Grey’s Anatomy Star Ellen Pompeo Says Season 17 ‘Could Be’ the Last

Ellen Pompeo should start prepping for surgery to repair all the hearts she just broke. The Grey’s Anatomy actor revealed in new interview that the upcoming 17th season might be the medical drama’s last. 

“We don’t know when the show is really ending yet. But the truth is, this year could be it,” Pompeo told Variety in a lengthy discussion posted on October 28. “I’m constantly fighting for the show as a whole to be as good as it can be. As a producer, I feel like I have permission to be able to do that. I mean, this is the last year of my contract right now. I don’t know that this is the last year, but it could very well could be.

“There’s your sound bite!” she added, clearly understanding the reactions the show’s fanbase will have. “There’s your clickbait. ABC’s on the phone!”

Of course, Pompeo is not the only deciding factor—and she doesn’t take her influence lightly. “We employ a lot of people, and we have a huge platform. And I’m very grateful for it,” she said. “You know, I’m just weighing out creatively what can we do. I’m really, really, really excited about this season. It’s probably going to be one of our best seasons ever. And I know that sounds nuts to say, but it’s really true.”

However, showrunner Krista Vernoff says she’s not worried about running out of ideas any time soon. “We’ve blown past so many potential endings to Grey’s Anatomy that I always assume it can go on forever,” she told Variety. 

But Pompeo has her eyes on the show’s legacy. “The show, at its core, brings people together,” she said. “And the fact that people can come together and watch the show, and think about things they may not have ordinarily thought about, or see things normalized and humanized in a way that a lot of people really need to see—it helps you become a better human being. If this show has helped anybody become a better human being, then that’s the legacy I’d love to sit with.”

Originally Appeared on Glamour