‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Ellen Pompeo To Quit Acting?

When Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo scored the biggest role of her career as Dr. Meredith Grey, we’re betting she didn’t think she would be playing her a decade later. It’s the most defining role of her career, but does Ellen Pompeo want to make it the last role? According to the actress, she might.

Always candid, the Grey’s Anatomy star was joined on a panel by Scandal’s Kerry Washington and How To Get Away With Murder’s Viola Davis for an insightful chat. During the BuzzFeed Brews event, when discussion turned to Pompeo’s career, the actress made a few bold statements that you usually don’t hear these days.

“I definitely don’t have a strong desire to act after Grey’s. I definitely feel myself transitioning. I don’t find acting terribly empowering,” said Pompeo.

The actress received a pretty powerful reaction from both Kerry Washington and Viola Davis, with Washington saying, “Wow, that’s a great statement.” The jury is out on whether or not Washington was genuine or being sarcastic. Either way Pompeo continued with her statement on her career.

“Once I hit 40 I feel differently and I don’t necessarily want to work for other people.”

When the moderator asked whether she would quit acting, the actress immediately responded.

“Yeah. I would never say never. I’m not going to come out there and make one of those statements, like ‘I’m retiring.’ I think Jay Z said he was retiring at one point too.”

That said, it seems like Ellen still has a great perspective on her career.

“I try to keep an open heart, an open mind, an open spirit, to whatever comes my way, so whatever is meant to be, will be.”

The actress is already transitioning into another role — producer. Pompeo is executive-producing an ABC Family series called Debt, which is based on Rachel Carey’s 2013 novel of the same name. Her production banner, Calamity Jane, is the company behind the police drama that is coming to ABC Family based on the novel.

“Producing is very challenging, but it’s very interesting to me and fun, to try ideas and find projects — that’s fun for me right now,” Pompeo said. “I feel like acting has been a wonderful opportunity, and i’ve done so much of it over the past 11 years. With acting I don’t feel like I have anything to prove, even though I don’t have any awards. I feel like I did it. I’d like to challenge myself. I got the acting thing.”

Even so, Ellen Pompeo isn’t going anywhere fast. She recently signed on for another two years on the ABC series, so who knows when she will fully transition into a more behind-the-scenes role?

[Image via ABC Studios]