Chandra Wilson discusses her role as an off-screen leader on 'Grey's Anatomy' set
"Grey's Anatomy" star Chandra Wilson is a leader on and off the screen.
The 22-season "Grey's" vet, famous for playing Dr. Miranda Bailey in the medical drama, joined "Good Morning America" on Monday to discuss her role as a mentor in the cast, the show's new season, parenting while acting and more.
"Everything has to be about passing it forward ... taking the lessons that you learned and passing that forward, whether it's new actors, new series regulars that come onto the show," Wilson said, speaking to "GMA" co-anchor Robin Roberts.
Wilson said she particularly looks to guide others when she's directing, adding that she makes sure to have one or two shadow directors alongside her.
Wilson has been with the show since its season 1 premiere in 2005. The series is now in its 22nd season.
"When you're coming into a show that's been around as long as we have, I'm sure they feel like, 'Where do I fit into this picture?'" she said. "I take it upon myself to say, 'You're here because you did that audition. You were chosen. Don't worry about that part anymore. Right? So now make your own mark.'"
At a recent "Grey's Anatomy" event, actress Alexis Floyd, who plays Dr. Simone Griffith in the series, shared how Wilson welcomes newcomers to the show.
"Chandra is the light, the North Star, the shepherd of the family," she said at the time.
Elsewhere in her "GMA" interview on Monday, Wilson spoke about the show's current season, which kicked off Oct. 9 and included the series' 450th episode, which aired Oct. 16.
"Even when I think about 450, sometimes it doesn't seem like that big a number. But when you say that it takes 21 years to get there, then that's when you really realize, 'Wow, that's huge,'" Wilson said.
With its 22nd season, the Shonda Rhimes-created show has firmly cemented itself as the longest running primetime medical drama in TV history, a title the show has held since 2019. The show also claims the title for longest running primetime series in ABC history.
Wilson recounted the show's early days, discussing her experience becoming pregnant after the first season aired.
"He was the first show-baby," Wilson said, referring to her son Michael.
The actress said that since Michael, there have been at least 36 babies born to various "Grey's Anatomy" cast members.
She also opened up about Rhimes welcoming her back on the show for another season, even after she became pregnant with her son.
"My first instinct was to get in touch with with Shonda and say, 'Thank you so much for allowing me to to play Dr. Bailey for the first season, and I understand that I'll have to step away now,'" she recalled. "She was like, 'I don't know what you're talking about. Don't be ridiculous.' And that was news to my ears."
