On the cover of EVE uk magazine - October, 2006 issue
 | Transcript She may be teeny tiny, delicate and beautifully formed, but Ellen Pompeo isn’t short of energy and enthusiasm. She’s very, very excited to be in UK. ”I want to go to topshop” shrieks the 37-year old. “every time I read UK magazines and see something I like, it’s always from topshop. And I like treacle pudding and bangers and mash. I love British food. I always to to tea and sympathy in NY with my best fried tony (the DJ on the Ellen Degeneres show.)It was Tony who introduced me to tea and scones- a life changing experience.” |
Not as life changing as landing the role of Meredith Grey, the self-reflective intern who’s sleeping with her boss (McDreamy played by PD). It’s a show that has out-rated DH. “I know” says a smiling Ellen “Grey’s is a huge hit and I’m just extremely grateful. It’s the longest I’ve been employed and I like the security. Films take u away from home, but with Grey’s, im in LA with my boyfriend, Chris. I have a steady job, I can shop all I want and my life hasn’t changed fundamentally- I have less rest is all”
And what of Chris Ivery, Ellen’s partner of 3 years? He is a rather cool music producer who wheeler-deals in Puma and Adidas on Ebay. He popped his head into the bar at the start of the interview and looked like a man who could cope with a famous partner. “I think its been more of an adjustment for Chris than for me. When we first met I wasn’t working and I was around a lot and there was no level of recognition-I could walk down the street. now that has changed. Chris finds the paparazzi irritating. I can laugh them off-giggle at the guy who falls over to get a picture. Chris doesn’t like being followed and he gets protective.”
Asked how they met, Ellen says “ we met in a grocery store in my home town. Chris was a friend of my best friend and one day we bumped into each other by the frozen peas. I didn’t think anything of it. We were both getting out of long term relationships and we exchanged numbers. We became friends over the next 6 months. Then one day I looked at him and saw him in a completely different light. I was out of the stress of my breakup and I thought ‘how do I tell my friend I am very attracted to him?’ then one night we went to a club and these guys were talking to me. Chris looked really jealous and I thought maybe we had something, so I took the risk and told him how I felt. That was 3 years ago. We have been inseparable ever since.”
Ellen relishes the fact Chris is not an actor and the both strive for a normal relationship. “we are very much into our downtime and we do everything together. we cook, watch movies, do yoga and go walking in palm springs at the weekend. Of course we fight! If I slice, he will dice-and I definitely cook the best pasta! But I’ve learnt to walk away and let him do his own thing. It’s a metaphor for our relationship. We love men for who they are, right? So we have to allow them to be themselves. Changing them isn’t an option- I’ve learnt the hard way. I believe the secret to a successful relationship is self-esteem. Its the most attractive quality you can have. Do you know the best piece of advice I have ever been given? Always let men think you have one foot out of the door.”
Ellen did have one foot out of the door recently when Chris stitched her up on “punk’d”. Ellen puts her head in her hands when reminded of that “ Yes, I was punk’d. All of America thought I acted like a horrible bitch. Chris asked me if I wanted to go out for a romantic meal, but he took me to some hole around the corner from where I work. That made me cranky immediately! We sat down and the waitress was flirting with him right in front of me, touching him-it got worse and worse-he said he forgot his crdit card and gave the waitress a $200 tip! at this point I realized it was a set-up, and I laughed through the entire thing. but they didn’t show it that way. I came across as a complete cow.”
But the MTV experience is a testament to Ellen’s status as a national treasure and given her professional success and her steady relationship, surely the next step is starting a family? “I really don’t know. At the moment I’m the bad mom who leaves her poodles with their daddy all day-they sulk and don’t tell me what they have been up to. Kids are different. It’s such a huge decision-no turning back. There is a part of me that wants children but another part of me that thinks, with the show, I cant. I’m under contract for 6 years and it will be tough to have a child during them. Chris and I talk about it a lot- even talked about a surrogate. We both fear changing the relationship-we are so happy at the moment and we don’t want to neglect each other. I’m very torn about it, with the age that I am and the situation-the jury is still out.”
So while they wait for a happy accident or a nice scriptwriter to work in an on screen pregnancy, Ellen’s ongoing plan is nesting a deux. “I’m restoring my house’s have a passion for interior design, and would have been an interior designer if I wasn’t an actress. Our house is a big Spanish-style mansion built in 1923.it is set in an acre of land with cathedral ceilings and tiled floors. I have ordered thousands of sq.ft of antique terracotta tiles from provence. I love European style. Chris and I went to Italy over Christmas-Florence, Venice, Rome.”
As she slips off her stool to head off to Monte Carlo for the TV festival she finishes by saying “my dream was to be a working actress and that has come true. As for my life, I have a relationship that is real and grounded by a boyfriend I love. That combined with good friendships is all I need. I think the secret is to try and keep life as simple as you can. It’s the fast track way to happiness.”
Source: EVE
