Chyler Leigh: New Kid On the Block
If Chyler Leigh already feels nervous, like the new kid in school, let's hope she doesn't read too many Grey's Anatomy fan sites.
Leigh joined the show as Lexie Grey, Meredith Grey's half-sister and new Seattle Grace intern, for Season Three's final two episodes. Two weeks ago, she became a series regular.
The news hasn't gone over well with fans, but on her second day of filming on the Grey's Anatomy set this season, the new cast member tells People magazine that she - and everyone else - is happy to be back.
"Everyone is super gung-ho about the season," Leigh said. "Shonda Rhimes said in her blog that this is going to be a different season. Last season was so dramatic, everything came crashing down. This season will be the redemption from that mayhem."
The show was rocked by the controversy over Isaiah Washington's remarks, ending with the actor's dismissal and parting comments.
But Chyler Leigh, 25, says the experience of joining a hit show as big as Greys Anatomy has been a series of pinch-me moments.
"I'm still in every moment looking behind myself going: Who me?'" she says. "I still walk on and before every scene my heart starts pounding, but that's always been the case for me. I use it as a motivator."
Leigh is married to actor Nathan Woods and has two children with him, Noah, 3, and Taelyn, 10 months. She's had several roles to prepare her for the experience, including gigs on Reunion and The Practice.
"At first I had that kind of new kid in school feeling," the newest Grey's Anatomy star jokes. "But everyone has been warm and welcoming with lots of hugs and pats on the back. This whole experience has been wonderfully overwhelming. My biggest thing right now is just: Buckle up! I don't know what to expect."
July 13th, 2007 6:35 AM
she as a person sounds really sweet and nice.. but I don't think she knows what she is getting herself into!
July 13th, 2007 7:15 AM
Yeah, she sounds nice.
After all, i dont REALLY understand why everyone hates Lexie that much..
Addison "destroyed" the merder couple aswell and still she turned out okay. by the end of season 3, everyones quite sad shes leaving. At least i am.
And then there's lexie you hasnt done anything so far.. except that flirt but that doesn't have to mean anything. Perhaps shondas just teasing us ;-)
We never know. Not yet. so i don't understand you no ones even trying to give her a chance. after all the actress seems to be nice.
And, btw, i somehow had the impression, that she'll be important for george as well. that look he gave her, after shed told hin she was a grey was like "woohoo.. finally a grey i might get" (; Okay, just kidding.. i'm only saying this because everyones so sure shell cause the bis MerDer Break-Up ..
July 13th, 2007 8:06 AM
Whatever, we are not talking about the real person here, we are talking about the character she is player. She may be having fun, but she still shouldnt even dare go near derek.
July 13th, 2007 8:15 AM
awww. she seems sweet. and obviously the other cast members like her =]. I think we should give her a "McChance". Who knows maybe she won't go after Derek...and even if she does...um nevermind. i was trying to think of a positive thing to say about Derek and Lexie being together but i can't think of any. so we'll just have to see how this plays out.
July 13th, 2007 8:57 AM
Chyler is going to be a great addition to the cast. I don't know why everyone is being so negative. I see her as a love match for Sloan maybe or even Alex. Derek and Lexie would have looked good together, but God forbid!!
July 13th, 2007 9:06 AM
I know why I'm negative - she flirted with Derek at Joe's.
I'm sure she's a nice person. Have no idea if she's a good actress, as I've only seen her in GA.
But if the storyline creates a Der / Lexie pairup....I will NOT be happy.
July 13th, 2007 9:26 AM
well..i think the trepidation surrounding Lexie's character results from the fact that IF her character facilitates a break-up between Mer/Der, it will be the *second time* we've been through this as viewers. With Addison, it was a first - and we learned to love her, after awhile. Plus her history with Derek, and Derek's need to honour the vows they exchanged - well, I think we could understand why he made the choice he did to leave Mer (even if it ended up being the wrong choice). But to have another character get between Mer/Der a second time, with no history to warrant it except attraction (AND she's Mer's half-sister)...well that would just suck.
I hope you're right, McShava, and Shonda's just playing with us :)
July 13th, 2007 9:29 AM
I hate both, Addison and Lexie. I'm not sad for Addison's departure! Goodbye!!!
July 13th, 2007 9:42 AM
I have mixed feelings about Lexie Grey... She doesn't seem like a trouble maker. I think as long as Meredith and Derek stay together then I'll like Lexie. If season 4 will redeem itself Shonda should give the fans what we want. So Lexie might also be like her mother and try to bring Thatcher and Meredith to good terms. Thing is we will never know until season 4 starts. Let me just say I'm super excited!!!
July 13th, 2007 10:12 AM
Since I'm very excited for season 4, I'll tell you my fantasy- that since they had to break up Christina and Burke, they might let Derek and Meredith stay together. And I think they would be crazy to hook up Lexie and Derek. Derek didn't know who she was when he flirted with her so the idea that he would hook up with an intern AGAIN and also hook up with a Grey AGAIN would make him slightly psychotic.
These are my dreams....
July 13th, 2007 10:16 AM
i'm sorry but she really needs to go die.
she's ruining the freaking show.
July 13th, 2007 10:18 AM
if this b**** gets with derek then i say mer nd mcsteamy hookup just to piss him off! that's fair nd i'm so mad at wht they've turned derek's character into tht i dont ever care if he gets hurt! jeeesussss this show used to be my favorite. i really dont kno anymore.
