Ellen Pompeo Signs New Deal for Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Because No Duh

Star of ABC series signs new contract and becomes one of TV's highest paid actresses

By Billy Nilles Jun 01, 2016 5:20 PMTags
Grey's Anatomy, Grey's Anatomy Season 12ABC

Meredith Grey isn't going anywhere.

Ellen Pompeo has signed a new contract to keep her in the starring role on Grey's Anatomy for the ABC hit's 13th season, a rep for the actress confirms with E! News. As if her return was ever really in any doubt. (Yeah, yeah, Mer has new half-sister Maggie [Kelly McCreary] around, but this isn't Pierce's Anatomy, now is it?)

The terms of Pompeo's deal remain unclear, though Deadline reports the contract makes her one of the highest-paid actresses on TV, earning upwards of $300,000 per episode. Yeah, we wouldn't walk away from that, either.

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Grey's Anatomy is coming off a banner year for the long-running series, rebounding from the loss of Patrick Dempsey's McDreamy to new creative, and ratings, heights. A renewed focus on widowed Meredith propelled the series to the status of ABC's highest-rated drama—in its 12th season. And adding hunky Martin Henderson as Nathan "McKiwi" Riggs to the mix certainly didn't hurt. Following such success, most of Pompeo's co-stars (who are in the midst of their own contract negotiations) are expected to return for another year, though one notable face won't be in the mix.

Immediately after the season finale aired last month, Sara Ramirez revealed that she was walking away from the role of Dr. Callie Torres after 10 years. "I'm deeply grateful to have spent the last 10 years with my family at Grey's Anatomy & ABC but for now I'm taking some welcome time off," Ramirez said in a statement. "Shonda's been so incredible to work for and we will definitely continue our conversations! I send my Love to Ellen, the rest of the cast & crew, and I look forward to always being a part of the Shondaland family!"

Are you relieved that Pompeo has signed on for at least one more season? Let us know in the comments below.

Grey's Anatomy returns for season 13 this fall on ABC.

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