Ellen Pompeo slashing Grey's Anatomy presence to just EIGHT episodes of season 19

dailymail.co.uk:

Ellen Pompeo is slashing her presence on Grey's Anatomy to just eight episodes of the upcoming 19th season.The 52-year-old actress achieved international stardom in the lead role of Dr.

Meredith Grey on the Shonda Rhimes series.But now, as she takes on a new role on a Hulu miniseries called Orphan, Deadlinereports that she is dialing back her appearances on Grey's Anatomy.

Star-making role:Ellen Pompeo is slashing her presence on Grey's Anatomy to just eight episodes of the upcoming 19th season; pictured on the 18th seasonSeason 19 will premiere on October 6 and while the number of episodes has not been officially announced, each season typically has 20 or more.Orphan marks the first live-action role besides Meredith Grey that Ellen has done since she appeared in the movie Life Of The Party in 2005.

Grey's Anatomy began that same year, since which time Ellen's fame and her career have been inextricably linked to the hospital drama.No decisions have been made about whether Ellen will be leaving the show entirely at any point in the foreseeable future.