Ellen Pompeo isn't quite ready for her younger daughter to watch her on Grey's Anatomy. During her recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the 55-year-old actress opened up about the hit medical drama's resurgence among younger audiences as the show celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Pompeo, who is the mother of three children with music producer Chris Ivery, discussed with host Jimmy Kimmel, aged 57, why she feels her 10-year-old daughter Sienna is not yet ready for the show. "My 15-year-old [Stella] has seen it, and now my 10-year-old wants to see it," she said. "She's not ready, but a lot of kids in her class have seen it," she added, emphasizing the challenges many parents face with content appropriateness.
Pompeo is careful not to judge parents who allow their children to view the show. "No judgment on other parents. But I don't want my daughter to see me in my underwear on television just yet," she noted, highlighting her desire to maintain boundaries around what her daughters are exposed to at such young ages. This candid admission sparked laughter and empathy among the live audience.
After stepping back from her leading role on Grey's Anatomy, Pompeo expressed her contentment with life at home. Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show last December, she shared, "I have three kids and so I take care of them, and it's really important for me to be around for them and be more present for them." This reflects her priorities as she balances her career with parental responsibilities.
Though she has typically kept her family life private, Pompeo has occasionally opened up about her commitment to fostering positive role models for her children, particularly taking steps to represent diversity. Back in 2016, she discussed the importance of exposing her daughters to images of "beautiful, powerful, strong Black women" through media. "My daughters are Black, so it's very important to me they see a lot of images of beautiful, powerful, strong Black women," Pompeo emphasized. She strives to have magazines featuring such figures readily accessible at home, insisting on the impact such representations can have on young girls.
She has also openly shared her wisdom and beliefs about women's empowerment. Once, she remarked, "We get besser with age. We should empower each other and have compassion for each other and help each other and feel good about ourselves." She acknowledges the prevalent notion within society where women feel they lose value as they age, countering this idea by stating, "the truth is, we do getbetter with age. It's just society has told us forever we don't.”
Pompeo is eager for societal change on this front, stressing the importance of breaking glass ceilings and creating equal opportunities for everyone. "There’s…a lot of glass ceilings, and we have to keep busting all of them," she stated, underscoring her commitment to advocating the rightful place of women across all sectors, including entertainment.
Finally, as she reflects on her future and role as both mother and actress, Pompeo leaves her audience with the empowering message of solidarity. "We do getbetter with age," she reiterated, calling on others to support and celebrate one another, especially women lifting each other up. Her heartfelt words resonate not just for her family but offer encouragement to all of society's women.
