Interview: Kim Raver on Teddy, The Fans, and Getting to Direct ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

One of the most popular series on television, nearly two decades after airing its first episode, is Grey’s Anatomy, a soapy medical drama that continues evolving as it gets into new territory with each season. Though she wasn’t part of the original cast when the show premiered, Kim Raver, a veteran of series like Third Watch and 24, has become an endearing and vital part of the series as Dr. Teddy Altman.

Awards Radar had the chance to speak with Raver about how she felt joining the series and specifically her upcoming directorial debut with this week’s episode, “Training Day.” She also discussed the legacy of 24 and short-lived highlights from her career like The Nine.

On what appealed to her about Teddy, Raver expressed:

“I loved what a badass Teddy was, and that she didn’t apologize for it. And she wasn’t going to take anyone giving her a hard time. Cristina Yang gives her a hard time but also was enamored by Teddy when she first arrived. I just loved the relationship between Teddy and Cristina Yang. Getting to work with Sandra Oh, I’ll never forget my first day. Even though I had been coming from shows like 24 and Third Watch and really big shows, it’s still extremely intimidating. You’ve got a cast that’s winning awards and at the top of their game, and you don’t know how you’re going to be received.”

On directing for the first time, Raver highlighted the pressure:

“I felt like the stakes were even higher. At first I thought, oh, it’s great, because everyone will be supportive. And then I was like, oh my god, I really can’t fail, because it’s my family! You know what I mean? It’s not like some show that’s over there and I’ll never see anyone ever again. Debbie Allen was just an incredible mentor. I learned so much from her. That was the beginning of it.”

Watch the full conversation below:

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Raver directs “Training Day,” premiering Thursday, March 23rd at 9pm on ABC.

Interview: Kim Raver on Teddy, The Fans, and Getting to Direct ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

One of the most popular series on television, nearly two decades after airing its first episode, is Grey’s Anatomy, a soapy medical drama that continues evolving as it gets into new territory with each season. Though she wasn’t part of the original cast when the show premiered, Kim Raver, a veteran of series like Third Watch and 24, has become an endearing and vital part of the series as Dr. Teddy Altman.

Awards Radar had the chance to speak with Raver about how she felt joining the series and specifically her upcoming directorial debut with this week’s episode, “Training Day.” She also discussed the legacy of 24 and short-lived highlights from her career like The Nine.

On what appealed to her about Teddy, Raver expressed:

“I loved what a badass Teddy was, and that she didn’t apologize for it. And she wasn’t going to take anyone giving her a hard time. Cristina Yang gives her a hard time but also was enamored by Teddy when she first arrived. I just loved the relationship between Teddy and Cristina Yang. Getting to work with Sandra Oh, I’ll never forget my first day. Even though I had been coming from shows like 24 and Third Watch and really big shows, it’s still extremely intimidating. You’ve got a cast that’s winning awards and at the top of their game, and you don’t know how you’re going to be received.”

On directing for the first time, Raver highlighted the pressure:

“I felt like the stakes were even higher. At first I thought, oh, it’s great, because everyone will be supportive. And then I was like, oh my god, I really can’t fail, because it’s my family! You know what I mean? It’s not like some show that’s over there and I’ll never see anyone ever again. Debbie Allen was just an incredible mentor. I learned so much from her. That was the beginning of it.”

Watch the full conversation below:

Raver directs “Training Day,” premiering Thursday, March 23rd at 9pm on ABC.