Grey's Anatomy star Debbie Allen has hinted that her "bad guy" character Dr Catherine Fox could change as season 21 progresses.
The character hasn't exactly been a fan favourite recently, notably firing a number of people at the end of last season, while frustration over her antics boiled over in the season 21 premiere when Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) slapped her.
Speaking to Parade, Debbie noted that Catherine "became the villain at the end of last season", confirming the slap was actually her idea.
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"In the first episode [of this season], which I directed, I told [showrunner] Megan [Marinis], 'She needs to be slapped'," she recalled. "I asked for the slap.
"I said, 'Yes, Catherine has been such a bitch. The audience didn't want to hear anything that's touching. They want to see her get slapped'. And they loved it. It was good. She deserved it."
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She added: "I am an actor, and I will be willing to play what the role is. A lot of people watch their Instagram and wonder how the fans feel. I'm not so likeable, but somebody's got to be the bad guy."
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However, she went on to suggest that Catherine "might be on the mend" going forward, and that she should be "grateful" to Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) for helping with her health.
Debbie also explained that Catherine is "learning a lot of things right now" which are "good for her", and that she has "potential" to change.
"Sometimes, people in control have a mindset of how to run things," she said. "It needs to be like this and that. If they stop and talk to people a little bit or really take a step back and look, they might see something different. Catherine has the potential to do that."
Grey's Anatomy season 21 airs on Thursdays at 10pm ET on ABC in the US. Previous seasons are streaming on Disney+ in the UK.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
