Shonda Rhimes has been instrumental in the world of television, spearheading successful series such as Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton, just to name a few. As a Black female showrunner, Rhimes has been a trailblazer, creating hit series with casts that accurately represent the real world.
Rhimes rose to the top after the 2005 release of her hit series, Grey’s Anatomy, starring Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey and Katherine Heigl. The screenwriter and television producer has been very vocal about her push to fill her writers’ rooms with authentic voices.
Get a glimpse into the fascinating career of Shonda Rhimes and some insight into a few of television’s most popular series!
Shonda Rhimes starts in television and film
Prior to her reign on television and the beginning of production company, Shondaland, Rhimes was a screenwriter on a few memorable movies. Before she created Grey’s Anatomy and became world-famous, Rhimes received major writing credits.
The screenwriter is credited on the 2002 film, Crossroads, which stars pop sensation Britney Spears, as well as Zoe Saldana, Anson Mount, Taryn Manning, Dan Aykroyd and Kim Cattrall. The film was Spears’ breakout role following her rise to fame as a pop singer.
Rhimes is also a credited writer on the 2004 film, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews and Chris Pine. In 2005, Rhimes’ career skyrocketed thanks to a little show called Grey’s Anatomy.
How Shonda Rhimes changed TV with ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and more
Following the release of the hit show in 2005, Rhimes had a significant impact on the television industry, as she was at the forefront of bringing diversity to the small screen. She has since cast diverse figures in lead roles not only in Grey’s but also with Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Bridgerton.
The cast of Grey’s Anatomy, one of the longest-running scripted primetime shows, has fluctuated over the years, but Rhimes has been sure to keep it diverse. Long-standing cast members include Chandra Wilson, who portrays Dr. Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber and Camilla Ludington as Dr. Jo Wilson.
In a 2012 interview, Rhimes spoke about her decision to create a diverse and accurately represented cast.
“For me, Grey’s was about me making a statement,” Rhimes said. “I was making a television show that I wanted to watch and part of that was putting people of all colors in it so that you saw people like you on television.”
Shonda Rhimes follows up with major network hits
As Grey’s Anatomy continues to run on ABC, Rhimes continued her career, following up with shows like the spinoff Private Practice (2007-2013), Scandal (2012-2018), the limited series, Inventing Anna (2022) and Bridgerton in 2020.
Scandal made actress Kerry Washington one of the first black women to lead a drama series in nearly 40 years.
“I have, against no odds, courageously pioneered the art of writing for people of color as if they were human beings,” Rhimes said after receiving the 2016 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television. “I’ve bravely gone around just casting parts for actors who were the best ones.”
‘Bridgerton’ takes over the world with diverse casting
Rhimes continues to cast diversely with her most recent series, Bridgerton, which focuses on the Regency era in England. The screenwriter has cast people of color in lead roles, despite the stereotypes that exist. Rhimes has single-handedly changed television and the way it is created.
Bridgerton, which was adapted from the novels by Julia Quinn, has been an inclusive and diversely cast project.
“The idea that we don’t create worlds that look like the world that we live in, and that we create false societies where everybody looks a certain kind of way or is a certain kind of color or whatever, feels disingenuous to me…” Rhimes explained. “We’re just not interested in erasing anybody from the story, ever. In Shondaland, that is how we do.”
Following her success with Bridgerton, which is set for more seasons in the future, Rhimes has created the limited spinoff series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story in 2023. And it seems that Rhimes has no plans to stop creating hit shows with inclusive casts.
“Get comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable,” Rhimes shared. “Look around your rooms, any boardrooms, any meeting rooms — if everybody looks like you, there’s a problem.”
