Ellen Pompeo's Real Name: Ellen Pompeo

Quick answer: The actress is known professionally as Ellen Pompeo. Encyclopedia.com and Rotten Tomatoes independently list a November 10, 1969, birth in Everett, Massachusetts. This page titles her under the public name.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers identify her under the professional name Ellen Pompeo. Encyclopedia.com says she was born November 10, 1969, in Everett, Massachusetts, and later worked as a cocktail waitress in Miami and as a bartender in New York City in 1995, and appeared in commercials for Citibank and L'Oreal. Rotten Tomatoes independently lists the birthday as Nov. 10, 1969, and the birthplace as Everett, Massachusetts, and says she began her career working in commercials and episodic television guest spots.

Career highlights

Encyclopedia.com lists early television appearances including Jenna Weber on Law & Order in 1996, a later Law & Order role in 2000, Strangers with Candy (1999), Get Real (2000), Strong Medicine (2001), The Job (2001), and Friends in 2004, as Missy Goldberg, and film roles including In the Weeds (2000), Moonlight Mile (2002) as Bertie Knox, Catch Me If You Can (2002) as Marci, Daredevil (2003) as Karen Page, and Old School (2003) as Nicole. It also records her series role as Dr. Meredith Grey on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, beginning in 2005, a 2005 Teen Choice Award nomination for a television breakout performance, and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, with others, for outstanding ensemble in a drama series in 2006. Rotten Tomatoes independently lists later or additional credits including Art Heist (2004) and Life of the Party (2005). Rotten Tomatoes independently names Moonlight Mile (2002) as a major feature-film role alongside Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon, followed by a part in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002), opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, and a more prominent turn in Old School (2003), directed by Todd Phillips, and says she was offered the title role of Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy in 2005. The Golden Globes independently record a 2007 nomination for best performance by an actress in a television series, drama, for Grey's Anatomy.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Ellen Pompeo are looking for the same actress, including the Grey's Anatomy role most often associated with her work. This page uses the public professional name. Search interest often uses the professional name alone, including searches for Meredith Grey.