Ellen Pompeo will return to Grey’s Anatomy for at least seven episodes in season 21 - despite emotional send-off
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New details about Ellen Pompeo's appearance on the next season of Grey's Anatomy have emerged.
On Tuesday, Deadline reported that the 54-year-old actress — who was briefly seen in season 20 — could possibly return for a number of episodes on par with a series regular.
Pompeo has continued providing the narration for the long-running series, despite her dialed back screen time.
She has also remained in the opening credits of the ABC medical drama.
Insiders told the publication that Ellen will be in 'at least seven' of the 18 episodes slated for season 21.
New details about Ellen Pompeo's appearance on the next season of Grey's Anatomy have emerged
On Tuesday, Deadline reported that the 54-year-old actress could possibly return for a number of episodes on par with a series regular
Other veterans of the show are reportedly appearing in less episodes due to cost cuts.
It comes after Pompeo returned for the season 19 finale following her 'exit' episode.
In the following installment — season 20 — she appeared in five episodes and had a significant presence in the premiere and finale.
Through it all, the mother-of-three has remained an executive producer in addition to narrating, which will continue into the next season.
In 2022, she signed on to produce and star in a limited series called Natalia for Hulu, which forced her to scale back her work on Grey's Anatomy.
At that point, Ellen was reduced from series regular to recurring after announcing her departure from Grey's Anatomy that November.
Showrunner Meg Marinis told Deadline about the star in March, 'She’s always a huge part of the show; we have an open door policy with her.
'When she is able to be here, we welcome her with open arms.'
Ellen, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey, was briefly seen in season 20
Ellen has been with the show since it began in 2005
The cast of Grey's Anatomy pictured in a 2009 promotional photo
Ellen has been with the Shonda Rhimes-created show since its inception in 2005.
'We have to let her go and do some other things, but she’s still our queen. She’s still our No. 1,' said Debbie Allen in December, via Deadline.
In January, Pompeo reunited with several of her Grey's Anatomy castmates during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony.
The cast got together to mark the show's 20th season, which made it the longest-running prime time medical drama in TV history.
