Ellen Pompeo Reveals She Was Cut from Film Due to Kate Winslet's Stellar Performance

Published: June 18, 2025

Ellen Pompeo, the star of Grey's Anatomy, recently attended the Tribeca Festival Storytellers, where she shared a fascinating story about her experience in the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. According to Pompeo, she was originally cast in the film but was ultimately cut out of the final version. Ellen Pompeo

Pompeo, 55, spoke about her role being cut at a Tribeca Festival Storytellers event on Saturday, June 14, for a conversation with Katie Couric. She noted that she had roles in Old School and Catch Me if You Can, as well as one film in which she has never actually seen — because her scenes were cut. "And Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, yeah? Which I got completely cut out of because Kate Winslet is in the movie, of course, like you have Kate Winslet, you definitely don't need me," she said. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine, which also stars Jim Carrey, won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and earned Winslet a Best Actress nomination. Pompeo is best known as the star of Grey's Anatomy, a show she joined in 2005 as the titular character, Meredith Grey.

In other celebrity news, Sarah Jessica Parker Recalls Cruel Criticism of Her Appearance on Sex and the City, JJ Spaun Wins US Open, and Cause of Death Revealed for 16-Year-Old Track Star Espoir Missite.

At the Tribeca event, she unveiled a foot injury by sporting a black boot on her foot. After Couric, 68, asked, "What the hell happened to your foot?" Pompeo said, “I wish it was, like, a cool, sexy or exciting story, like I was doing some cool stunts or something."

While the former Today star assumed that pickleball was to blame, Pompeo told her the injury actually happened far from the court. "I just, you know, was half asleep and jumped out of bed too quick and landed on my foot the wrong way. Somewhat clumsy of me,” she said, adding: "And by the way, this is almost like my party trick. I literally have done this three times, not the same way I've done it. This is my second time doing it that way, being asleep and jumping out too fast."

Pompeo said the first injury took place during season 2 of Grey's Anatomy after a long day on set. "My alarm was set, and I was so tired, working crazy hours, and I forgot to shut off my alarm because it was Saturday, so I thought I had overslept. So, the alarm goes off, and I jump out of bed, and I step the wrong way," she recalled.

She then joked: "At least I had an excuse that time. This time, I have no excuse!"

For more entertainment news, check out Jason Momoa's Son Nakoa Wolf to Make Acting Debut in Dune 3 Alongside Father