2005: Becoming Meredith Grey

Ellen Pompeo is the highest-paid actress on TV thanks to Meredith Greybut she almost turned it down.

"I was offered the role of Meredith. I had done a movie for the studio called Moonlight Mile, so the studio was aware of me. Then...I met Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman...We sat down and talked about me possibly doing an arc on Alias. That didn't happen. Bob and Alex wrote a show called Secret Service," Pompeo told TV Guide. "I really wanted to do that and the studio really wanted me to do Grey's instead. I wanted to do the Secret Service pilot that didn't go, of course; me and my brilliant choices. I read Grey's and I went and met Shonda and I decided to come on and do this. It was just an invitation and I happily accepted."

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Behind-the-Scenes Photos From the 'Grey's Anatomy' Set - MarieClaire.com