Natalie Morales has joined the recurring cast of Grey’s Anatomy season 21. As a guest star, she played Dr. Monica Beltran, a pediatric surgeon, in season 20 and has appeared in six episodes so far. Morales is set to make a comeback in season 21's second episode and will appear in at least six episodes, with the possibility of more.
Grey's Anatomy has been around since 2005, showing what it's like to work at Seattle's Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show follows the doctors' personal and professional lives. Actors Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. will be back in Grey’s Anatomy season 21. Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey, will also appear sometimes, even though she left the show after season 19. She's still involved behind the scenes as a producer and narrator.
Monica seems to be caught up in a romantic mix-up with Amelia, played by Caterina Scorsone, and Winston, played by Anthony Hill. This comes after her own divorce in the previous season.
What can we expect from the character of Natalie Morales in Grey’s Anatomy season 21?
Monica is a respected doctor known for being practical and levelheaded. She's great with kids and their parents but doesn't always agree with her colleagues. Her priority is helping her patients, no matter what.
In Grey’s Anatomy season 21, Monica's actions might cause tension among the characters and could lead to a romantic relationship. Last season, she stirred things up with doctors like Levi Schmitt, Winston Ndugu, and Amelia Shepherd.
She helped Levi with his pediatric fellowship, teaching him the importance of his work. Monica and Amelia had a rough start due to differing opinions on patient care. However, they grew closer after Monica opened up about her difficult divorce, hinting at a possible relationship. But things got complicated when Monica became close to Winston, potentially setting up a love triangle.
Everything to know about Natalie Morales's acting career
Natalie Morales, born on February 15, 1985, is an American actress and director from Miami, Florida, with Cuban roots. She's known for her roles in the ABC Family series The Middleman and the USA Network series White Collar, where she was a main cast member in the first season.
She's had some notable roles in her acting career, like Natalie in Quitters, Ruby in the TV movie Boldly Going Nowhere, Lauren Cruz in White Collar, Lucy in Parks and Recreation, and Claire Lacoste in The Grinder. More recently, she's starred as Kate Danton in The Morning Show and Dr. Monica Beltran in Grey's Anatomy.
Outside of TV, she's also been in a bunch of movies, including Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), The Little Things (2019), and If You Were the Last (2023), among others.
Can we expect Natalie Morale to become a permanent character after Grey’s Anatomy season 21?
We don't know much about Grey’s Anatomy season 21, but it's going to pick up where season 20 left off. Natalie Morales is joining the show along with some familiar faces in season 21. We're not sure if she'll become a regular cast member, but she has a lot of experience being a part of other big shows.
In the past, Grey's Anatomy has promoted characters from recurring roles to main cast members. For example, Sara Ramirez started as a recurring character and then became a main cast member for seasons 3-12. So, Natalie’s future in the show might seem positive.
This fall, Grey’s Anatomy season 21 is moving to a new time slot on Thursday nights on ABC. The show premieres on September 26 at 10/9c, following 9-1-1 and the new series Doctor Odyssey.
