35 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Until Right Now

5. Meredith and Dr. Burke were supposed to get together.

Before the whole Meredith/Derek love triangle, Rhimes wanted Dr. Burke and Meredith to get together. However, Pompeo didn’t want her “real life” to carry over onto the big screen–as Pompeo is in an interracial relationship in real life.

4. Katherine Heigl was nominated for an Emmy in 2008 but removed herself from the nomination list.

In 2008, Heigl was nominated for an Emmy for her role as Izzy on Grey’s, but she removed herself from the running to “preserve the integrity” of the awards.

“I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention.”

3. Kevin McKidd, who plays Owen, is actually Scottish.

The actor has a very thick accent in real life.

2. Debbie Allen said her favorite part of the show is “sex.”

Catherine Avery eventually marries the iconic Dr. Webber, and in an interview, Allen said she loves that she gets to have “mad old sex with Dr. Webber.”

1. Executives originally wanted Rob Lowe to play Derek Shepherd.

Lowe reportedly turned down the role and pilot, and instead went on to star in a show called “Dr. Vegas,” which was cancelled after only five episodes.