According to Deadline, Ellen Pompeo has signed a new two-year deal with ABC Studios, keeping her as a star of Grey’s Anatomy for at least two more seasons. Although the medical-drama hasn’t been renewed beyond the current 14th season, it is expected that it will run for at least season 15th and 16th after Pompeo’s deal to keep on portraying Meredith Grey.
According to this new contract, Pompeo will receive more than $550,000 per episode, which will make her the highest paid actress in television. As a part of the deal, the 48-year-old actress will also take the role of show’s producer and will be a co-executive producer of the upcoming Grey’s Anatomy spinoff.
“The show’s hugely successful for Disney, for ABC, so everybody’s incentivized to keep it going,” – Pompeo said about her decision. She also added that she is excited about the return of Krista Vernoff, who rejoined as the new showrunner and that “writing is a lot smarter, and I love what she’s doing. Everybody does actually, the actors are so happy, they’re so energized.”
Asked about the possibility that Grey’s Anatomy ends after two years, Pompeo didn’t want to go into specifics.
“I’ve been saying since season one, ‘We have two more years’,” – she said. “This show, it’s taking on a life of its own, and who knows? We take it season by season really.”
Ellen Pompeo landed her first acting role in NBC’s legal drama Law & Order and then went on to guest star in shows like Strangers with Candy, Strong Medicine and Friends. She also had roles in movies like Catch Me If You Can, Old School, and Daredevil. Her major breakthrough came in 2005 when she landed the role of Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy. For her work on the show, Pompeo received numerous awards including Screen Actors Guild and People’s Choice Award.
