Ellen Pompeo recently opened up about her time on Grey’s Anatomy, revealing the long-held resentment she felt from being underappreciated as the show’s leading actress. This was particularly striking when compared to her co-star Patrick Dempsey, who initially earned a higher salary than her despite his unsuccessful history with 13 failed pilots.
On the most recent installment of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Pompeo discussed her tenure on the popular medical drama, relinquishing the main role, and moving forward with Hulu’s Good American Family series.
Additionally, she immersed herself in the battle for equal compensation, ultimately achieving the title of the highest-earning actress in a TV series drama in 2018, taking home an impressive $20 million per season.
Previously, Pompeo acknowledged that Dempsey’s larger salary seemed justified at first given his extensive acting experience and higher public recognition compared to her, who was relatively unknown. However, she pointed out, “In all fairness, the landscape of television was significantly different back then. He had already starred in 13 pilot episodes before me.
In terms of business, his celebrity status and widespread recognition made him a valuable asset deserving the larger salary. Even though Dempsey had 13 unsuccessful TV pilots behind him, he was more famous than [Pompeo] at that time. No one recognized me, but everyone knew who he was. Therefore, it’s understandable that he received that money. I’m not arguing that he didn’t deserve the money; I just felt that since I was the star of the show, I should have been paid equally. However, getting the same remuneration proved to be challenging.
She expressed, “I wasn’t upset because he received what was due to him. Instead, I felt resentful that they appreciated him more than they did me, and that appreciation won’t ever change.
However, as the series progressed and Pompeo remained its central figure, she believed she deserved compensation reflecting her significant role in establishing the show. Before advocating for a pay rise, Pompeo took the initiative to discuss this matter with the showrunner Shonda Rhimes, trusting in their professional relationship.
Pompeo stated, “I can clearly see how much revenue ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ generates for ABC/Disney. I have access to these figures. After all, it’s my likeness and voice that are used in the show. For the past two decades, I’ve been promoting this series globally. In essence, I am the ‘Disney princess’ of this franchise.
Ellen Pompeo felt frustrated, not with Patrick Dempsey personally, but because the network failed to recognize her equal contribution to the show’s success. What truly disappointed her was the persistent industry mindset that undervalued female actors compared to their male counterparts.
Read More
- Solo Leveling Season 2: Check Out The Release Date, Streaming Details, Expected Plot And More
- EUR HUF PREDICTION
- UNI PREDICTION. UNI cryptocurrency
- GRT PREDICTION. GRT cryptocurrency
- Where to Stream Mickey 17? Everything You Need To Know About Robert Pattinson’s Sci-Fi Thriller
- DBR PREDICTION. DBR cryptocurrency
- 10 Best Horse Items in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Ranked
- EUR JPY PREDICTION
- USD RUB PREDICTION
- NEAR PREDICTION. NEAR cryptocurrency
2025-03-19 22:07