Ellen Pompeo says fans will decide when Grey’s Anatomy finally comes to an end

Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo says the fate of the show she’s been a part of since 2005 is in the hands of fans.

Ellen Pompeo is not ready for Grey‘s Anatomy to end anytime soon. But the actress has hinted what will be a key deciding factor in determining when the finale finally airs.

Pompeo, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey on ABC’s popular medical drama, worried fans a bit in September when she expressed she may be ready to part ways with a show she’s been a part of since 2005. The actress’ two-year contract extension would come at the end of the show’s 16th season.

Pompeo told Entertainment Weekly:

"I’m clearly not prepared right now to make any formal announcement about what my future is on the show, but I am really feeling like we have told the majority of the stories that we can tell. It’s about time that I mix it up. I’m definitely looking for a change."

Despite words like “change” foreshadowing a potential exit for the actress, Pompeo recently shared that she and the show she’s been a part of for over a decade aren’t going anywhere. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight this weekend at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles, Pompeo said the show’s ending will be a decision between her and its creator, Shonda Rhimes.

"It’s something Shonda and I will decide together. I’ve been doing it a long time and I do get restless, but the fans are just still so passionate about the show."

Pompeo noted that fans who have stuck around for 15 seasons have made the biggest impact on her and added to the strength and staying power of Grey’s Anatomy. This is especially true of fans who find deep connections with stories presented, and express that to Pompeo and other cast and crew.

"When you meet people [who] are going through things in their life and they say the show brings them solace and the show brings them comfort, whether they have cancer, whether they are an abuse victim, whether they’re in a marginalized community — even though it is a silly soap opera — to know that you’re really touching people and making people feel better, even if it’s just because they’re crying, it’s meaningful. As an actor, what we want to do is to tell stories and have those stories reach people."

For fans who are still aren’t at ease, have no fear, because it is your love and support of the show that keeps it going most of all. When asked what would be the key factor in ending the show, Pompeo said it’s up to the fans.

"I think the fans will let us know. When the numbers start to drop and people aren’t watching the same, people aren’t as passionate about it… it’s time to call it."

For now, it seems the ABC hit will hold tightly onto Grey‘s Anatomy, with it being a Thursday night smash hit, even in its 15th season. We could credit the success of the show to Pompeo’s charisma alongside her eclectic castmates. Or to Shonda Rhimes’ successful storytelling. But as Pompeo expressed, and we at Culturess know all too well, fans deserve major credit for giving love to this show for so long (hence Grey’s coveted spot in our Fandom 250).

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.