These Ellen Pompeo Quotes Are As Motivating As Meredith’s Monologues

Ellen Pompeo dishes out motivational Mer monologues every Thursday on Grey’s Anatomy — but the actor has plenty to say beyond the show, too. Here are some of her most inspiring moments.

Pompeo talked about the wage gap in 2018. “A guy wouldn’t have any problem asking for $600,000 an episode ... as women, we’re like, ‘Oh, can I ask for that? Is that OK?’” she told THR.

“When your face and your voice have been part of something that’s generated $3 billion ... you start to feel like, ‘OK, maybe I do deserve a piece of this,’” she continued.

In 2018, Pompeo discussed the need for diversity on-screen and off. “It’s up to all productions to make sure that your crew looks like the world we see,” she told NET-A-PORTER.

The Grey’s star also called on white creatives to demand better. “As Caucasian people ... it’s our job, because we’ve created the problem,” she added.

At a 2018 Elle event, Pompeo shared her advice for women in Hollywood. “Be confident and don’t take any sh*t ... [and] don’t be afraid to be a b*tch,” she told Variety.

In 2016, Pompeo got real about growing up. “Aging is a gift that not everybody is given the privilege of,” she told ET. “The older [women] get, the more we’re capable of.”

“The smarter we are, the more confident we are, and the more things we can juggle,” Pompeo continued. “You have to embrace aging. Embrace the good parts about it.”

During her early Grey’s days, Pompeo talked about her role as a medical intern on the show, but what she said will ring true to anyone feeling a little lost in life or work:

“There’s gotta be a first time for everything, so it’s OK that we don’t know what we’re doing,” she told ABC in 2005. “Because we’re not supposed to, really.”