Does Sarah Paulson have a guest appearance in Grey's Anatomy? Details revisited

Actress Sarah Paulson appeared in a guest starring role in Grey's Anatomy Season 6. The acclaimed American actress portrayed the role of a young Ellis Grey, the mother of Meredith Grey ( Ellen Pompeo).

Created by Shonda Rhimes, Grey’s Anatomy follows the lives of doctors, surgical interns, and residents of a fictional hospital in Seattle as they navigate their personal and professional lives. It is one of the longest-running medical dramas which premiered in March 2005 and is currently airing its 21st season.

Sarah Paulson appeared in Season 6 of the show, in the episode titled, The Time Warp, which aired in February 2010.

Continue to read to learn more about Sarah Paulson's role in Grey's Anatomy.

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Sarah Paulson played the role of Ellis Grey

In the episode, Richard Webber ( James Pickens Jr.) reminisces about treating their first AIDS patient. The flashback takes the viewers back to 1982 when Paulson’s Ellis Grey seemed more gentle and compassionate.

A patient named Philip Nichols ( Ian Jensen) was admitted to the hospital. The patient was diagnosed with GRID ( AIDS) and was declared to be beyond help. However, Ellis Grey was persistent in helping her patient and even pushed her superiors who deemed it as a hopeless case.

Even after trying everything, Philips Nichols dies during the surgery in the episode of Grey's Anatomy.

The flashback gave the viewers a glimpse into Ellis Grey’s strong determination and passion for her career. However, she did not appear as cold and harsh as she is known to be. Paulson brought a different light to the character, making the audience understand the challenges faced by a woman in a career that was male-dominated at the time.

On the other hand, her behavior toward Meredith remained almost the same as she left her daughter alone in the hospital. This brought forth the fact that Ellis had always been a career-oriented woman.

The episode of Grey's Anatomy also highlighted Richard and Ellis’ love story.

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More about actress Sarah Paulson

In season 11 of Grey’s Anatomy, the younger version of Ellis Grey appears again. However, Sally Pressman portrayed the role instead of Sarah Paulson due to scheduling issues.

Paulson was filming for Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story: Freak Show at that time, where she played the role of conjoined twins- Dot and Bette Tattler.

Other than Grey’s Anatomy and American Horror Story, Paulson has also appeared in Ratched, 12 Years a Slave, and The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story for which she earned a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy, and a SAG Award. Paulson won her first Tony Award for her role in the Broadway play Appropriate.

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Catch season 21 of Grey's Anatomy on ABC.