fictional character abc medical drama television series grey anatomy portrayed actress recurring character second seasons joined main cast fourth season prior assuming role smith observed heart surgery performed admitted finding pressure continually portraying medical professional character presented highly professional point notably hard resident admitting reminds student despite intentions away relationships romantically involved surgeon storyline praised realistic portrayal developing sex relationship women expressed concerns deemed somewhat talk written grey anatomy november smith commenting decision originated abc network series creator storylines appearance series established long time rival main character fellow surgeon dating days graduated second introduced attending surgeon fight donor heart reappears season contacted knight consult father valve replacement george finds hand helping cover transfers season episode everyday performing successful heart request chief surgery takes role previously held seattle grace head surgery antagonistic relationship refusing let constantly criticizing overly enthusiastic behavior later confesses purposely hard reminds resident character romantic attention fellow attending admitting finds attractive wishes private life separate working life develops friendship temporarily strained led believe romantic designs laughs notion goes kiss prove couldn handle leaving stunned season finale second passionate kiss attempt romantic relationship comes terms sexuality quickly sure sleeps sure initially eventually decides want relationship unsure sexuality leaves post seattle grace development casting creation initially conceived minor character occasional guest star rival character appeared episodes second season followed episodes season discussing thought main character season appearance smith stated time didn think going work time hope hope kind like single following washington departure brought main character fourth season replacing head surgery smith said expecting character introduced time didn want disappointed didn happen stated deciding factor return opportunity presented explore character greater depth explaining work beginning middle end create arc need figure researching role smith watched heart surgery performed surgical nurses employed grey anatomy producers maintain realism operating room dubbed research stating got fact didn medical school actually doctor explaining idea surgeon act like good look like long time november reported entertainment_weekly depart grey anatomy november series creator issued statement online reported smith dismissal enforced abc network attempt gay grey anatomy revealed writing character grey anatomy newcomer longer playing bisexual character announced interviewed stated smith explained script final episode involve character written final scene heading car agreed assessment dismissal originated abc stating definitely like hands tied said didn controversy press created thing reality characterization describing character personality smith stated professional think feels work people things aren professional gets little upset adding little rules head supposed act work doesn mean break rules supposed follow writer season episode fighting saw establishment main character deemed hardcore kick ass female surgeon smith explained writers didn want rush likable hoped didn mind lot actors don want bad guy okay good series creator discussing rivalry resident yang saw chief surgery lack encouragement given insight brilliant surgeon great patients teaching skills let use little loving care students particularly felt sorry grew surgical world included fewer women accustomed dog eat dog kind surgical world consulted producers developing lesbian storyline said character strong good actually lot men threatened confident initially arrival seattle grace plastic surgeon seen develop feelings repeatedly rebuffed character explained kept personal professional lives separate smith explained came wrong hospital thought wasn going personal life smith admitted writers meeting attempt find store character romantically closely guarded discussed guide editor early tenure pushed lesbian relationship having previously played lovers play agreed assessment awesome lesbian certainly let producers know open like duly noted think wanted shut equally smith revealed discussed possibility gay felt obvious strong powerful woman lesbian despite assessment end fourth season saw grow closer surgeon relationship dubbed later entertainment_weekly stated chemistry watching story writers looking forward wanted relationship way relationships funny sweet honest little bit dirty explained developing relationship wanted real stunt people talking wanted happen woman suddenly feelings woman characters shared kiss end season finale ellen noted regular lesbian bisexual female characters currently network television time regular characters network begun lesbian romance opposed involved new lesbian character introduced relationship embarking storyline producers consulted ensure maintained realism star april shower invited consult workshop sessions took place wanting characters focusing woman woman relationship consulted adding didn want stereotype write place didn understand don think stunt people watching strike think wanted develop characters way decided kind think chemistry actresses tell room definitely chemistry discussing reaction storyline smith commented thought great idea revealed writers fully romantic backstory explaining lot vague mean writers think sort thought mind maybe crush high school college don think think time continuing theme smith spoke character lack definitive romantic history look script week like god lesbian years didn know discussed meetings attended impact portrayal storyline explaining actually helpful talk personal lives guess open person life change happen rock world imagine sudden thought love woman maybe weren following announcement written grey anatomy smith asked happy direction storyline taken responded know starting yeah personally little gay panic thing think sort deemed scene saw sleep mark practice sleeping little adding woman don know reception los_angeles_times praised character highly writing terrific character sassy professional appropriately view romantic carefully considered stand viewers season way writers forward hugely successful brand don nervous future highest rated drama hands discussing character terms relationship largely positive assessing story line offered drama grey known despite marginally talk network television rarely achieved comes lesbian relationships invited consult grey anatomy producers storyline praised effort researching issue writers actors involved negative scene saw kiss elevator commented felt like cared don think stunt little don know forced like conquest like agreed view criticizing way scene edited cutting mark point view male gaze smith refuted interpretation stating frankly played scene played think walked room wouldn kissed moment swear god playing thinking know bit competition guys boys club character happened sort like yeah wouldn intimidated check following announcement character written grey anatomy wrote critical editorial decision deemed smith firing grim reminder certain television writing gay characters allowed sex network television single episode story line actively sexual lesbian characters gorgeous went assess smith probably got boot character wasn interesting sympathetic especially paired didn fit visual template grey network television character actress tabloid star words words deeply regret beautiful smith beautiful gay network ground appear broken ellen similarly critical decision explaining smith dismissal means loss american broadcast lesbian bisexual couple primetime significant gay relationship portrayed hit abc series handful remaining lesbian bisexual relationships cable premium channels daytime television detailing decision change new character orientation bisexual added striking blow women visibility small screen moves signal significant setback industry acceptance mainstream gay lesbian storylines concluded moments gay panic slept friend fellow surgeon interaction women organic romantic relationship stood bright spots lesbian bisexual characters primetime left
Erica Hahn