Ellen Pompeo says she stayed on Grey’s Anatomy ‘to make money’

Pompeo has played Dr Meredith Grey for 16 seasons

Ellen Pompeo says her salary is the main reason she has remained on Grey’s Anatomy.

The actor spoke to journalist Jemele Hill in the latest episode of Hill’s podcast, Jemele Hill Is Unbothered.

Pompeo has portrayed Dr Meredith Grey on the ABC show for 16 seasons, starting in 2005.

She told Hill that over the years, she made a deliberate choice to prioritise financial stability and, by extension, her home life, over chasing more “creative” opportunities.

“For me, personally, a healthy home life was so important to me – more important than a career,” Pompeo said.

“I didn’t grow up with a particularly happy childhood, so the idea that I have this great husband and these three beautiful children – to have a happy home life was really something I needed to close the hole in my heart.”

She added: “And so I made a decision to make money and not chase creative acting roles.”

Pompeo said she doesn’t “like chasing anything, ever”, and acting involves “a lot of chasing” in her experience.

She does chase projects as a producer, but pointed out that she gets to do so knowing that she’s “financially set”.

Pompeo has been open about her pay. In 2018, she disclosed that she was set to earn more than $20m a year under a new agreement.

“I’m 48 now, so I’ve finally gotten to the place where I’m OK asking for what I deserve, which is something that comes only with age,” she told The Hollywood Reporter at the time.