Patrick Dempsey on Grey's exit, Shonda's relationship with the fans & more -- EXCLUSIVE Q&A

A week before his final episode aired, Patrick Dempsey, 49, sat down with Entertainment Weekly at Feed Body & Soul in Venice Beach, California to give an exclusive interview about his shocking exit on the April 23 episode of ’Greys Anatomy . Below is the entire, unedited Q&A where the actor reflects on what happened, why it happened and what he’s going to do next.
EW: Can you reflect on your time on Grey’s Anatomy?
Dempsey: It was an amazing run. At the end of the first season, I thought there was no way we could sustain 24 episodes. I had never done a run that long before. After doing 24 in the first season, I thought, How do we do this again? Twenty-four episodes is a lot of work for everybody - for the writers, for the crew, who is there every day. I have to be careful in saying that because we are well compensated and fortunate, but its long hours. We were doing 17 hours back then. Now we do 12 to 15 hours in a day. It’s 10 months out of the year. And that’s for 11 years. It’s extraordinary what Shonda Rhimes can do with the shows that she is running and how creative she is to sustain that, and how hands on she is. It’s pretty remarkable.
You signed a two-year deal last year that would keep you on the show through season 12. So…?
Yes. You’re right. (Pause) It just sort of evolved. It’s just kind of happened. It really was something that was kind of surprising that unfolded and uh, and it just naturally came to be, which was pretty good. I like the way it has all played out.
Why did you sign the deal in the first place?
Job security, why not? It also came with a production deal. It’s hard to say no to that kind of money. How do you say no to that? It’s a very hard decision because it’s remarkable to be a working actor, and then on top of that to be on a show that’s visible. And then on top of that to be a phenomenal show that’s known around the world, and playing a character who is beloved around the world. It’s very heady. It’s a lot to process and to keep a distance on and have the proper prospective on not wanting to let that go because you never know whether you will work again and have success again. There is a time when you’re like, how much more can we do with this character? Where do they go? All those questions. It’s a big decision. It affects so much. It’s 10 months, 15 hours a day. You never know your schedule, so your kid asks you what are you doing on Monday, and you go, “I don’t know. I don’t know my schedule. ” So you do that for 11 years, that’s challenging. But you have to be grateful because you are well compensated so you can’t really complain because you don’t really have a right. But you don’t have control over your schedule. So you have to just be flexible.
How much did the show schedule affect your racing?
They let me race, which was remarkable. For the most part they did a phenomenal job at scheduling and making it possible for me to race as much as I have, which I’m so grateful for. Why I don’t have an insurance sponsor, I don’t know, and ironically my dad was an insurance salesman. When you’re in an ensemble you are easily replaceable, which is why I was allowed to race.
Let’s talk about the story arc this season. Derek seemed like kind of an ass this season for taking off to D. C.
How was he ass? It’s hard for me to have the prospective because I’m trying to justify what he does. I don’t see him as an ass. It’s fascinating to see how people perceive it. My job is to make it human and to bring a point of view, which may or may not be understood. So i never saw him that way. I’m in service of the story. I do what’s required to realize what Shonda’s vision is. I don’t have judgment on it. It’s not my job. My job is to do what’s in front of me. I perform.
Was that Instagram shot of you from Seattle  meant to be a red herring?
It was such a big symbol for Derek. Ferry boats are a place of freedom and tranquility and we don’t really get to go on location that much. I only tweet when i feel like it and what moves me. I was really inspired by being in Seattle. I wish we shot more there. I don’t like tweeting but I prefer Instagram. I think you can say much more in an image rather than writing it. That’s just me personally.yajuan030809

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