This page uses content from the Ellen Pompeo biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Ellen Pompeo (born November 10, 1969) is an American actress, best known for playing the title role of Dr. Meredith Grey on the hit ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

Biography

Early life and career

Pompeo was born in Everett, Massachusetts, then lived on New York's Upper West Side. Her father was born in Gesualdo, a village in province of Avellino (Italy). Her mother died when she was only four years old. She eventually moved to Miami, where she worked as a cocktail waitress and met New York fashion photographer Andrew Rosenthal, with whom she eventually returned to New York. In 1996, she was bartending at the SoHo Bar & Grill when an agent approached her about appearing in commercials. She subsequently appeared in commercials for Citibank and L'Oreal. Minor roles on shows like Strangers with Candy and a handful of films followed.

Career

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. She also appeared in the film Daredevil playing Matt Murdock's (Ben Affleck) secretary Karen Page, but most of her scenes were deleted from the theatrical version of the film. She potrayed Jim Carrey's character's ex-girlfriend, Naomi, in the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but all her scenes were cut from the final movie. They can be viewed on the two-DVD collector's edition of the film. She starred in Old School as Nicole and Catch Me If You Can as Marci. Her guest roles include two episodes of Law & Order and an episode of Friends ("The One Where the Stripper Cries").

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 show was an instant hit and became the highest-rated show on network TV in its third season.

Personal life

Pompeo and Rosenthal split in late 2003. She is currently engaged to music producer Christopher Ivery; They currently reside in Los Angeles. [1] They met in 2003 when mutual friends introduced them at a Whole Foods in Los Angeles, but only began dating after 6 months. They later discovered that they grew up in Boston 10 miles from each other. Ivery also knew Pompeo's father.[2] Ivery proposed on Pompeo's 37th birthday. A friend says, "No one is surprised they're getting married--they can't spend a night apart. Chris is Ellen's biggest supporter and has really impressed people with how dedicated he is to her success and career.[3]

Filmography

• Life of the Party (film) (2005) .... Phoebe
• Grey's Anatomy (2005-) TV Series .... Dr. Meredith Grey
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2005) Naomi
• Art Heist (2004) .... Sandra Walker
• Nobody's Perfect (2004) .... Veronica
• Friends (The One Where the Stripper Cries) (2004)....Missy Goldberg
• Undermind (2003) .... Flynn
• Old School (2003) .... Nicole
• Daredevil (2003) .... Karen Page
• Catch Me If You Can (2002) .... Marci
• Moonlight Mile (2002) .... Bertie Knox
• In the Weeds (2000) .... Martha
• Eventual Wife (2000) .... Beth
• Coming Soon (1999/I) .... Upset Girl
• 8 1/2 x 11 (1999) .... Human Resources Woman
• Strangers With Candy (1999) .... Lizzie Abrams

External links

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