Global Courant
Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo sat down for the first time in eight years to talk about all things Grey’s Anatomy and how their lives have evolved since then.
The popular ABC drama has been airing since 2005, making it the longest-running scripted primetime show for the network. “Grey’s Anatomy” was renewed for a 20th season in March.
Despite the show’s success, Heigl and Pompeo remember the fear they felt before the show first aired – after an episode of ABC’s hit drama at the time, “Desperate Housewives.”
“I just remember being nervous that they wouldn’t air it,” Heigl, who starred as Izzie Stevens, told Pompeo during the interview published by Variety. “There was a point when it was unclear. They didn’t like it.”
A shot from the pilot episode of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, which aired in 2005. (Getty Images)
ELLEN POMPEO SUPPORTS KATHERINE HEIGL’S CLAIMS REGARDING ‘GREY’S ANATOMY’ WORK HOURS: ‘SHE WAS F—ING BALLSY’
Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo claimed that “Grey’s Anatomy” almost didn’t air in a new interview. (Getty Images)
“We’ll be very nice and not mention the director who almost took a nap on Shonda Rhimes. I’m not saying it, but he almost slept on Shonda Rhimes — he almost didn’t air that pilot!” Pompeo agreed. “You can do your research and find out who it was. Imagine you are that man.’
“I think he’s still that guy,” Heigl joked. “I think he has a vineyard in Napa now.”
For Heigl and Pompeo, filming “Grey’s Anatomy” was an emotional journey. A scene that has stuck out many years later is when Pompeo’s character – Meredith Gray – cuts the wire of a patient’s left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The LVAD is used for patients who have reached end-stage heart failure.
Heigl’s character had fallen in love with the patient, Denny Duquette played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and remembered how “dearly” she wanted to “nail” that now infamous scene.
“When it got to the point where he died and (Izzie’s) was in bed with him, I wanted so badly to capture that scene. I wanted it to feel like it was written on the page,” Heigl explains. “I don’t like doing that whole thing, ‘Go into the dark place and listen to the music that will tear my soul apart’. And the worst part was I actually went there.”
Izzie Stevens, Katherine Heigl’s character, is in a hospital bed with Denny Duquette, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, in an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” (Getty Images)
The actress said she was leaning on her experience of her brother’s death at the time, but would likely change her approach to the scene now.
“I was 7 when my brother died, but we were in the hospital for a week,” she revealed. “I don’t like thinking so much about that week in the hospital or him in that bed, but I chose to do that for that scene. I don’t think I would do it again. I don’t think that I would put myself back in that headspace to achieve that. I think I would try harder to just do it.”
However, Pompeo noted that Heigl’s acting in the scene led to an “iconic” moment of the show.
“But those moments are what made the show as iconic as it is,” explains Pompeo. “Art is always worth it because people watch that scene, and it’s cathartic for them. Most people have lost people and everyone loves a good cry. We made people feel things, Katie, and that’s the greatest gift as an actor – to be able to make people feel. It’s kind of cool.”
Sandra Oh, who plays Cristina Yang, Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Gray, and Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens who imagined an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” (Getty Images)
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Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo co-starred on “Grey’s Anatomy” for six seasons. (Getty Images)
She added: “One of the reasons the show has affected people so much is because we were so emotional. We were able to generate so much emotion. And that always results in great performances. Whether actors torture themselves or we torture each other, the result is good, and the writers know it.”
Pompeo, who still stars in the series 18 years later, is about to enter a new world. The actress will still appear back-to-back on “Grey’s Anatomy” as Meredith Gray, but she’ll begin filming a new show with Hulu in September.
Ellen Pompeo is taking a step back from filming “Grey’s Anatomy” to create a new show with Hulu. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Meanwhile, Heigl was no longer branded as a ‘difficult’ and ‘ungrateful’ woman in show business and recently saw success with her latest project ‘Firefly Lane’, a Netflix drama.
“I was so naive. I got on my soap box and I had some things to say, and I felt really passionate about this stuff. I felt really strong. I felt so strong that I also got a megaphone on my soap box, Heigl recalled being outspoken about her beliefs at the time. “There was no part of me that envisioned a bad reaction. I felt really justified in how I felt about it and where I came from. I’ve spent most of my life — I think most women do — in those people are – pleasant mode. It’s really disturbing when you feel like you’re really dissatisfying everyone.”
At one point, Heigl spoke of finding the movie “Knocked Up” in which she starred “a little sexist.” The actress claimed the film showed “women as shrews, as humorless and edgy” and men “as sweet, goofy, funny guys”.
“I didn’t mean to do that, but I had some things to say and I didn’t think I’d get such a strong reaction,” Heigl admitted. “I was in my late 20s. It probably took me into my mid to late 30s before I really cut out all the noise again and thought, ‘But who are you? Are you this bad person? Are you ungrateful?’ Are you unprofessional? Are you difficult?” Because I was confused! I thought maybe I was. I literally believed that version and felt so embarrassed for so long, then had to say, “Wait. Who am I listening to? I’m not even listening to myself. . I know who I am.'”
Katherine Heigl found recent success with the Netflix drama ‘Firefly Lane’. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
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