Ellen Pompeo Embraces a Bold New Role in Happy American Family: “I Gotta Mix It Up A Little Bit”

Twenty years after her debut as the emotionally complex Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo, 55, finally has a chance to catch her breath. For years, she balanced her roles as star and producer of the long-running ABC medical drama as well as wife to music producer Chris Ivery, 57, and mother to their three children — Stella, 15, Sienna, 10, and Eli, 8. But stepping back as a regular (she still makes guest appearances) from Grey’s in 2023 proved to be the right choice, both personally and professionally. She told Drew Barrymore that leaving the series’ grueling 17-hour workdays behind after two decades was essential for her family, explaining, “It’s really important for me to be around for them and be more present for them. The show has been incredible to me, and I’ve loved a lot of the experience; it’s just, I gotta mix it up a little bit.”

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On the Call Her Daddy podcast, Ellen admitted to having mom guilt, saying she felt torn between her family and the job she loved so much. “Part of you is somewhere else,” she told host Alex Cooper. “You split into different pieces. You’re no longer just you.” Yet she also acknowledged the rewards of being a working mother, noting that it “makes you more soulful, richer, funnier and more empathetic.” So, when the opportunity arose for a new post-Grey’s project, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

HAPPY AMERICAN FAMILY

After cutting down her time at Grey Sloan Memorial, Ellen carefully considered future moves. She wanted her next job to be personally and professionally fulfilling enough to justify extended time away from her family. A source told Star the decision was difficult for her. “At this stage of the game, 21 years after Grey’s Anatomy became a hit, Ellen isn’t doing more TV just for the money — she has more than she or her family could ever possibly spend. Her screen time on Grey’s has been limited, and that was her choice, though she keeps an iron grip on the show as an executive producer and will continue to do so because she’s a perfectionist. But as an actor and producer, she’s wanted to show for years that she’s more than a one-trick pony.”

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Hulu’s Happy American Family allowed Ellen the opportunity to take on a completely different role, that of Kristine Barnett, a Christian mother of three who fought doctors who doubted she could raise a high-performing autistic son, and devotes her life to “saving” other children. Kristine finds unexpected challenges upon adopting Natalia (Imogen Faith Reid), a Ukrainian girl with dwarfism; mysteries surrounding her age, identity and motives are at the heart of the series. The source says that, unlike any other project Ellen’s been involved with, this one stood out because of its “ripped from the headlines” story. “What was exciting for Ellen was that she was with this project from the ground up — and when it came to crunch time, nobody outworked her. Even though she had plenty of input on Grey’s casting over the years, this show was a chance to work alongside actors she’s admired and respected for many years, including Dulé Hill and Christina Hendricks.”

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A CHANCE AT REINVENTION

The insider shared that Ellen views Happy American Family as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reinvent herself as an actor. “Ellen has patiently waited for an opportunity like this since the early days of Grey’s — and this kind of material has a much better shot at winning awards than Grey’s ever did. Ellen wants to take this thing to the Emmys this year; Hulu is even putting all of its firepower behind it, making sure Good American Family is promoted right alongside Grey’s on their streaming While some initial reviews were less than raves, fans have loved the show. “Ellen’s not going to let any negativity get her down — she remains confident of the series’ success in the long term,” says the source, adding that, all in all, “life is good. She still has creative control over Grey’s, more money than she knows what to do with and more time to spend with her family.”