Ellen Pompeo: Gray's Anatomy was a toxic environment for 10 seasons

Ellen Pompeo has been at the forefront of fighting wage disparities in Hollywood, but ensuring pay equity was only one of many hidden struggles behind the scenes of her ABC's long medical drama titled "Gray's Anatomy". In the series "Actors on Actors," Pompeo was brutally honest about the fact that the series was plagued by "serious crop problems" during its first 10 seasons. Working in a toxic environment for a decade is the main reason why Pompeo has defended fair compensation and has struggled to be the producer of the series in order to be able to recover production.

"There were a lot of times I wanted to get off the bus," said Pompeo. "We had a serious crop problem at Gray's for a number of years. The first 10 years, we had serious problems of culture. Very bad behavior. Work environment really toxic. I had my daughter in the sixth season and that's when things really started to change with me. I had someone else than me thinking.

Pompeo continued, "After season 10, I would say we had big gaps in front of the camera and behind the camera. Then my goal was to change that and have an experience that I could be happy and proud of because we had been so upset for 10 years. My mission has become "it can not be all that the show has been, just fantastic for the audience and a disaster behind the scenes".

The actress needed behind-the-scenes control to be able to "start a new chapter and create a new culture behind the curtain." As Pompeo said, "we had to re-imagine what Gray looks like behind the scenes of Anatomy. For five years, our mission has been to change the story behind the scenes. That's what kept me.

Pompeo said she was also motivated to stay in the series after co-star Patrick Dempsey left in season 11. "The studio and network thought the series could not continue without the male lead "she said. "So I had another mission to prove that it was possible. I was on a dual mission. "

"Gray's Anatomy" has just finished its 15th season and ABC has renewed the medical drama for two more seasons. Pompeo will remain in the series at least until season 17.

S & # 39; register: Stay on top of the latest news from film and television! Sign up for our electronic newsletters here.