Former Greys Anatomy Star Kate Walsh Dishes on Her Wicked Character Addison Montgomer
Though it’s been five years since Kate Walsh officially left Grey’s Anatomy, the actress still adores her “wicked” character from the hit show, Dr. Addison Montgomery!
In a new interview with [Buzzfeed](https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenniferabidor/kate-walsh-on-the-greys-anatomy-moment-that-changed-her?utmterm=.fynZan5lE&utmsource=dlvr.it&utmmedium=twitter#.ehPm6gL7Q), the 49-year-old actress reminisced about her first-ever scene on _Grey’s — and admitted “everyone hated” neonatal surgeon Addison from the get-go!
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“I got more calls and attention from that 60-second scene than anything in my career before. Isn’t that funny?” Kate said of her 2005 premiere on the series.
Kate as Addison on Greys in 2006. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
“Everyone hated me, but at that time there was no Twitter. There were chat rooms, but I never really went on them. I kind of liked being the Wicked Witch from the East. Or the wicked b-tch,” she continued. “[Show creator Shonda Rhimes] is really gifted at flipping every character that’s seemingly awful. It’s a great lesson in how to have compassion for people that you initially hate.”
MORE: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 14 Will Welcome Back a Fan-Favorite Character (We Can’t Wait!)
Kate portrayed Addison — the ex-wife of Dr. Derek Shepherd, who became romantically involved with main character Dr. Meredith Grey at the show’s start — on Grey’s Anatomy for three years from Season 1 to Season 3.
The star then landed her own spin-off show, Private Practice, in 2007 and the series wrapped after six seasons in 2013. Kate also continued to guest-star on Grey’s for many years until she left the drama for good in 2012.
During her sit-down with Buzzfeed, Kate additionally dished on filming the show’s first episodes when the new cast’s morale “was really low.”
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“With Grey’s — I remember because I came in at Episode 8 — at that time the morale was really low. They kept changing the name of the show. It was Doctors and then Surgeons and then Complications and I was like, ‘What a bullsh-t show title!’ Grey’s Anatomy is the perfect title,” she said.
Kate with Grey’s co-star Patrick Dempsey in 2005. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
“To keep our morale up, they started showing us episodes at Friday lunches that were already edited. And I was like, ‘This is a really good show,’ and I was so excited to be a part of it,” Kate continued. “I was supposed to do a pilot for another sitcom on ABC, and it didn’t end up getting picked up and then they called me to be a series regular on Grey’s and the world changed. It was stunning, right? It was really phenomenal.”
So does Kate ever watch Grey’s Anatomy — which just wrapped its 13th season! — today? “I don’t! Once in a while I’ll see a gif somewhere online. It would be really interesting to go back and watch now — that would be really cool,” she said.
Check out the gallery to see all the Grey’s Anatomy characters we wish would return for Season 14!
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