<P> Pompeo's contract expired again at the end of the twelfth season . She signed a new contract to keep her in the starring role on the series for the thirteenth season . According to a report in Deadline Hollywood, Pompeo was earning $300,000 per episode under the new deal . </P> <P> On January 17, 2018, it was announced by ABC that Ellen Pompeo's contract had been renewed through season 16 . Not only does the contract renewal secure that Pompeo's return as Meredith Grey, but it also makes her a producer of Grey's Anatomy and a co-executive producer of the spin - off series . The deal will make Pompeo the highest - paid actress currently on a dramatic TV series, with her making $575,000 per episode and over $20 million yearly . </P> <P> Executive producer Betsy Beers on developing Pompeo's character </P> <P> Grey is the protagonist and focal point of the series . She has been called "intelligent, compassionate, hard - working, oftentimes outspoken, easily distracted, and indecisive" by Grey's Anatomy executives . Pompeo says she is unaware if her character knows how to have fun, adding: "All of my scenes with (Dempsey) are the same--we're either breaking up or having sex ." Her personality has evolved over the past few seasons from depressed, to happy and "fixed". Pompeo said to Good Morning America, "I am so incredibly lucky to have Patrick (Dempsey), to have the chemistry that we do, we have an amazing relationship, and it's like any other relationship, you have your ups and downs . But we work it out, and we've found a way to do this for this long and still get along, and make it work and believe in what we're doing ." Pompeo told Entertainment Weekly: "It's awkward with Patrick (Dempsey) because he's like my brother . As soon as the camera is off, I'm like,' Is your hand on my butt?' But there are millions of girls who have been waiting for this, so I feel an obligation to the fans ." Rhimes used the dog "Doc", which Meredith and Derek shared, as a metaphor of their relationship during the second season . She characterizes Grey as doing what she thinks is right: </P>

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