Behind the Scenes of Ellen Pompeo and Denzel Washington’s Fiery Collaboration

On the Time She and Denzel Washington Went “At It”

In a notable 2016 episode of Grey’s Anatomy titled “The Sound of Silence,” the acclaimed actor Denzel Washington stepped into the role of director. However, Ellen Pompeo shared that their collaboration encountered some turbulence. She recounted this experience during a 2021 episode of her podcast, Tell Me With Ellen Pompeo, shedding light on the challenges they faced while working together.

“Working alongside Denzel was nothing short of incredible,” Pompeo expressed. “But let me tell you, he really went off on me during one particular moment. This is a story about Denzel that you won’t want to miss.”

The tension appeared to arise when Pompeo decided to improvise a line while performing a scene with a fellow cast member, which was not part of the original script.

“That line wasn’t in the script, and let me tell you, Denzel went absolutely HAM on me,” she recalled. “He firmly stated, ‘I’m the director. Don’t you tell him what to do.’”

Despite being taken aback, Pompeo did not take kindly to the Oscar-winning actor’s strong reaction.

“I responded, ‘Listen, motherf–ker,’” she added with a chuckle. “‘This is my show. This is my set. Who are you to tell me what to do? You barely know where the bathroom is!’”

While Pompeo emphasized her deep respect for Washington as both an actor and a director, she acknowledged that their interaction was quite heated.

“We definitely didn’t get through that moment without some conflict,” she noted. “But that’s just how actors are: passionate and fiery. It’s in those intense moments that the real magic happens, and that’s where you find the good stuff in performance. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience. Truly.”

In response, Washington has indicated that he doesn’t dwell on the incident. “No, no,” the star of Remember the Titans told Variety in 2022, downplaying the situation. “I don’t really remember it, but everything is all good.”