Kate Walsh On ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Return: ‘It Was So Emotional’

Kate Walsh has opened up about her highly anticipated return to the long-running ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” in a new interview.

The 54-year-old actress admitted in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight that it felt unreal to be back on the set of the show after so many years.

“Completely surreal,” Walsh said of her return. “Like, there's no way to even articulate it. I knew it would be odd, but it was so emotional and so big and yeah, beyond, because when's the last time you've ever gone back to a job that you started 18 years ago that you left 10 years ago? ”

Walsh was introduced midway through the debut season of the series back in 2005 as Dr. Addison Montgomery. She left the show after three seasons to star in her own spin-off, “Private Practice,” which wrapped up in January 2013.

Since Walsh has not stepped into Dr. Addison’s heels for nearly a decade, she shared that it felt bizarre to be back on the “Grey’s Anatomy” set even though it should feel like returning home.

“There's no infrastructure. There's no construct for it because even if you say, 'Oh, it's kind of like going home to your parents,' and you're like, ‘Wait, this is my room? OK, yeah, that's right I have an airplane bed,’” she said.

Walsh also shared that they had been talking about her return to the long-running series for some time now, and she was really excited about it since “Grey’s Anatomy” was such an important show for her “in my life, in my career.”

According to the actress, they couldn’t do it before due to the storylines and scheduling. But Walsh said they finally felt that now is the right time, adding that the writing for her character’s return “is so great” as it gives off that “vintage” or original vibe of the show.

“It was so emotional and I think it will be also for the fans. I think in every interview I've ever done in the last 10 years or whatever, it was like, ‘Would you ever go back?’ And so guess what, yes is the answer. I am doing it, I did it, so I hope that people are going to really love it,” the actress said.

The show’s lead star, Ellen Pompeo, also spoke about Walsh’s return earlier this week. The 51-year-old actress said that she got emotional when she saw her former co-star on the set again. “We may have hugged and cried a bit,” she added.

“Grey’s Anatomy” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EDT/PT on ABC.