Ellen Pompeo Talks About When 'Grey's Anatomy' Will End
We're "getting there."

The end of Grey's Anatomy might actually be in sight.
The long-running series' showrunner, Shonda Rhimes, has said that the show will go on as long as ABC and star Ellen Pompeo want it to. After 14 seasons, Pompeo is finally starting to consider when that ending might happen.
“We’re getting there. Shonda and I will make that decision together,” she told Us Weekly. “I think that one of the biggest lessons that this show has taught me and being on this show for so long has taught me, is that relationships do change. And they do grow. They take work. Like any marriage, friendship. You gotta put in the work. You have to accept other people’s flaws, and accept your own flaws and try to change and be a better person. But I think everything is worth the time and effort. And things get better.”
While Pompeo admits that there is an end and that it's nearing (which is news in and of itself, since it was starting to look like Grey's Anatomy would be on forever, with a rotating cast, like a dramatic and medically-focused Saturday Night Live), she won't say exactly when yet. So "getting there" could mean ending on Season 15 or it could mean Season 20. Who's to say?
The biggest clue Pompeo gave about a timeframe for ending the show was her reason for wanting to hang up her scrubs and say goodbye to Meredith Grey: She wants to spend more time with her family, specifically her kids.
"I want to be more involved in my kids’ lives as they get older," she said. "And they need me more, and this world is such a crazy place."
Pompeo's oldest child, Stella, is nine this year, meaning Grey's will presumably end sometime between now and her 18th birthday in 2027.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Now That We've Devoured 'Onyx Storm,' We're Rounding Up Everything We Know About the 'Fourth Wing' TV Show
Rebecca Yarros's bestselling romantasy series is getting the Prime Video series treatment.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
How Hannah Einbinder "Worked Up" to Her 'Hacks' Season 4 Premiere Dress
The star has been on a fashion journey since her hit show's first season.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams Are Planning 'Dawson's Creek' Reunion
"It's like playing chess, trying to get everybody's schedules to align."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
The Wild Ride of Carrie Coon
Laurie's deep-set insecurities come to a head in episode 7 of 'The White Lotus,' allowing the actress to turn a "dark night of the soul" into an illuminating time.
By Jessica Goodman Published
-
'Weak Hero Class 2': Everything We Know
If you already binged the cult-loved series, don't fret: New episodes are coming soon.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Who Is Owen Cooper, the First-Time Actor Who Plays Jamie in 'Adolescence'?
Cooper is garnering Emmy buzz for his role as a 13-year-old accused of murder in the U.K. miniseries.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
'Severance' Is a Vintage Furniture Collector’s Fever Dream
Production designer Jeremy Hindle explains how he sourced rare pieces from all over the world to fill the offices of Lumon.
By Viv Chen Published
-
Ashley Sutton Is Not Going to Take Things Lying Down
The actress who plays Hannah has been dying to talk about the Showtime hit's major twist for months.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Is 'Good American Family' Based on a True Story? What to Know About Natalia Grace and the Barnett Family
The Ellen Pompeo-led Hulu series explores one of the most sensationalized cases in recent years.
By Radhika Menon Published
-
'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' Is a Revolutionary Call to Speak Up Against Female Abuse
After showing how a culture of silence around abuse can devastate entire generations, the arresting A24 film holds a mirror up to the audience and asks, \201cWhat happens if we scream?\201d
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Did Jamie Kill Katie? Breaking Down the End of 'Adolescence'
We're breaking down how the four-part miniseries ends.
By Radhika Menon Published