'Her movie career did not take off!' Ellen Pompeo is brutally honest about former Grey's Anatomy co-star Katherine Heigl

By Cassie Carpenter

PUBLISHED: 20:01 EST, 7 October 2013 | UPDATED: 02:34 EST, 8 October 2013

She recently celebrated her 200th episode playing Dr Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy.

And Ellen Pompeo opened up about her former co-stars Katherine Heigl and Isaiah Washington, who both exited the ABC series amidst controversy.

Washington's contract was famously not renewed in 2007 following his repeated use of homophobic slurs.

And Heigl, who scored an Emmy as Dr Izzie Stevens, dissed the writing on the Shonda Rhimes medical drama back in 2008.

First time addressing it: Ellen Pompeo opened up about her former Grey's Anatomy co-stars Katherine Heigl and Isaiah Washington, who both exited the ABC series amidst controversy

First time addressing it: Ellen Pompeo opened up about her former Grey's Anatomy co-stars Katherine Heigl and Isaiah Washington, who both exited the ABC series amidst controversy

'Hurt feelings, combined with instant success and huge paychecks started things spinning out of control,' Ellen told the New York Post.

'The crazier things got, as I watched all the tumult with Isaiah and then the Katie thing, I started to focus on the work. Maybe it is my Boston, blue-collar upbringing. I just tried to not pay attention to all the noise around me.'

The Golden Globe nominee, who turns 44 next month, admitted that it was tough when the outspoken blonde left.

'You could understand why she wanted to go — when you're offered $12 million a movie and you're only 26,' Pompeo admitted.

'Hurt feelings combined with instant success': Washington was fired in 2007 following his homophobic slurs and Heigl - who scored an Emmy as Dr. Izzie Stevens - dissed Shonda Rhimes's writing

'Hurt feelings combined with instant success': Washington was fired in 2007 following his homophobic slurs and Heigl - who scored an Emmy as Dr. Izzie Stevens - dissed Shonda Rhimes's writing

'But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise, and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career did not take off.'

After Knocked Up, Katherine starred in a string of romantic comedy duds like Killers, One for the Money, and The Big Wedding.

Despite Ellen's comment, Heigl will next star in next year's dramedy North of Hell with Patrick Wilson and Jordana Brewster.

'Shonda really wanted to put a black man in the mix': Ellen also revealed that producers originally wanted her love interest to be Isaiah rather than Patrick Dempsey (L)

'Shonda really wanted to put a black man in the mix': Ellen also revealed that producers originally wanted her love interest to be Isaiah rather than Patrick Dempsey (L)

'I didn't want him. It was too close to home': The Daredevil actress has been married to African-American music producer Chris Ivery for six years, and they are parents to four-year-old Stella Luna

'I didn't want him. It was too close to home': The Daredevil actress has been married to African-American music producer Chris Ivery for six years, and they are parents to four-year-old Stella Luna

Coincidentally, the 34-year-old actress spent Monday with former Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh at a wedding in Upstate New York.

Heigl tweeted: 'Having the time of my life at said wedding with Kate Walsh, Josh Kelley, Kate's amazing fella Chris and of course my girl Chey!'

But after eight years, Ellen has no desire to leave Grey's Anatomy.

She said: 'I have an amazing life. I have a house five minutes from the studio, I have a house in the Hamptons, a house in Malibu, a beautiful daughter whom I see every night, and it’s all because I didn’t leave Grey’s Anatomy.'

'She re-upped, took a big raise, and then tried to get off the show': Pompeo said the outspoken blonde should not have renewed her contract since 'her movie career did not take off'

'She re-upped, took a big raise, and then tried to get off the show': Pompeo said the outspoken blonde should not have renewed her contract since 'her movie career did not take off'

The blue-eyed beauty also revealed that producers originally wanted her love interest to be Isaiah rather than Patrick Dempsey.

'You know they wanted Isaiah Washington to be my boyfriend,' Pompeo said.

'Shonda really wanted to put a black man in the mix. I didn’t think they were really going to put an interracial couple on the show and I didn’t want him. It was too close to home.'

The Daredevil actress has been married to African-American music producer Chris Ivery for six years.

'You could understand why she wanted to go': After Knocked Up, Katherine starred in a string of romantic comedy duds like Killers, One for the Money, and The Big Wedding

'You could understand why she wanted to go': After Knocked Up, Katherine starred in a string of romantic comedy duds like Killers, One for the Money, and The Big Wedding

'Having the time of my life!' Coincidentally, the 34-year-old actress spent Monday with former Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh at a wedding in Upstate New York

'Having the time of my life!' Coincidentally, the 34-year-old actress spent Monday with former Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh at a wedding in Upstate New York

And the couple has a four-year-old daughter called Stella Luna.

'I said I wanted that Dempsey kid. I think that once Isaiah did not get the role it backfired,' Ellen recalled.

Meanwhile, Washington can currently be seen in the indie drama Blue Caprice based on the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks.

Still working: Meanwhile, Washington can currently be seen in the indie drama Blue Caprice based on the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks

Still working: Meanwhile, Washington can currently be seen in the indie drama Blue Caprice based on the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks

The 50-year-old actor will also return to television in The CW's midseason post-apocalyptic drama The 100.

The first part of the 10th season of Grey's Anatomy currently airs Thursday nights on ABC.

And the second part of the 10th season will continue February 27, 2014.

Family time: Katherine, mother Nancy and husband Josh Kelley enjoyed a stroll on Sunday in New York City

Family time: Katherine, mother Nancy and husband Josh Kelley enjoyed a stroll on Sunday in New York City

Walking the dog: Katherine kept a hand on her pooch's leash as she walked behind Josh

Walking the dog: Katherine kept a hand on her pooch's leash as she walked behind Josh

Blonde beauty: Katherine could not hide her good looks behind those glasses

Blonde beauty: Katherine could not hide her good looks behind those glasses


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She's not just being brutally honest; she's being brutally obvious!

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Miaow!!!!

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I can´t stand Grey´s. One of the worst shows ever. No wonder KH left.

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i love katherine heigl movies like life as we know it

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Katherine Heigl makes better movies than Ellen Pompeo which are none. She (Ellen) is in a super lame tv show she should have moved on from years ago but is content to phone it in every week and collect an absurd paycheck. ELLEEN is the one hit wonder and not a very good one at that.

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Heigl may make awful movies but she's still a 'movie star' ,not still stuck on a little tv show that isnt even near half as good as St Elsewhere or E.R.

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The show finished for me a couple of season sub ago finishing with the shooting in the hospital. It's become " Friends" set in a hospital.....one liners, and everyone nipping in to a cupboard between operations to have a s..g. I agree with her about Heigl's film career ....it's just been " show me the money" time she and the show were much better when she was in it. She would be much better accepting a dramatic role rather than some dumb a.s comedy affair as she is a good straight actress.......but G.A. should retire gracefully DNR.

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Was really glad when Heigl left, she is a dreadful actress, when she was on Grey's the mute button worked overtime as she was so whiney she made my skin crawl, would rather have Ellen anytime. Not a big fan of rom coms, but would definitely never watch a Heigl film, as her name, and good film just don't go together.

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Don't get smug Ellen- since the recession it is a fact that fewer and fewer movies are being made and those that are tend to be the action, "appeal to all types" kind. Heigl is a "chick flick" actress and that type of movie isn't being made as much. So you can't blame her decision making - there are fewer roles for females. Fact.

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Wow still bitter Pompero. Whiny, insipid character seems to be close to reality. Heigl has done ok in what she chose and it gave your a bigger spot. Shushh

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