When did Ellen Pompeo make acting debut? Career explored as actress gets honoured with a star of 'Hollywood Walk of Fame'

Ellen Pompeo, known for playing Dr. Meredith Grey in Grey's Anatomy, got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

She received this honor on April 29, 2025, in the Television Category. This marks a big moment in her long career in show business. The Walk of Fame event took place on Hollywood Boulevard. Pompeo's family and friends stood with her.

Her husband Chris Ivery and their kids joined her on this big day showing how much her loved ones matter in her journey. Some of her Grey's Anatomy castmates were also present.

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Ellen Pompeo early career and breakthrough roles

Ellen Pompeo started her TV career with small roles in popular shows. She made her debut on NBC's Law & Order and then showed up in series like Strangers with Candy, Strong Medicine, and Friends. Her early movie roles in films such as Coming Soon and Mambo Café didn't make a big splash, but her part in the 2002 movie Moonlight Mile gave us a glimpse of what she could do as an actress.

The game-changer though, happened when she landed a role in Grey's Anatomy in 2005. Her complex take on Meredith Grey captured the hearts of viewers and critics. As time passed, Pompeo became one of TV's most well-known and admired stars snagging a Screen Actors Guild Award and a bunch of honors that locked in her spot in show business history.

Pompeo's career wins aren't just about acting. She's taken the director's chair for Grey's Anatomy episodes and started her own production company, Calamity Jane showing off her range and leadership in the field. Her clout also showed up in her rank among the top-paid TV actresses, with Forbes putting her at number four in 2016 and fifth overall among all TV actors in 2018.

Shonda Rhimes pays tribute to Ellen Pompeo’s enduring legacy

Shonda Rhimes, who created Grey's Anatomy also showed up. Rhimes and Pompeo's teamwork has been key to the show's success.

During the event, Shonda Rhimes honored Pompeo with a touching online message calling her a "real-life icon" and applauding her power, smarts, and imagination.

Rhimes pointed out how Pompeo has made her mark not just as an actress but also as a director, producer, and mom—jobs she's juggled with impressive grace. Right now, Pompeo is busy with a new show called Good American Family showing she's still relevant and growing in the always-shifting world of showbiz. On Instagram, Rhimes wrote,

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"Today, the world honors what I've known for years: @ellenpompeo is a star. A force. A light. A woman who carried 21 seasons (!!) with grace and unmatched talent. She's fierce, funny, thoughtful, and deeply caring - a kind friend, a brilliant actor, and an incredible mom. She's a director. She's a producer. She's a role model."

She added,

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"She's literally all of the things! And that intelligence, that savvy, that fearlessness is why we're here today. Ellen, you are a living, breathing icon. You never needed a star to prove it... but it sure is nice to see the truth written in stone. Congratulations, my friend!"

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With a star now embedded on Hollywood Boulevard, Ellen Pompeo's legacy is both figuratively and literally set in stone.

Gomala Devi is a journalist at Primetimer. 

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering and has over three years of experience as a content writer.

Gomala was drawn to writing after reading the Harry Potter series, and she developed an interest in fashion and pop culture at the same time.
She loves exploring the newest developments in the lifestyle space and crafting interesting opinion pieces. She references official websites, interviews, and social media to ensure that her work is factually sound.

In her spare time, she loves to read books and play chess.