Mary McDonnell

But who will she play?

The nature of Mary's role, first reported by our good friends at Galactica Sitrep and Mo Ryan of the Chicago Tribune, remains a mystery. All we fans know for now is that it's a guest gig. The character's identity—patient, doctor or recently arrived relative—remains shrouded in Grey's famous anti-spoiler force field...

But remember how last week I told you about the casting call for Little Miss Type A, the high-powered type A personality female character in her 20s or 30s?

If you knocked off the age restriction, Mary McD would certainly be able to fill the other requirements of the part, don't you think? And now that I think about it, Mary could very well be a more mature Kate Walsh/Addison Montgomery. Could this be the older woman of McSteamy's dreams?

What are your thoughts? Who else could she be playing? A hospital administrator come to help or harass the Chief? Or maybe Alex's mentally ill mother?

All I know is that it would be a bit much if she were playing a dying leader of any stripe, but besides that, I think the options are endless! Post your theories in the comments!

If you suspected there was a twist surrounding Mary McDonnell's three-episode Grey's Anatomy arc, congratulations, you were right. Turns out her character, a celebrated cardiac surgeon brought in to boost Seattle Grace's national ranking beginning Nov. 13, is living with Asperger's syndrome. "Shonda [Rhimes] thought it would be interesting to have an incredibly skilled surgeon who, socially, is initially misunderstood," explains executive producer Betsy Beers of the autism-related disorder, which is characterized by eccentric behavior and a general social awkwardness. (Think Emily Deschanel's Brennan on Bones.) Eccentric behavior and social awkwardness? Sounds like she'll fit right in! Or will she? Only time -- and my following exclusive Q&A with the fraktabulous McDonnell -- will tell.

AUSIELLO: How does everyone react to your character, Dr. Virginia Dixon?
MARY MCDONNELL: In her first surgery she works primarily with Bailey and Karev, who are both sort of caught off guard by her difficulty in communication. They don't really know until the end of the episode that she has Asperger's. It's challenging for them. On the one hand, you're introducing a dramatic and comedic dynamic that people have to react to. On the other hand, you're bringing on a very dignified real human being with a disability that can be very problematic for everyone.

What's it like playing her?
It's been a wonderful experience. Grey's has to do with social nuance and behavior between people, and this is a character who can't really relate to any of that. She comes in and brings a little bit of a different behavior to Seattle Grace.

How different are we talking? She's still going to hook up with one of her colleagues, right?
[Laughs] So far, I have to tell you, I don't see any romance. That just makes me giggle. But she's just coming in for three episodes so far, so we'll see. That's the furthest thing from her mind.

Might your stay be extended beyond the three episodes?
There's always a possibility. I think with this character, there's a great collaboration to kind of experiment with her and with her situation and see the kind of effect it may have on the world of Grey's, because she's very atypical.

Did Shonda create the role with you in mind?
I don't know if it was created with me in mind, but I was told that Shonda had me on her mind as soon as she started thinking about it. She's put a great deal of trust in me, and it's part of why I wanted to do it. Because when someone hands you something this compelling and complicated and gives you good writing and also says, "I'm trusting you to find the nuance here," then you kind of go home and think, I'm lucky to be alive.

Source: EW

où elle décède en compagnie de l’amiral Adama.

MD : Je suis ravie de la façon avec laquelle la série s’est achevée, principalement parce que j’aurais pensé impossible d’explorer les thèmes abordés tel que nous l’avons fait, et conclure par une fin aussi encourageante. Si vous m’aviez demandé il y a un an et demi que ce serait la fin désirée, je vous aurais répondu ’il n’y a pas moyen’. Je me rappelle que les fans disaient ’c’est de plus en plus sombre, comment vont-ils pouvoir s’en sortir ?’. Je pense donc que la fin est très éloquente, très encourageante.