‘That Was News To My Ears.’ Chandra Wilson Has Been On Grey’s Anatomy For 22 Seasons. Why She Thought She’d Be Written Off After One

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After 20 years on television, Grey’s Anatomy has seen many changes. Following Ellen Pompeo’s decision to appear less frequently, only two original cast members have been in every season of the show’s 22-season run: Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. It’s difficult to picture Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital without their characters, Miranda Bailey and Richard Webber, but Wilson recently shared that she initially doubted she’d even make it to the second season.

Miranda Bailey immediately captivated both the new interns and viewers with her memorable “five rules” speech in the first episode of Grey’s Anatomy when it premiered in 2005, and she remains a key part of the show, which is still airing in 2025. However, after the first season, Chandra Wilson, who plays Bailey, became pregnant with her third child and worried she would be written off the show, as she later shared on Good Morning America.

My initial reaction was to reach out to Shonda Rhimes and express my gratitude for the opportunity to play Dr. Bailey during the first season, assuming I’d be leaving the show. But she was surprised and told me I was jumping to conclusions, which was a huge relief to hear.

Shonda Rhimes is known for creating powerful female characters, so Chandra Wilson assumed she’d be fired when she became pregnant in 2005. She was pleasantly surprised to learn Rhimes would allow her to continue playing Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy.

She later had her son, Michael, who she jokingly called the first “show baby” for the medical drama. Chandra Wilson estimates that since then, at least 36 babies have been born to members of the show’s cast.

Let me tell you, Shonda Rhimes has built a fantastic reputation as an employer, especially for actors who are expecting. Katie Lowes, a familiar face from Scandal and other Shondaverse shows, has spoken about the incredible support and sense of community Rhimes creates. According to an interview with Business Insider, it’s a truly special environment.

She was incredibly caring, even worrying about something as simple as me using the stairs in my trailer. They actually built a porch for me to make things safer. It was so amazing, it reminded me that when I worked for Shonda Rhimes, I felt like I could have had a huge family – she really takes exceptional care of pregnant women and new mothers.

Ellen Pompeo shared a story on the Call Her Daddy podcast earlier this year, praising Shonda Rhimes’ greatest strength as a boss. She explained it was simple:

When I told her I was pregnant, she was incredibly supportive. It was like a celebration – she immediately started asking how to make things easier for me, offering to adjust my work schedule and ensure I continued to get paid. She even volunteered to handle most of my scenes, suggesting I only work one day a week. She’s truly amazing and goes above and beyond for her team.

Although Shonda Rhimes isn’t directly involved in the daily production of Grey’s Anatomy anymore, the show continues to value the importance of family. The 450th episode, which aired on October 16th, featured a storyline for Maggie Pierce written by Zoanne Clack that mirrored Clack’s personal experience of having a child through a donor.

It’s wonderful to know Chandra Wilson and the other parents working on Grey’s Anatomy received such strong support. I’m especially grateful she’s been able to continue with the show for 21 seasons and beyond, starting with that very first one!

I love watching Grey’s Anatomy! It’s on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. Eastern time, and the best part is, if I miss it, I can always catch up the next day on Hulu with my subscription.

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2025-10-22 16:00