Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Kathleen Pompeo (/pɒmˈpeɪoʊ/; born November 10, 1969) is an American actress and producer. One of the world’s highest paid actors since 2017, she has made multiple appearances on the Forbes’ year-end lists. Her accolades include a Screen Actors Guild Award and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.

Born in Everett, Massachusetts, Pompeo moved to Miami and then New York City, where a casting director discovered her and signed her for an ad campaign for L’Oreal. She made her screen debut with NBC’s legal drama Law & Order, then guest-starred in other television shows, including the comedy Strangers with Candy, the medical drama Strong Medicine and the sitcom Friends. She made her feature film debut in 1999 with the romantic comedy Coming Soon, and went on to play minor roles in films like In the Weeds and Mambo Café but found little initial success. A turning point came in her career in 2002, when she gained wide recognition for her starring role in Brad Silberling’s drama Moonlight Mile.