Was discovered while working at SoHo Bar & Grill in New York City.

Has 3 children with her husband Chris Ivery: two daughters, Stella Luna Pompeo Ivery (b. September 15, 2009) and Sienna May Ivery (b. August, 2014), and a son, Eli Christopher (b. December, 2016).

Married to music producer Chris Ivery. After they started dating they learned that they both grew up in Boston, 10 miles from each other.

She is the youngest of 6 - she has 5 siblings who are all at least 8 years older than her. One of them is Maureen Pompeo.

Had a part in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), which was deleted from the final cut.

Suffers from asthma.

Was approached to play the role of Becky in Clerks II (2006), but turned it down because she had just finished the pilot for Grey's Anatomy (2005).

(November 9, 2007) Married her boyfriend of 4 years Chris Ivery in a civil ceremony in New York City. The only people in attendance were Mayor Michael Bloomberg and First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris, who served as witnesses to the ceremony.

Her mother, Kathleen (O'Keefe), died when she was four years old. Her father, Joseph Pompeo, is a salesman.

Ellen's paternal grandfather, Angelo Pompeo, was an Italian emigrant, born in Avellino. Ellen's paternal grandmother was of English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry, and Ellen's mother's family is also of Irish origin.

Before Grey's Anatomy (2005), she auditioned for a television pilot called "Secret Service". That show was not picked up by any television network.

Is a native of Boston.

Had another scene in Daredevil (2003) as Matt Murdock's (Ben Affleck) secretary Karen Page, but it was deleted from the theatrical version of the film.

Working on the television series Grey's Anatomy (2005) in which she plays the main character. (March 2005)