Shonda Rhimes Reflects on the Challenges of Early Fame and What It Taught Her

Shonda Rhimes attends ‘Shonda Rhimes in Conversation with Robin Roberts: The Year of Yes at 92NY.’
Credit :

Manny Carabel/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Shonda Rhimes expressed feeling ill-prepared for her early fame.
• The creator of Grey’s Anatomy discussed her early fears of recognition during a recent panel in October.
• “It was really startling and shocking to me to be in a position where I was in a corner writing things for other people who should be famous, to discover that people wanted to talk to me or pay attention to me,” Rhimes recalled.

During a panel discussion titled “Shonda Rhimes in Conversation with Robin Roberts: Year of Yes” at 92NY in October, Shonda Rhimes candidly addressed her initial struggles with fame as a television producer following the launch of Grey’s Anatomy. The acclaimed writer, now 55, reflected on the unexpected nature of her newfound recognition.

“It’s so hard to do,” Rhimes remarked about navigating the public eye. “I mean, my job was to imagine things.” She challenged the audience to identify a well-known TV showrunner, underscoring the rarity of such recognition in a field typically dominated by the work of others.

Rhimes expressed her surprise at gaining attention: “It was really startling and shocking to me… to discover that people wanted to talk to me or pay attention to me.” She likened the experience to “being stung by a thousand bees” and admitted, “It was really stressful. I just didn’t have the equipment or the skill to get there.”

Robin Roberts (L) and Shonda Rhimes.

Manny Carabel/Getty

Despite these early challenges, Rhimes confronted her fears by embracing her public persona. “I really tried to do small things,” she said, advocating for facing one’s fears as a way to diminish them. Her first major acceptance came when she agreed to deliver a commencement speech to 10,000 people, which she initially thought was an overwhelming prospect.

Her journey into the spotlight continued with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where she chose to step out of her comfort zone. “I let myself go on television and just do the thing,” Rhimes reflected. Although it was daunting, she later concluded, “Oh, that wasn’t so bad.”

Rhimes emphasized the importance of perspective: “The worst thing that could happen is that I’d fail… But there are a million other things that can happen that are better than failure.” This mantra allowed her to embrace opportunities despite her fears.

Shonda Rhimes on the set of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in 2005.

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With two decades of experience, Rhimes now feels better equipped to handle public scrutiny. “I get more and more comfortable every time,” she noted, reminiscing about her breakthrough moment during a reflective interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2015 for her book, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person.

“I went to her house, I went to the Promised Land,” Rhimes described her initial feelings of intimidation. However, that interview marked a turning point for her: “For the first time, I’m just me,” she shared, observing the newfound ease she felt while discussing her thoughts without second-guessing herself.

Reflecting on her growth, Rhimes acknowledged the ongoing nature of her journey towards self-assurance in public settings. “That has been a journey from there. Like, that was the first time I was comfortable, but it wasn’t the last time I was a mess… We go back and forth—two steps forward, one step back.”