July 13th, 2007 10:22 AM
I'll also like Lexie as long as she has NOTHING to do with Derek and Meredith. I wonder if Shonda has any idea what "that flirting in the bar with Derek" did to us Mer/Der fans! It was like stabbing a stake through our hearts! You DON'T MESS WITH MER/DER!!!!!! So, I guess we'll have to see what Shonda decides to do with this character............lets just hope she really thinks this one through and realizes what the fans really want! You know, just the thoughts of Mer/Der being with anyone else would never work in my opinion. From the beginning of episode 1, season 1 we fell in love with Mer/Der and we have grown to love them even more through season 3. So she can't burn their relationship down...they have been through so much together! Lets just hope that we will finally get to see what we have been waiting for... for (3) seasons.....Mer/Der together in a healthy relationship with no problems from anybody!
July 13th, 2007 2:11 PM
Chyler is'nt the one I have a problem with it's her character Lexie. The Grey family storyline is getting really old. Plus Shonda herself saying she was having trouble writing for so many people and so on and so on. Nothing has made sense all summer.
July 13th, 2007 2:16 PM
Am I the only one that does not get how Lexie could be an intern immediately following Meredith?? Didn't Thatcher leave Mer & Mom around age 6 or 7?? How is Lexie old enough to be just one year behind Mer? The whole thing is ridiculous...
July 13th, 2007 4:13 PM
bonnie2... I defenitley didn't realize that!!!! Does that mean that thatcher was having an affair?! ahh that would be a crazy plot line....
July 13th, 2007 4:18 PM
Chyler Leigh seems sweet! but LEXIE GREY FUCK OFF!
July 13th, 2007 4:55 PM
It makes no sense but I think it depends on how long Meredith was in Europe. She apparently took some time off. It stand's to reason Meredith has to be over 30. If Molly was 23 that means Lexie has to be at least 25. Because unless you are smart enough to skip a grade or two from high school to medical school your going to be 25 when you finish. Meredith was 5 when her dad left. Even if Thatcher had Lexie pretty quick when he left she would have to be at least 6 or 7 years younger than Meredith. If Lexie is 25 that means Meredith has to be at least 31 or 32. I hope I made sense.
July 13th, 2007 5:02 PM
I have always trusted the writers to give me something interesting to watch, whether it is what I was expecting or not. I doubt this time is going to be any different.
I also sorta got the impression that Meredith was a very angry, rebellious young girl and took a little longer to decide she wanted to become a surgeon than some of the others. She does seem older than both George and Izzie.
One more possibility is that Lexie is brilliant. She may have finished school early. Completed med school when she was younger than the rest of her graduating class. When her younger sister Molly, was in the hospital the first time she mentioned her older sister was the smart one.
Anyway I look at it, I never expected to like a show this much. I never expected to fall completely in love with a fictional character - McDreamy. I never expected to want so much to have a friend like George (I love him) and Christina (she makes me laugh). This is pure entertainment and I am never disappointed for long. The story always draws me back in, no matter how much I may disagree with a storyline at first.
July 13th, 2007 5:32 PM
Man she is a nightmare that won't go away. I'm with a lot of other's she will not grow on me at this point. She can be a perfect angel or whatever to start with and the writer's will have her do something stupid. So why waste my time getting to like her just to hate her again later on. Like someone else said she needs to get on a slow boat to China. Lexie Grey is not wanted by the fans.
July 13th, 2007 5:36 PM
At least they got the kid part right. I think Chyler is cute and seems very sweet. But I consider Lexie a slut and a trouble maker before I even get a chance to see what she's all about. I maybe wrong for my opinion but I'm not alone.
July 13th, 2007 7:01 PM
bonnie... Meredith was only in Europe for 2 months !!! making it kind of strange... but wouldn't Lexie have to be almost 26... 4 years of med school? That is a whole new thought for me.. and I don't think that mer is over 30... and thatcher didn't leave ellis until she was 5-6!!!
July 13th, 2007 8:54 PM
I hated the end of last season. Shonda's cliffhanger was an off the cliff downer. The George & Izzie chapter was awful - not to mention unbelievable on any level. And as for the possibility of Derek hooking up with Meredith's half sister - what a slimy story idea! I hope the Lexie character gets dealt a better hand than that.
Do they want us to hate everyone because that is where these dopey faux plot turns are taking me. I will not buy the Season 3 DVD. Shame on all you Grey's writers and producers. YOU MAY NOT HAVE IT ALL MUCH LONGER. I'm going to start watching Dempsey's car races and look forward Pompeo et all in the cast in other projects. At least that's something to look forward to. My plan this fall is to read the GA reviews before tuning in. You lost me for now.
July 13th, 2007 10:22 PM
If Meredith dad left when she was 5 or 6 that's how much older she would be than Lexie. So if Lexie is say 25 add that 5 or 6 years to that and Meredith would have to be in her 30's. Unless they create one of those storylines where Thatcher had an affair while married to Ellis which would put them closer in age. It stated that when Molly was in the hospital she was 23 and Lexie is older than Molly.
July 14th, 2007 12:08 AM
Simple math shows that Meredith would have to be in her 30's but the time line is messed up anyway. if Lexie does not make a good impression the first couple of show's you might as well forget it. She's not well liked anyway so it would take something special for people to come around. If Shonda realizes fan's are not happy hopefully she will fix things.