Bella Magazine spoke to the British star to find out about her life before to finding fame on Grey's Anatomy. RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: The Main Characters, Ranked From Most Heroic To Most Villainous. She was a latecomer to Meredith Grey’s life and it took at least three seasons before she was loved by her sister. Helmed by television power player Shonda Rhimes, Grey’s Anatomy tells the story of residents and staff of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, a fictional hospital based in Seattle. George explained how this transformed his plans, saying, "I took more and more acting classes, found myself doing plays and I was all theater and all resident staff — I was co-chair of resident staff my fourth year — and that was it." Oh's character won the hearts of millions of fans thanks to her sass, wit, and passionate spirit. This kind of tragedy is tough on many couples and they aren't able to move past it together. She has a baby girl and names her Harriet. In 2015, Williams told Essence how he went into teaching history after experiencing the two different sides of America's education system. He explained, "I remember many times we'd go through the sofa looking for change to get a chippy for tea." It was only in the '90s that Pickens made the move to Hollywood and his TV career took off. The actress left the show during the its sixth season, as noted by Entertainment Tonight. What many Grey's Anatomy fans fail to realize is that McKidd is actually a fully-fledged Scotsman! His middle name comes from Jackson's favorite uncle, Samuel's grand-uncle. Many of the doctors experience heartbreak on Grey's Anatomy, but it's especially crushing when the sweet April Kepner deals with tragedy in her life. George's character soon became central to the Grey's Anatomy world, as the husband of Dr. Miranda Bailey and as a character in Station 19, the show's spinoff (via Variety). Kevin McKidd portrayed Owen Hunt on Grey's Anatomy starting in Season 5, and he quickly became one of the show's most hated characters of all time. Well, it seems that he only really had the chance to play bit characters before. Grey’s Anatomy first debuted on television in 2005. No wonder the actor spent so long on Grey's Anatomy — if he wasn't a real-life medical professional, at least he could pretend to be one! During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she confessed that she had to defy her parents to go to acting school, as they were hesitant about Oh pursuing a career in entertainment. She revealed to TV Guide that she auditioned for two other roles on the show before getting cast! And if the helicopter doesn’t crash, we witness the heartbreaking and unnerving decisions that accompany transplant surgeries. NEXT: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Things That Make No Sense About The Patients. RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: 10 Saddest Things About Meredith. In 2018, Oh brought her parents to the Emmys where her mom gushed that she was "so proud of her," as shared by Variety. And pretty soon, she had a few more impressive credits under her belt, including roles in Everwood and Mad Men. The actress went to the University of Virginia, where she studied drama and appeared in at least one college production, as noted by UVA Today. Despite loving the showbiz industry from a young age, her shyness almost got the better of her. In the 12th season of Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Ben Warren, played by Jason George, was promoted to series regular. History. "Grey's Anatomy" Season 17, Episode 5 was teased by a promo that saw Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey clinging onto life. The medical drama instantly became popular, with fans gravitating to the stories of the dedicated professionals working so hard to save lives. Even though he'd started college with the goal of becoming a lawyer, by the time he'd graduated, he had realized that acting "was going to be [his] profession. Just three months after that audition, the Grey's team offered her a three-episode arch as Arizona Robbins. However, before his days on Grey's, he had a pretty vibrant career, playing some iconic roles throughout the '90s like Tommy in the cult-classic Trainspotting. "Grey's Anatomy" is now filming Season 17, and Ellen Pompeo's recent Instagram post hinted at the man who will be grabbing Meredith Grey's attention in the next episodes of the ABC show. Despite being a popular actor on the show, Capshaw certainly had to wait her turn before her first appearance. "My parents at that time really looked down on the arts," she explained. After five seasons, the heart surgeon (the same one who was nicknamed "007" after being the first intern to mess up — get it, a "license to kill"?) But could the show surprise fans … Luddington went on to act in True Blood and Californication before joining Grey's Anatomy. In 1996, Wilson took over the lead role of Matron "Mama" Morton in the Broadway revival of Chicago. In fact, before acting, he was a high school teacher. As explained in Good Housekeeping, Heigl's brother Jason was killed in a car accident when she was just 8 years old, and so it was a difficult time for Heigl. Her first big role was in the Lifetime movie William & Kate, in which Luddington starred as the Duchess of Cambridge herself. It's easy to see why so many viewers are completely obsessed. April, unfortunately, fails them the first time. She's received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in the show, and she even created her own production company, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jackson Avery, played by Jesse Williams, was first introduced to the cast of Grey’s Anatomy in 2009. Thankfully, the former couple starts getting along again and they want to co-parent nicely and peacefully. In the sixth season episode "Death and All His Friends," Gary Clark shoots and kills Reed Adamson as he's distraught over the death of his wife. THE HEART is just as emotional as those many Grey’s episode. Season 14 is a sad one for April Kepner. "I did birthday parties on weekends," he explained. In 2014, the star spoke to Us Weekly and offered up some details about his past. It's also humiliating for her to fail. