Chyler Leigh Calls Reprising Her Former 'Grey's Anatomy' Role for Season 17 a 'Special Experience'

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Chyler Leighis cherishing her return to herGrey’s Anatomyroots during the show’s 17th season.

In an interview withEntertainment Tonight, Leigh opened up about how she felt reprising her role as Lexie Grey for the first time in nearly a decade.

“It was a really interesting experience just becauseI did have to film it up here in Canadabecause you can’t travel back and forth to the [United] States,” the actress, 39, said. “So all of my stuff was done on basically green screen. And we’re not sitting on the rocks. I was sitting on an apple box, and I was talking to tennis balls. So in that sense, it was interesting.”

“But understanding there are dynamics between [my character] Lexie and [Ellen Pompeo’s character] Meredith, and then Lexie and [Eric Dane’s character] Mark. It was really special to be able to be part of it and especially telling such a powerful story,” she added.

Leigh noted that this season pays tribute to first responders and what they’ve endured while working through the coronavirus pandemic.

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Leigh joinedGrey’s Anatomyin 2007 as Meredith Grey’s half-sister Lexie in the medical drama’s third season. In 2012, she left the series on her own terms after season 8.

Leigh’s character was ultimately killed off in a plane crash, buther character returns from the deadin the show’s 17th season, which began airing in November 2020. Season 17 also saw original stars Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shepard), T.R. Knight (George O’Malley) and Dane, 48, returning to the long-running ABC series.

AfterDempsey’sGrey’s Anatomyguest-starring stint concluded, he spoke toVarietyabout the possibility of reappearing on the series again.

“Who knows? Never say never with this show, right?” the actor — who appeared in four episodes this season — said last month. “I’m glad we did it this year. And [showrunner] Krista Vernoff did a fantastic job telling the story. It was just a great way to give people some hope.”

Grey’s Anatomyairs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

source: people.com