Ellen Pompeo and ABC’s long-running scientific drama Grey’s Anatomy are nearly inextricable. The 53-year-old actress has performed the show’s titular character, Dr. Meredith Grey, since its premiere in 2005, and is currently one in every of three actors who’ve remained on the show since its debut.

Back in August 2022, Pompeo made the monumental decision to step back from Grey’s Anatomy, surroundings into movement a steady technique of transitioning Meredith Grey away from Grey Sloan Memorial. Pompeo’s approaching departure from the show has elicited various reactions, with most lovers understandably heartbroken via the prospect of bidding farewell to considered one of their favorite Grey’s Anatomy characters. With Pompeo poised to make her final appearance on season 19’s finale episode, we take a look at what Grey’s Anatomy stars and alum have said about Pompeo’s forthcoming go out from the show.

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8 Ellen Pompeo Always Planned On Leaving Grey’s Anatomy

Despite taking part in the show’s titular personality for over a decade, Ellen Pompeo had no idea that her tenure on the show could be so in depth.

“I didn’t ever think that I'd keep on the show this long,” she admitted to Variety in 2020. “It happened, and right here I'm. It’s been this implausible platform for me and allowed me to stay house with my children such a lot and no longer go back and forth and have the circus lifetime of an actor.”

7 Ellen Pompeo Thinks Grey’s Anatomy Should Come To An End

Despite being the show’s major protagonist for over a decade and making a whopping $550,000 consistent with episode, Ellen Pompeo has been heavily invested in bringing Grey’s Anatomy to its ultimate conclusion.

“I’ve been attempting to focus on convincing everyone that it will have to end,” the 53-year-old disclosed to Insider in 2021. “​I feel like I’m the super naive one who keeps pronouncing, ‘But what’s the tale going to be, what tale are we going to inform?’”

6 Ellen Pompeo Announced Her Departure From Grey’s Anatomy In November

After a year-long transition procedure, which culminated with Meredith Grey handing in her resignation as Grey Sloan Memorial’s chief of surgical procedure and accepting a research position in Boston, Ellen Pompeo in the end announced that her time on Grey’s Anatomy had come to an end.

“I'm perpetually grateful and humbled through the love and beef up you've all proven me, Meredith GREY, and the show for 19 seasons,” Pompeo wrote on Instagram. “This isn’t your first time on the rollercoaster… you realize the show will have to go on, and I’ll surely be back to seek advice from.”

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5 Jesse Williams: Grey’s Anatomy Might Not Survive Ellen Pompeo’s Exit

Jesse Williams, who portrayed Jackson Avery on Grey’s Anatomy for thirteen seasons, is skeptical about the show’s long term after Ellen Pompeo’s departure.

“I don't know, it would be a different show,” he told Access Hollywood in June. “She's the middle of that show. She's Grey. So, not going. But once more, I do not paintings there anymore. So, it isn't important what I think.”

4 Sarah Drew: Ellen Pompeo Deserves To Move On From Grey’s Anatomy

Sarah Drew, who performed April Kepner on Grey’s Anatomy for ten seasons, is assured that taking a step again is the right move for Ellen Pompeo.

“She's been operating so exhausting in this role for goodbye,” Kepner told US Weekly in September. "It makes sense that she wants to take a breather and pursue some other things — and still keep her foot in the door.”

3 Kevin McKidd: Grey’s Anatomy Still Means A lot To Ellen Pompeo

Kevin McKidd, the face behind Grey Sloan Memorial’s Owen Hunt, applauded Ellen Pompeo’s decision to remain on Grey’s Anatomy as a producer, claiming that it demonstrates just how much the show still means to the actress.

“The fact that she’s not leaving the show and is just gonna scale it back a bit,” he said on an August episode of E! News’ Daily Pop, “what I think is beautiful about it is that it shows her love for the show still.”

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2 Eric Dane: Grey’s Anatomy Might Come To An Untimely Conclusion After Pompeo’s Exit

Eric Dane, who played Dr. Mark Sloan for more than eight seasons, thinks Grey's Anatomy might have to come to an untimely conclusion following Pompeo’s departure.

“Is it the show that’s the star or is it Ellen that’s the star of the show and I, I don’t know,” he said on a June 2022 episode of Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show, Radio Andy. “I think at this point, I think it could live without her, but I, I think it would be short-lived.”

1 Chandra Wilson: Ellen Pompeo Will Always Be Part Of Grey’s Anatomy

Emmy nominee Chandra Wilson, who has portrayed Grey Sloan Memorial’s Miranda Bailey since 2005, is confident that, despite Pompeo’s departure, Meredith Grey will continue to be a pervading theme on Grey’s Anatomy.

“We still will constantly have the total theme of Meredith Grey — her eyes, that have, kind of that intern revel in,” she informed Entertainment Tonight in October, “however in the midst of that is the life of the show that continues thru each of the characters.”

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