Camilla Luddington reflects on 'Grey's Anatomy' legacy as show marks 400th episode
Camilla Luddington may not be one of the original "Grey's Anatomy" stars, but she's a huge part of the series' history.
The British actress, 38, joined the ABC medical drama back in season 9 as Jo Wilson and, more than 200 episodes later, she is part of the cast celebrating the show's milestone 400th episode -- which also happens to be the season 18 finale -- airing Thursday.
As it turns out, things could have been very different for Luddington, who missed her audition in 2012 because she was at San Diego Comic-Con promoting her role as Lara Croft in the "Tomb Raider" video game franchise.
Luckily, it all worked out in the end.
"Ten years later, here I am," she told "Good Morning America" on Thursday.
Luddington also spoke about how her character's storyline of becoming a mom this season mirrored her own life, having welcomed her son Lucas in August 2020. She also shares a 5-year-old daughter Hayden with husband Matthew Alan.
"They're like, 'OK, so you're going to be really tired this season.' And I'm like, 'I got this,'" she said, laughing. "Like, her kid was teething, my kid was teething. This season was easy, the mom thing."
Luddington said showrunner Krista Vernoff is "very open" to the actors pitching stories for their characters. The actress also revealed one storyline she's keen to pitch herself: her vision for how "Grey's Anatomy" should end.
"Can we be on a beach? I just feel like there have been so many huge disasters. Can we just all survive, like, with a cocktail?" she suggested. "That's what I want. A cocktail on the beach. That's what I'll pitch next."
Luddington said it's a "super special" feeling to be on a series that has lasted so long, made a huge impact on pop culture and garnered "fandoms that cross through generations."
"I have always called it a unicorn, because it will never ever happen again," she gushed. "I mean, it just doesn't happen."
"Grey's Anatomy" will air its two-hour season finale -- and milestone 400th episode -- Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