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Aya Tsintziras writes about travel and pop culture. ", The Grey's Anatomy Cast Before All The Fame, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Losing a baby is one of the most difficult and painful things that anyone can go through, and it's terrible for April and Jackson. The storyline is like a horror movie come to life. He also starred in the Roundabout Theater's production of A Raisin in the Sun. Samuel Linden 1 episode, 2005 Helen Slater ... Nadia Shelton 1 episode, 2005 Josh Stamberg ... Tommy Walker 1 episode, 2005 Joseph Lyle Taylor ... Weiss 1 episode, 2005 Bruce A. April Kepner has made some harsh decisions, but for the most part, she is a kind doctor with a big heart who is just trying to help people. Her first audition was for Nurse Rose, but the role went to Lauren Stamile. Luddington confessed that she had always dreamed of becoming a star. It's the day of Amelia and Owen's wedding, but even though she's the one who proposed, Amelia is feeling unsure that she's doing the right thing.When her mother refuses to attend the wedding, Amelia locks herself in the bathroom, and only Owen can … But what was she like before joining the show? announces that he wants to enlist in the Army. Owen finds her slumped on … But Oh almost didn't get to have her fabulous acting career. She attended Atlanta’s Spelman College and, in 1974, met a certain Samuel L. Jackson (who was then a … For her parents, acting was apparently "one step above prostitution.". RELATED: Grey's Anatomy Characters & Their Disney Counterparts. But where were these actors prior to their Grey's Anatomy fame? The actress, who is the real life wife of Samuel L. Jackson, counts Luke Cage and Blue Bloods among her TV credits. Everyone is very against this, of course, telling him that he'll surely die. Samuel Norbert Avery Eric McCandless Getty Images When Jackson Avery (played by Jesse Williams) and April (Sarah Drew) had a baby, it seemed like a moment to rejoice. Not only has Wilson played a leading role on screen, but she's also jumped behind the camera to direct over 20 episodes of the series, according to IMDb. Luckily, Oh's parents seem to have come around to their daughter's career choice. She said, "I was very sad and introverted as a child, and I would never, ever have had the confidence or the extroverted nature to be in a school play.". "I grew up in Chicago in an under-served community, over-crowded classrooms that sometimes had two grades in a classroom," he shared. Finally, he won the role of Dr. Mark Sloan, which would change his career. From some tough breaks in her medical career to her love life, April has suffered quite a few times on Grey's Anatomy. There are certain TV characters who have been put through the wringer, and the interns and doctors on Grey's Anatomy seem to face tragedies in their personal lives on a regular basis. Dempsey's character was much-loved by fans, largely because of his amazing relationship with Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey. Sarah Drew found fame when she joined the Grey's Anatomy cast in Season 6 as Dr. April Kepner, the eventual wife of Jackson Avery (via Express). When April learns that she's pregnant again, it's bittersweet as she and Jackson had already broken up. As it turns out, Wilson's vocal chops won her some amazing roles on Broadway before she hit our screens in Grey's Anatomy. Instead, the star was once set to become a circus performer! He even changes his accent for the show. She recalled the experience to Allure, saying, "Afterward, I stood up and said, 'That's what I want to be. It's sad when April breaks her engagement to Matthew, as he's a sweet character who didn't deserve to go through that. Grey’s Anatomy tried real hard to get Meredith a post-McDreamy love, and as the Meredith and Riggs romance showed, maybe a little too hard. Grey’s Anatomy has featured many character journeys over the years, and many more milestones — marriages, births, engagements, and deaths. It turns out, there were times when the McKidd family could barely afford dinner. For many of the series' stars, the TV show, which was created by Shonda Rhimes, marked their first big break. This is a totally wild action and one that doesn't make much sense. Condition of Israel at His Birth.At the time of Samuel's birth the condition of Israel was deplorable; there was no recognized leader, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes ( Judges 21:25 1 Samuel 4:1-28). Chambers spent his childhood in Ohio with "cool parents" who were "deputy sheriffs." Season 17 has thrown Grey’s Anatomy followers for a loop for a lot of causes, and the grief-heavy installment has had us asking one large question: is that this the final chapter of our favourite medical drama? Well, it turns out, Heigl's career kicked off at a fairly young age. In the episode, cleverly titled "Cold As Ice", April's ex-fiance Matthew is brought into the hospital after a car crash. It's also difficult for April to get divorced, as she didn't expect to, and it takes a while for her to be okay with that. On June 5, 2015 ABC announced that Jason George has been promoted to series-regular status after having performed a recurring role as Dr. Ben Warren since the sixth season of the medical drama. After getting into acting in high school, according to EW, Dane took on a few projects and got a recurring role in Charmed as Jason Dean. While April and Matthew do get married in season 14, which took place before April was off the show, their wedding in season 10 doesn't end up happening. For Oh, getting cast in Grey's Anatomy in 2005 was the real beginning of her fame, even though