Ellen Pompeo Stayed on Grey’s Anatomy Because of Her Age

[Anonymous]

In an interview with People, Ellen Pompeo revealed her decision to stay on Grey's Anatomy instead of seeking other roles "was based solely on age." How old is too old for women in Hollywood? "At 33, I was wise enough to know my clock was already ticking," she said.

The 46-year-old actress said that after a "super-late start" in acting (her mid-20s), she knew it would be difficult to find other roles in her late 30s and early 40s. Last month, she extended her Grey's contract and became one of TV's most highly paid actresses.

"I thought, ‘Why would I leave something that is super successful and pays me great to search the landscape?’” she said. “I decided that I would stay on Grey’s and be grateful and try to ride it out for as long as I could. And I am very happy that I made the decision to stay. It’s only gotten better with time.”

http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/07/ellen-pompeo-greys-anatomy-age.html
Its amazing how much a person changes from 30s to 40s:

[Anonymous]

Well, as much as I can't stand the show, she made the right move b/c acting is incredibly agist and probably made good money.

[Anonymous]

Smart and interesting move. I like her.

[Anonymous]

Eh, not surprising. She has job security with GA especially as one of the lead characters and she probably wasn't getting any other leads in movies or shows. Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigle fizzled out post GA with a role or two here and there. In Hollywood, I'd stick with what you got.

[Anonymous]

I don't know who she is because I have never seen that show and from what this is saying, that's all she has ever done.

Like a soap actor. They get their gig and they stay put. Unless they are Demi Moore or Guy Pearce.

[Anonymous]

Oh, the plastic surgery in that last pic is horrific!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, as much as I can't stand the show, she made the right move b/c acting is incredibly agist and probably made good money.

I agree. The other PP comparing her to soap stars is also spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, the plastic surgery in that last pic is horrific!

I know, cringe worthy! She was always too old for her character but it's even more obvious now.

[Anonymous]

I think she has taken 5 years off her true age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, as much as I can't stand the show, she made the right move b/c acting is incredibly agist and probably made good money.

I agree. The other PP comparing her to soap stars is also spot on.

Newsflash--Gray's Anatomy is a soap--just at night.

Being a lead in a TV show gives you precious time for little else. Most of the other longstanding leads on that show have done few other projects. She had a decent career as an actress prior to the show:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0690186/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Given how unpredictable TV shows can be, I could see where someone would stay with a sure thing--she was the title lead after all. I remember interviews with Ian Sommerholder and how he bought a house in Hawaii for Lost then his character was killed off really early on. Or Michael Kenneth Williams, who's very popular Omar character wasn't in the storyline for almost a year. They went broke or nearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, the plastic surgery in that last pic is horrific!

I know, cringe worthy! She was always too old for her character but it's even more obvious now.

+1 by the time season 4 rolled around the age discrepancy was glaringly obvious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, as much as I can't stand the show, she made the right move b/c acting is incredibly agist and probably made good money.

I agree. The other PP comparing her to soap stars is also spot on.

Newsflash--Gray's Anatomy is a soap--just at night.

Being a lead in a TV show gives you precious time for little else. Most of the other longstanding leads on that show have done few other projects. She had a decent career as an actress prior to the show:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0690186/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Given how unpredictable TV shows can be, I could see where someone would stay with a sure thing--she was the title lead after all. I remember interviews with Ian Sommerholder and how he bought a house in Hawaii for Lost then his character was killed off really early on. Or Michael Kenneth Williams, who's very popular Omar character wasn't in the storyline for almost a year. They went broke or nearly.

Who pissed in your Wheaties? Why so defensive?

[Anonymous]

I don't think that's plastic surgery. I watch the show and I think she's aging pretty naturally. I think that was just a bad photo and she was sweaty/puffy with heat/makeup.
I like her a lot--she seems very nice, and they've kind of aged her character to keep up with her. She's now a widowed mom of 3 with a very high up job at the hospital, which makes more sense for a woman in her 40's than her 30's. The other guy that stayed, Alex, was also older, so his character also kind of fits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's plastic surgery. I watch the show and I think she's aging pretty naturally. I think that was just a bad photo and she was sweaty/puffy with heat/makeup.
I like her a lot--she seems very nice, and they've kind of aged her character to keep up with her. She's now a widowed mom of 3 with a very high up job at the hospital, which makes more sense for a woman in her 40's than her 30's. The other guy that stayed, Alex, was also older, so his character also kind of fits.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that's plastic surgery. I watch the show and I think she's aging pretty naturally. I think that was just a bad photo and she was sweaty/puffy with heat/makeup.
I like her a lot--she seems very nice, and they've kind of aged her character to keep up with her. She's now a widowed mom of 3 with a very high up job at the hospital, which makes more sense for a woman in her 40's than her 30's. The other guy that stayed, Alex, was also older, so his character also kind of fits.

+1

Agreed. People like to yell plastic surgery, but this what you look like when you let yourself age and you don't have a skilled surgeon. There is another picture of her into same purple outfit from the front, and she looks totally normal.