Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo reveals ‘grossest prop’ she ever had to work with and it’s enough to put you off the show forever

Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo has opened up on her time working on the long-running medical drama series — and it turns out that playing a surgeon can be pretty grim.

Pompeo, 55, is best known for playing Dr Meredith Grey since the show's inception in 2005 and remained as the main character until her 2023 departure.

The actor recently reflected on her long tenure as Meredith during a new interview with Alex Cooper on a recent episode of Call Her Daddy, including all the gory behind-the-scenes details involved with playing a doctor.

Ellen Pompeo revealed the more gory aspects of playing Dr Meredith Grey (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

It's no secret that playing a doctor on TV isn't the easiest of character, considering the amount of medical terminology you'd have to memorise in order to perfect the role.

And it turns out playing a surgeon can also be pretty gory.

Of course, fake blood and anatomical props wouldn't be out of place on the Grey's Anatomy set, but it turns out that Pompeo also had to deal with the real thing.

Asked by Cooper for details on the 'grossest prop' she'd ever worked with, the actor revealed that she'd been handed 'real live organs' numerous times on set.

"Definitely real organs, real body parts," Pompeo replied. "It's gross, it's really gross."

Now before you reach for your sick bucket don't worry, as Pompeo was quick to clarify that they were given animal organs and not human ones.

Which is still pretty gross, just a tiny bit more ethical and less Frankenstienish than handing someone human organs.

Ellen Pompeo as Dr Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

"We stopped using them in the later seasons," she continued. "But in the beginning we used to used bovine intestine, cow heart, cow liver, cow brain.

"It's all really gross."

So remember folks, next time you're watching an early episode of Grey's Anatomy and see a pretty bloody looking prop, it may very well be the real thing.

Which is certainly enough to put you off rewatching the series anytime soon.

Pompeo also opened up on the reason she decided to stick around playing Meredith Grey for so long on the podcast, telling Cooper that she didn't she'd have the same opportunities as she got older.

"So I thought – back then, 20 years ago – women at 40, it’s over. That’s a wrap, honey," the actor explained. "So I was like, ‘I better sign and I better do this because this is the most money I’m ever going to make, and the most opportunity I’m ever going to get."

Fortunately for Pompeo, her career is still going strong, with the actor currently starring in Hulu limited series Good American Family.

Let's just hope none of her future roles will require the handling of animal organs...