"Grey's Anatomy" has begun season 10, and lead actress Ellen Pompeo is speaking up regarding her contract expiration, Isaiah Washington, and Katherine Heigl.

It seems that despite all the original "Grey's Anatomy" cast members' contracts ending after season 10, Ellen Pompeo seems perfectly happy with her career at Grey Sloan Memorial.

"Actors always think the grass is greener somewhere else - I didn't want to do that," says Pompeo to the New York Post.

"I have an amazing life. I have a house five minutes from the studio, I have a house in the Hamptons, a house in Malibu, a beautiful daughter whom I see every night, and it's all because I didn't leave 'Grey's Anatomy.'"

So, it seems that while the clock may be ticking for her co-stars (Sandra Oh will leave after season 10), Meredith Grey may continue her journey on "Grey's Anatomy."

She also brings up Katherine Heigl and Isaiah Washington as examples of egos and feelings getting in the way of a steady career.

"Hurt feelings, combined with instant success and huge paychecks started things spinning out of control," she explains.

"The crazier things got, as I watched all the tumult with Isaiah and then the Katie thing, I started to focus on the work. Maybe it is my Boston, blue-collar upbringing. I just tried to not pay attention to all the noise around me."

Interestingly enough, Ellen Pompeo reveals that not only was Isaiah Washington up for the role of Derek Shepherd aka McDreamy, but Pompeo was partially responsible for Washington losing the role to Patrick Dempsey.

"I didn't want him. It was too close to home," says the "Grey's Anatomy" starlet, who in real life is married to African-American music producer Chris Ivery.

"I said I wanted that Dempsey kid. I think that once Isaiah did not get the role it backfired."

Pompeo also elaborates on Katherine Heigl's exit in season 6.

"You could understand why she wanted to go - when you're offered $12 million a movie and you're only 26. But Katie's problem is that she should not have [extended] her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career did not take off."