Meredith Grey may not be in the picture, but she’s still part of the Grey’s Anatomy story.
Grey’s Anatomy fans had one very important question after seeing the first look at the season 23 cast: Where is Meredith Grey?
Ellen Pompeo, who has played the iconic surgeon since the ABC medical drama premiered in 2005, was noticeably absent from a new cast photo shared ahead of the show’s return.
The Instagram post, shared on July 24, featured longtime Grey’s Anatomy stars Chandra Wilson, Debbie Allen, James Pickens Jr., Camilla Luddington and Caterina Scorsone alongside newer cast members Trevor Jackson, Adelaide Kane, Niko Terho, Harry Shum Jr. and Anthony Hill.
While many fans were excited to see the series gearing up for another season, others immediately noticed that its namesake character was missing from the lineup.
“Ok so I’m not seeing Meredith???” one fan wrote in the comments. “The show is called Grey’s Anatomy, but there’s not a single ‘grey’ in sight.”
Another commenter joked, “GREY’S Anatomy but I don’t see a GREY..LOL HAAHAHAAHAA.”
“Where’s Meredith????” another fan asked.
But Pompeo’s absence from the cast photo doesn’t mean viewers have seen the last of Meredith Grey. After serving as the face of Grey’s Anatomy for its first 18 seasons, Pompeo scaled back her on-screen role beginning with season 19 in 2022 as she focused more on her family and other projects.
“I’ve been doing it for 20 years, so it was time to step away,” she told El País in an April 2025 interview. “I have three children and I love spending time with them and I love being involved in their lives.”
The actress, who shares daughters Stella, 16, and Sienna, 11, as well as son Eli, 9, with husband Chris Ivery, added, “I’m very lucky to be able to get to work sometimes and take time off. I have a nice balance in my life.”
Since stepping back from her starring role, Pompeo has remained closely connected to Grey’s Anatomy as an executive producer and the show’s narrator. She has also continued to appear in select episodes each season and is expected to return for season 23, according to Deadline.
The upcoming season will also look different following the exits of longtime cast members Kevin McKidd and Kim Raver, who departed the series at the end of last season.
“Grey’s Anatomy has been a huge chapter of my life, creatively and personally, and I’m deeply grateful for everything the show has given me over the years,” McKidd shared in a statement to Variety in March. “As that chapter comes to a close, I’m looking forward to what’s ahead—building new work, telling new stories, and taking everything I’ve learned into the next phase of my career.”
Raver also reflected on her time with the series, saying, “To my amazingly talented castmates and our formidable, tireless crew: playing in this arena with you has been a joy, and I will carry this company in my heart always.”
Even with a few familiar faces missing, Grey’s Anatomy isn’t ready to close the book on Meredith Grey just yet.
