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Before the Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 premiere, Kate Walsh announced her return to the medical drama. The actor played Dr. Addison Montgomery in the series. Now that Addison has returned to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, fans can’t stop talking about it. So, how does Walsh feel about coming back to the show after so many years?

Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 8
Kate Walsh as Addison Montgomery in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ | Vivian Zink/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Kate Walsh announces her return to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 18

On Sept. 2, Kate Walsh announced her return to Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 on social media. In a video posted to the show’s official Twitter page, the 54-year old actor said, “Well, well, well, would you look who it is. That’s right, my loves, Dr. Addison Montgomery is coming back to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and I’m so excited to be home again joining Shonda, Ellen, and the rest of the incredible cast.” 

In season one, Walsh’s character is first introduced to Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) as Derek Shepherd’s (Patrick Dempsey) estranged wife. Toward the end of season three, Walsh left the medical drama to lead Shonda Rhimes’ spinoff series, Private Practice. The show starred Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald, and more. The spinoff series aired for six seasons before coming to an end in 2013.

Walsh says returning to the medical drama was an ‘emotional’ experience

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Grey’s Anatomy fans are glad to have Addison back on the medical drama – and Kate Walsh is happy to be back too. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, Kate Walsh dished about her long-awaited return to the medical drama. “[It’s] completely surreal. I can’t even articulate it. I knew it would be odd, but it was so emotional,” she said.

Over the years, Walsh has made a few guest appearances on the series. When asked about the reason behind her return, the actor said the fans drove her to come back to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

“It’s such an iconic show. It was such an important show for me and my career. The writing is so great, so classic, and so vintage,” Walsh continued, noting the fans have been so supportive of the show. “In every interview, I’ve ever done, in the last 18 years, [they would ask] would I ever go back? And guess what, yes is the answer.”

Also, fans can count on Addison sticking around for a while. According to Deadline, Walsh’s character will appear in “multiple episodes.” 

Ellen Pompeo talks ‘very emotional’ reunion with former co-star Kate Walsh

For Ellen Pompeo, Kate Walsh returning to Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 has been a blast. In an exclusive interview with People, the actor talked about reuniting with her former co-star. “Kate’s so fun!” she said. “I have so much affection and love for the original cast. We all went through something that only we can understand. So it’s always just really fun and very emotional, to be honest. When any of the original cast members get together, we always start crying, and we’re like, ‘Why are we crying?’”

Pompeo shared that working on the show has been a “meaningful journey.” The actor said, “This show has been intense. It’s definitely been a very, very intense experience. I don’t think you’ll ever talk to one person who’s been on the show who has not had an intense experience, highs, and lows. And I wouldn’t change any of it, to be honest, maybe a few things. But for the most part, it’s all made for a more meaningful journey. We created something so special together. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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