Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Pompeo is an American actress, largely known for her portrayal of Dr. Meredith Grey, the protagonist of the Medical Drama Series called Grey”s Anatomy. Ellen lost her mother due to a painkiller overdose, when she was just four. Her father was a salesman and Ellen used to work in a restaurant in Soho, when she was first discovered. Ellen head-started her career with small roles in some of the highest rated TV shows like Friends, Law and Order, Strangers with Candy and others. She also played a part in the movie Mambo Café with Thalia but her big screen debut happened in 2002 when director Brad Silberling casted her in his film Moonlight Mile. Ellen played the character of a candid woman who is heart-broken and is silent about the burden she is carrying. Her performance received an exceptional response and thereafter, in 2002, she was seen in Steven Spielberg”s Catch Me If You Can, opposite to Leonardo Da Caprio.

Further, in 2004, she played a small role in Michel Gondry”s Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, portraying Jim Carrey”s ex-girlfriend, although, later on, casino the scenes were deleted from the film.

Pompeo also starred in the widely successful film, Old School (2003) where she starred opposite to Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell. And before 2002, she was also involved in numerous independent short films such as Coming Soon, In the Weeds and Life of the Party.

But, as we all know, Ellen”s career head-started in 2005 when she bagged the lead role of Meredith Grey on the ABC Medical Drama, Grey”s Anatomy. Her character started off as a surgical intern at a renowned hospital and over the years, grew to become a successful surgeon. The series has completed nine seasons, with season 10 premiering on September 26, 2013 and Pompeo is known to have signed the contract till the 10^th season. Till date, Ellen has appeared in 196 episodes of Grey”s Anatomy. In 2012, she was earning $9 million, making here the 8th highest paid TV actress.

Pompeo is married to the music producer Chris Ivery and gave birth to their first daughter, Stella Luna on September 15, 2009.