she had taken on some meaty roles in the past, as seen on her IMDb page. Grey’s Anatomy is an amazing show regardless of who you are. The Grey's Anatomy Season 12 finale episode "Family Affair," was emotional, and mostly about families and relationships growing stronger. SARAH DREW, JESSE WILLIAMS | Eric McCandless/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images McKidd explained to The Scotsman, "My mum and dad were the best parents a kid could have but they lived pay packet to pay packet." It's pretty clear that McKidd has come a long way since those difficult times in Scotland! Apparently, she was reluctant to audition as the role would conflict with her final semester, but Drew snagged the role in 2001. In 2019, ABC renewed the series for a mind-blowing 16th and 17th seasons (via TV Line). I found this incredible chasm between two of the many Americas we have. In this novel, set over the course of 24 hours, the heart of a teenaged boy involved in a car accident is transplanted into a woman on the verge of death. When it comes to truly tragic character deaths, however, few hit fans harder than the death of Jackson Avery and April Kepner’s first child, Samuel Avery. Grey's Anatomy fans know Eric Dane as the mega hunk Dr. Mark Sloan, who was quickly dubbed McSteamy thanks to his infamous body-bearing scene, as noted by Entertainment Weekly. Despite only being on the show until 2012, Dane remains one of the most popular and memorable characters. Patrick Dempsey took on the iconic role of Derek Shepherd (aka McDreamy) in Grey's Anatomy, and, years later in 2015, he decided to part ways with the show in order to focus on his marriage and other career opportunities, as noted by People. She's intimidating, independent, and doesn't make friends easily. Wilson got her BFA at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, before appearing in some of Broadway's best-known musicals, according to Broadway World. He even thought about joining the Ringling Brothers clown school, though he was "denied entry into the program," according to EW. One of Addison's best friends, and a majority owner of the practice. The first one was Amelia Shepherd's son. Station 19's Ben and Vic bring a young woman into the hospital, and Jackson stands up to Koracick when he goes too far with a patient's family. Of course, Capshaw stayed on for much longer than three episodes, eventually gracing our screens for ten whole seasons. Dr. Alex Karev, Chambers' well-loved character, eventually had his last episode on the show after 15 years, according to Deadline. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. How adorable! It's easy to see why so many viewers are completely obsessed. It's hard to be the laughingstock of the office (or in this case, the hospital) for personal choices that aren't anyone else's business. Well, while Dempsey had previously pursued a career in the performing arts, he wasn't always working in Hollywood. Bridgerton fans should feel a sense of deja vu while watching the first 11 minutes of Grey’s Anatomy season 5 episode “Beat Your Heart Out,” which ai by Ariana Romero TV Shows April was friends with Reed, and this is really hard for her to deal with, especially since it happens at the hospital. While some sadness is to be expected as they're trying to save patients' lives every day, these characters deal with much more pain than most. Grey's Anatomy has a pretty impressive list of alumni, including household names like Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, and Katherine Heigl. From some tough breaks in her medical career to her love life, April has suffered quite a few times on Grey's Anatomy. Since beginning the show, Pompeo has rocketed to fame. Here is the lowdown on the biggest Grey's Anatomy stars before all the celebrity. At the beginning of Grey's Anatomy, everyone finds out that she hasn't had sex, and they tease her and make her feel horrible about it. Prior to becoming the heartthrob of Grey's Anatomy, Dempsey took part in a few films, but before that? Before joining the series, Pickens appeared in a few well-known TV shows and films. She lives in Toronto with her husband. No wonder Dr. Bailey was such a great singer! The first season of Grey's Anatomy has some tragic times and the same thing can be said about every single season of the hospital drama. She also appeared in On the Town in 1998, Avenue Q in 2003, and Caroline, or Change in 2004. Marrying into a family can be tough, and April learns that her mother-in-law isn't going to make things easy for her. Some fans will also remember Wilson's killer voice in the Season 3 Grey's episode "Staring at the Sun" (via TV Fanatic). Apparently, when Heigl's career began to take off, her mother had a reason to get out of the house, distracting her from her heartbreak. Ellen Pompeo is perhaps the most recognizable actor on Grey's Anatomy. Luckily, the writers must have seen his potential, and the then-future Euphoria star quickly became central to the story. Soon enough, she was chosen to pose for a Sears catalogue and she started acting. But what was life like for McSteamy before Grey's Anatomy? Samuel Norbert Avery was the son of Jackson Avery and April Kepner and Mason Avery half brother. Jackson Avery is a catch and while some fans didn't think that he should have dated April, others definitely shipped this pair. However, Pompeo didn't always think she'd have a career in acting. Parentage. They're alive. After loving April, Jackson dates Vic, and it's hard to deny that he and April still have a connection even after their relationship fizzles out. 10 April Fails Her Board Exams Just like passing the bar exam is the only way to become a lawyer, the gang on Grey's Anatomy needs to pass their board exams. Eventually, Luddington attended the New York Film Academy. She's not immediately on board when she learns about their marriage and it never seems like she's happy. She loves coffee, barre classes, avocado, and watching TV.