Ellen Pompeo recalls her ‘emo’ teenage phase

Ellen Pompeo sat down for an interview with People where she opened up about her personal life and past.

Set to take on the role of Natalia Grace in Good American Family, she recalled the passing of her mother from a drug overdose when she was 4, “I remember myself being really sad all the time. But then I see pictures of myself, and I was always laughing and looked really happy. So I don’t know if I’ve just always been an actress.”

According to her, she “was not popular. I definitely wasn’t a cool-girl cheerleader with big b****. I didn’t go to the prom or do any of that.”

Recalling the start of her interest in acting, she added, “And I remember watching Michelle Pfeiffer in movies and saying, ‘Who is that, and how do I do that?’”

Discussing her previous fight to receive profits from Grey’s Anatomy for her production company, Pompeo claimed, “Men talk about whatever they want, and we’ve been told it’s uncouth to talk about money. Or if you complain, you are ‘difficult’ or ‘crazy.’”

The actress continued, “I sit in a seat of enormous privilege. As a White woman, as a working actress, as a person who’s super well-compensated. If people that sit with privilege can’t use it to better the lives of others, you really don’t deserve it.”

When is Good American Family premiering?

Taking on the true crime story of Natalia Grace, Good American Family starring Ellen Pompeo is set to premiere on March 19 on Hulu.

RELATED: Fans disappointed over 'Grey's Anatomy' latest season? Ellen Pompeo responds