Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Pompeo is an American actress, director, and producer. She is one of the highest-paid television actors, having signed a $20 million annual contract with the American Broadcasting Company in late 2017 for her on-going role in Grey's Anatomy.

Determined to succeed in acting, Pompeo moved to Los Angeles in 2001. A turning point came when she was selected by director Brad Silberling in 2002 for a role in his film Moonlight Mile playing Jake Gyllenhaal's sympathetic love interest. In 2002 and 2003, Pompeo appeared in Catch Me If You Can and Old School. Television guest roles include two episodes of Law & Order and an episode of Friends.

Pompeo landed her first major role in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, as the title character, Meredith Grey, a surgical intern at a prestigious hospital. The role on the long-running series earned her a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award. The character became widely popular, making Pompeo one of the most renowned television actresses. In 2016, Pompeo was ranked fourth in the list of highest paid TV actresses by Forbes, with earnings of $14.5 million; she became the third highest paid female and the fifth highest paid actor overall in 2018 with earnings of $23.5 million. She was also the highest ranked actor from a drama series on the list. On October 13, 2007, Pompeo was honored by the National Italian American Foundation for her achievement in entertainment.

Pompeo was honored with a GLSEN Respect Award in recognition of her advocacy for the LGBTQ community and has also spoken out about the need for more color in the entertainment industry, along with the need for equal pay.