Ellen Pompeo, the star of the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy, recently announced she's leaving the show after an incredible 19 seasons.
The 53-year-old actress has played Meredith Grey ever since the pilot hit our screens back in March 2005. Since then, we've seen her grow from an intern who kept getting lost around the hospital to being recognized as one of the best surgeons in the game. Not only that but her continuous passion and perseverance made her one of the most iconic characters to step foot in Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.
We now know that season 19 will mark Meredith's last on-screen appearance on the show after Pompeo made the announcement last night (Nov. 17).
Check out the snapshot below:Posting to Instagram, Pompeo shared a selfie alongside a heartfelt message to her fans.
"I am eternally grateful and humbled by the love and support you have all shown me, Meredith GREY and the show for 19 seasons!" She said. "Through it all... none of it...would have been possible without the best fans in the world. You all are RIDERS and you all have made the ride so fun and ICONIC!!"
"I love you madly and appreciate you right back," she continued. "This isn’t your first time on the rollercoaster… you know the show must go on and I’ll definitely be back to visit. With a lot of love and immense gratitude XoE."
Comments poured in for the actress, thanking her for her work.
"19 incredible seasons of trailblazing. Looking forward to seeing what’s next for you as you transition," wrote one user.
"We’re so proud of you," another fan added while a third confirmed that Pompeo will "always be Meredith."
Following on from her caption, she also left a comment telling fans that "We need to be friends," which sent them wild - which is to be expected!
So what's next for Ellen Pompeo?
Well, according to Digital Spy, while Meredith Grey might not be making anymore consistent appearances on the medical drama, she will remain as a narrator and has plans for one more shift for the season finale in the spring.
Outside of her work on Grey's Anatomy, the 53-year-old will also be filming another TV series that she is also producing.
There had also been some speculation that this show could be featuring Pompeo's co-star Patrick Dempsey, but those rumors were put to rest when he told Entertainment Weekly that he "hasn't read anything [or] seen anything" and he hasn't even "talked to [Pompeo] about it."
But he did add: "It just is a real testament to the fans that they want to see that couple still together and what an impact it is."
We can't wait to see what's coming next for the star!
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