The actress returned as Dr. Addison Montgomery during a season 22 episode of the medical drama that aired on Jan. 29
Credit: Michael Tullberg/Getty; Liliane Lathan/ABC via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Kate Walsh told PEOPLE that reprising her Grey’s Anatomy role, even only for a “hot minute,” felt “like going home”
- The actress returned as Dr. Addison Montgomery during a season 22 episode of the ABC medical drama that aired on Jan. 29
- Walsh first joined Grey’s Anatomy in the show’s season 1 finale and went on to play Addison in the spinoff series Private Practice from 2007 to 2013
Kate Walsh is opening up about what keeps bringing her back to Grey’s Anatomy.
The 58-year-old actress — who reprised her role as neonatal surgeon Dr. Addison Montgomery during a season 22 episode of the long-running medical drama earlier this year — caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at the opening night of the 2026 US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Aug. 30. Addressing her return to the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, Walsh said she “popped in” for “a hot minute.”
As for what motivates her to don Addison’s scrubs again from time to time, she told PEOPLE, “It’s Shondaland, it’s Shonda, everything she writes,” referring to Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes.
She also praised current showrunner Meg Marinis, describing her work as “incredible.”
“She’s been there since day one with Shonda, and they know Addison, they know the show, and it’s like going home,” she said.
Credit: Disney/Anne Marie Fox
Walsh echoed that sentiment while speaking with PEOPLE at the opening night of Shakespeare in the Park’s The Winter’s Tale in New York City on Aug. 11.
“It’s like [I] slip back in like a little fish in the stream,” she said at the time about returning to Grey’s Anatomy, which she deemed “iconic.”
She added, “I’m just so thrilled for everyone who’s on the show and all the writers and Meg Marinis. That it’s going on and that the fans love it so much. It’s really exciting.”
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In the season 22 episode titled “Strip That Down,” which aired on Jan. 29, Walsh returned as Addison, whose former sister-in-law, Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), pulls her out of her sabbatical to assist with a consult on a pregnant woman. Addison also confesses to Amelia that she’s having difficulties in her marriage.
Credit: XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Walsh’s latest return to Grey’s Anatomy followed her previous guest arcs in seasons 18 and 19. The actress initially joined the hit ABC series in the finale of season 1 and later exited as a main character in season 3. She went on to star in the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff series, Private Practice, for six seasons from 2007 to 2013.
Speaking with Shondaland about her January appearance, Walsh teased that she might be back for more episodes in the future.
Credit: Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
“We’re always talking. I don’t know what is going to happen, but I’m always open to it. I love it,” she said. “For me, Addison is a character that I don’t just know so well but that Meg and all of the writers continue to know how to write for. That’s one of the beautiful things about playing a character who’s been around for 20 years.”
As for stepping back into Addison’s shoes after time away, Walsh said the process feels natural and seamless.
“There’s also some weird part of my psyche and brain that is reserved for Addison — it’s just there. I don’t have to think about the acting as much. I’ve had the 10,000 hours,” she told Shondaland.
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