If Not Bailey, I’d Be the Nurse on Grey’s Anatomy: Chandra Wilson

In February 2019, one of America’s most famous shows, Grey’s Anatomy, became American television’s longest-running medical drama. From its first season which aired way back in 2005 to its 16th season which is currently airing on television, Grey’s Anatomy boasts of a handful of cast members who have seen it all. And Chandra Wilson, who plays the iconic Miranda Bailey (Chief of Surgery at the fictional Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital), is one of them. In fact, she even had the opportunity to direct one of Grey’s Anatomy’s landmark episodes earlier this year. She spoke to The Quint about her relationship with the show and how it has evolved over the years.

Obviously, we’ve seen Miranda Bailey’s character grow and evolve. So with her character, how have you and your relationship with it evolved as well? Can you tell us a bit about that.

So when Grey’s Anatomy started, Dr Bailey was a resident who always saw herself as Chief. So I think one of the exciting things about playing the character and watching the character as an audience member is to see someone who had a goal. And over the years, we’ve been able to watch her obtain that goal, and not fit in that goal. You know, because this is the way she always thought of herself. Me as an actor, it’s been really exciting to keep alive the character for myself. That, you know, for some actors it may be hard to play the same character, season after season. I find it challenging. I found it incredibly rewarding. And it’s basically because our writers keep coming up with amazing things for Bailey to do. And I keep learning things about Bailey every episode. So it continues to be exciting for me.

And earlier this year, you directed an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, one of the milestone episodes. So what was that experience like?

I was incredibly flattered, and incredibly excited to be able to have been given that opportunity. I truly, you know, understood what it meant to pass ER as the longest running network medical drama. And it was just an exciting feeling for all of us, the entire production, to be able to reach that milestone. So I was really excited and really flattered to be given that opportunity.

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Grey’s Anatomy is currently streaming on Hotstar Premium for Indian viewers.