Hey Actors!
Whether you loved Grey’s Anatomy or not, there’s no denying Ellen Pompeo made a massive impact and she fought hard to know and demand her worth as a lead actress.
In this recent episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Ellen sits down with Alex Cooper to talk candidly about:
- Navigating double standards in the industry
- Becoming the highest-paid woman on network television
- Salary negotiations and advocating for herself
- Her thoughts on Meredith’s most iconic moments (and chaotic dating life)
- What it really takes to last in this business
Watch it here >> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jex1tGfWpno
It’s such a raw, empowering conversation especially for actors navigating career longevity, contracts, and the pressure to “just be grateful.” It’s a reminder that knowing your value is not the same as being difficult.
Let’s open this up for discussion:
Have you ever had to negotiate your value as an actor? What’s one thing you’ve learned about advocating for yourself in this industry?
Drop your thoughts below. Let’s learn from each other’s journeys.
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I listened to a portion of it Ashley Renee Smith but seriously think that all actors should stop and listen. I wish I had advocated more for myself when I negotiated my graphic novel contract with the publisher. Live and learn.
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Ashley Renee Smith Ashley Renee Smith, thanks for sharing this fascinating interview. I absolutely LOVED Grey’s Anatomy and there was nothing I liked more than binge-watching it all Saturday afternoon (and evening) after a hard week’s work — obviously pre-kids! I think Ellen Pompeo is a brilliant actress and comes across as a brilliant human, too.
While I haven’t had to negotiate my value as an actor yet, your question has really been on my mind these past few days. I actually had to make a decision yesterday about a job, and the question of pay came up. It took a huge amount of guts, but I decided to turn it down because the pay didn’t reflect my worth. It left me feeling empowered — and also a bit scared.
So yes, I agree with Ellen: the buck stops with us. If we want to send the right message to others — and to the universe — then we have to be prepared to walk away rather than settle for something beneath us. And it’s not about arrogance. It’s just about being really clear on what we want, and whether what’s being offered is aligned with that or not. I think listening to our body can be a good way to know whether what is on offer matches our worth. Before i made the decision i was feeling low energy and muddled. Afterwards I felt free and empowered. Scared as well yes, but as they say, fear is excitement without deep breathing. So my advice is check in with yourself, listen to your head, heart and body. Negotiate if your'e not happy with the offer and be prepared to walk away rather than make a fear-based, desperate decision that is not in alignment and which will leave us resentful.