It’s been nearly two decades since Grey’s Anatomy first scrubbed in, but somehow, the drama seems to be never-ending when it comes to the operating room. So no, as the show’s 21st season kicked off, Ellen Pompeo returned with her titular role as Meredith Grey. Following her onscreen appearance, Pompeo also participated in the latest episode of Call Her Daddy podcast.
Therein, Ellen Pompeo spilled some serious behind-the-scenes tea. From her disinterest in a few scenes, to the jaw-dropping paycheck differences between her and Patrick Dempsey, Pompeo didn’t hold back a thing. But eventually, despite claiming to have hard feelings about the financial discrepancy, Pompeo admitted understanding the reason behind Dempsey’s staggering paycheck.
Ellen Pompeo realized Patrick Dempsey’s value and his paycheck
Although Ellen Pompeo was the face and namesake of the popular and still-running Grey’s Anatomy, it was her co-star Patrick Dempsey who earned staggering paychecks. Therefore, appearing on the latest episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Pompeo spilled the tea on Dempsey’s earnings and her feelings towards the disparity.
Speaking her mind, Ellen Pompeo began by expressing her frustration over Patrick Dempsey’s paycheck. However, the actress then noted that in no time she understood why her co-star was bagging a higher sum. Considering how Dempsey was a lot more popular than Pompeo when Grey’s Anatomy aired, the actress mentioned realizing the reason behind his earnings.
To be completely fair, the television game was so different then. He had done 13 pilots before me… Nothing personal to him, just in general, only a man can have 13 failed TV pilots and their quote keeps going up, right?
But in all fairness, his quote was what it was. He was a bigger star than I was at that point. No one knew who I was. Everybody knew who he was, so he did deserve that money.
Pointing at his Hollywood track record and experience that carried significant weight, Ellen Pompeo mocked Patrick Dempsey for his 13 failed TV pilots, she later admitted realizing why he was making the big bucks. However, that didn’t soothe the sting she felt when she realized that she was undervalued.
Ellen Pompeo was upset with her lack of value on Grey’s Anatomy
While Ellen Pompeo noted that Patrick Dempsey was deserving of his staggering paycheck, she also mentioned that she was undervalued by the showrunners. Considering that she was the “namesake of the show”, Pompeo noted that she “deserved the same” if not more than Dempsey. But sadly it was “harder to get”.
I wasn’t salty about him getting what he got. I was salty that they didn’t value me as much as they valued him and they never will.
Being a woman, I guess I’m conditioned to make sure that I’m not stepping on anybody’s toes and I’m being polite… I asked Shonda first… I said to her, ‘I’m going to go in and ask for this much, are you cool with that?’
Eventually, Ellen Pompeo went on to negotiate a $20M salary for her role on Grey’s Anatomy in 2018. Thanks to creator Shonda Rhimes, the actress who was indeed “the Disney princess of that franchise” managed to earn her deserving sum. And thereafter, Pompeo began advocating for women who fight for themselves.
Grey’s Anatomy is available on Hulu.
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