Ellen Pompeo has appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy” for 21 seasons. (photo by Rance Collins)

The doctor was in on Hollywood Boulevard April 29. Actress Ellen Pompeo, who has played the titular Dr. Meredith Grey on “Grey’s Anatomy” since the show premiered in 2005, received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

“It’s taken a long time for me to get my star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but the truth is I’ve been surrounded by stars my entire career,” Pompeo said. “This doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen easily. It takes a village.” 

Pompeo was joined by her husband, Chris Ivery, two of her three children and a large swath of fans, whom she made a point of greeting on the rope line. While her daughter Stella and son Eli were in attendance, her daughter Sienna was unable to attend. Pompeo shouted out Sienna, however, while the family was taking pictures with the rest of the family. 

“Everyone say ‘Sienna’ because she’s not here,” she called out. 

The actress, who also recently appeared in the Hulu series “Good American Family,” expressed excitement over the honor, noting with glee the position of her star. 

“Am I right near Claire Danes? I love her,” she said. 

Pompeo was joined by “Grey’s” creator Shonda Rhimes, who discussed the impact her character has had on popular culture. 

“She leads the longest running show in ABC history. She leads the longest running medical drama in all of TV. Those stats are absolutely not possible with her work and her presence and her drive,” Rhimes said, noting that Pompeo also fought for and “received her due,” becoming the highest paid actress in a television drama. 

“She broke glass ceilings for actresses everywhere,” Rhimes added. “She’s a director. She’s a producer. She’s a feminist touchstone for women, and she’s a role model for so many people pursuing their career in the sciences. Y’all, she is all the things.” 

Actress and director Debbie Allen, who recurs on the series as Dr. Catherine Avery, said Pompeo’s star was a representation of “her humanity.” 

“George Lucas taught me that every shot is a close-up. If it’s the city of New York, it is a close-up,” Allen said. “And that is the purview from which she comes. She is looking to make sure it’s right – that she fits in this frame, and that what she is bringing is her truth. I don’t know anybody like her.” 

She also gave an example of just how popular “Grey’s” is internationally. 

“I was in the rainforest in Cuba,” Allen recalled. “And somebody came up to me … I looked her, she screamed, I screamed, [and she said] ‘Grey’s Anatomy! You know Ellen Pompeo!’” 

Allen applauded Pompeo for expanding her career into other projects, but made it clear how much she was still needed on “Grey’s Anatomy.” 

“Yeah, we let her out to go do that other show. OK, Miss Thing? Are you OK now? You did that. Now bring your butt back home,” Allen said wryly to Pompeo.  

The most touching moment of the ceremony, however, came when Pompeo spotted an old friend in the crowd. 

“[Actor] Dash Mihok, I’m looking at you,” she said. “I slept on his couch when I came here. I had no money, and he said, ‘Ellen, you can stay at my house.’ And I did, and I cooked for him in exchange. And he’s here today, and you kicked this all off, and I love you so much, my friend.” 

Pompeo also took the opportunity to advocate for the Hollywood district’s renewal. 

“Let’s keep Hollywood Boulevard clean and get the Arclight reopened,” she said. 

Pompeo’s star is located at 6533 Hollywood Blvd.