombarding her with questions about finding a new love interest for Meredith. “The ink wasn’t even dry on his exit papers, and they were already rushing in a replacement,” Ellen said. “I was just chilling with some rosé, decompressing from everything, and they’re calling me, asking, ‘What do you think of this guy?’ ‘What do you think of this guy?’ And they’re sending pictures. I was like, ‘Are you people out of your minds? Why do you feel the need to replace this person so quickly?’”
Ellen Pompeo's New Deal
Earlier this week, news broke that Ellen had inked a new deal with Grey’s Anatomy, securing a whopping $20 million per year—approximately $575,000 per episode—for Seasons 15 and 16. According to The Hollywood Reporter, her latest contract includes a seven-figure signing bonus, two full backend equity points on the series, and an estimated additional $6 million to $7 million. Plus, she’ll receive a producing fee and backend on the upcoming Grey’s Anatomy spinoff. Ellen’s production company, Calamity Jane, will also get office space at Disney’s Burbank lot. Talk about a win!
“I’m 48 now, and I’ve finally reached a place where I’m comfortable asking for what I deserve. That kind of confidence only comes with age,” Ellen said, reflecting on her new salary. “Sure, I’m not the most ‘relevant’ actress out there because I’ve been playing this character for 14 years. But here’s the thing: anyone can be good in seasons one and two. The real skill is being great 14 years later. That’s no small feat.”
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