deighteen years after the debut of Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl have been the protagonists of a reunion in which they retraced the best moments lived on the set. From the first take to the overwhelming popularity, passing through their characters, Izzy Stevens and Meredith Grey. A conversation between colleagues, but above all as friends.
Grey’s AnatomyEllen Pompeo ‘Frustrated With Meredith’s Bad Choices’
They did it in the format Actors on Actors Of variety. A long face-to-face in which they confronted each other on various topicsobviously starting from the series that made them famous. Friends for work, but also in lifethey say happy that at the time of the first season of Grey’s Anatomy social media didn’t exist yet. “We would have lost our minds,” Pompeo says.
The emphasis, however, is placed on certain sides of the respective characters. In particular on that of pick girlso renamed after the scene where Meredith begs Derek (Patrick Dempsey) to take her, to choose her, to love her. «I found that speech wrong. There were a few things I totally disagreed with. Why would I beg a man on TV? It’s so embarrassing. But then it became the most famous scene in the series,” he admits.
Also, it reveals of feeling frustrated having to play a woman who never stops making bad decisions. In particular, it analyzes the relationship between his alter ego and Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman). “Meredith is interested in Speedman, but she can’t make their relationship work. I don’t think there shouldn’t be a conflict. There must be. I just think I have different ideas of what a conflict should be», he points out.
In the end, talk about his exit from the scene. “I’ve been on the show so long, I’m happy to let it go.” However, he specifies that he has not yet completely said goodbye to his character. “It’s a bit strange, because I didn’t leave at all. Perhaps I’ll be making a few appearances next year» he announces.
Grey’s Anatomy it had to be called Complications
Beyond the success of the elevator scene and Meredith’s mistakesboth credit Shonda Rhimes for changing the language of television. Katherine Heigl highlights other themes present in the story, such as the role of women, ectopic pregnancy and diversity.
They then reveal an interesting anecdote: Grey’s Anatomy risked not being broadcast. What if it was, with a different title: Complications. After shooting the pilot, opinions were mixed and “some of the studios” weren’t sure about broadcasting the series. “We won’t name the executive producer who almost missed Shonda Rhimes”, Pompeo jokes, «but he almost didn’t air the pilot. You can do your research and find out who he was. Try to imagine being that person.”
Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo. (Getty Images)
Katherine Heigl and the «bad» role
Also Katherine Heigl looks back on the most significant moments of her years on the series. He dwells on a scene in season two when Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) dies. To interpret her, he reveals that he took hold of a very traumatic personal memory: the death of her brother Jason when she was only 7 years old.
It was the first time he dug into such private emotions to restore the state of mind described in the script. “I don’t think I would be able to do it again today. I would just recite”, he admits. Heigl, then, also talks about his image, clouded by several rumors, but above all by the decision of withdraw her 2007 Emmy nomination because she didn’t think her character provided enough material for a nomination. Not a small dig at Shonda Rhimes.
Even in later years she hasn’t always been tender towards the show. Statements that have earned her the reputation of “ingrate”. A while later she apologized, but it didn’t help. “I was young and I didn’t understand the great impact those roles had”he admits.
about theto be considered a difficult actress to work with He says: “People think I’m the bad guy and that’s okay”. Pompeo shields her, underlining the dichotomy to which women are destined: villain or victim. “And female victims are victims because they don’t have the courage to be mean.” “I’m always the bad guy”laughs Heigl, «but I did not imagine that my statements could arouse such a strong reaction. It took me several years to figure out who I was and ignore the opinions of others.
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