beach waves

Dr. Meredith Grey is leaving the halls of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Actor Ellen Pomepo, who has played the dynamite doctor for a whopping 19 seasons of the ABC hit, is saying goodbye to her onscreen alter ego and Grey’s Anatomy, and she made the official announcement with an equally show-stopping beauty look.

Pompeo shared the news of her departure with fans on Instagram, saying she was “eternally grateful and humbled” by the love she’d gotten from Grey’s viewers since the show premiered in 2005. “Through it all….none of it …would have been possible without the best fans in the world. You all are RIDERS and you all have made the ride so fun and ICONIC!!” she wrote, adding that it may not be the final appearance of her beloved character. (After all, no one really leaves or dies on a soapy nighttime drama like Grey’s.) “I love you madly and appreciate you right back. This isn’t your first time on the rollercoaster… you know the show must go on and I’ll definitely be back to visit.”

While we’re bummed to see Dr. Grey taking her leave of the Seattle hospital where she fell in love and saved lives, we’re all about the selfie moment Pompeo paired with her big news. The actor wore her hair in collarbone-length, honey blonde beach waves with a darker smudge root, made extra sunshine-y by her marigold yellow turtleneck sweater. Her signature perfectly arched brows were ready for their big moment in the spotlight, as was her subtle smoky grey (get it?) eyeshadow. A few flicks of mascara, some peachy-pink blush and just a touch of lip color were the cherry on top of this naturally chic look. Nearly 2 million people agree, as Pompeo’s post continues to rack up the likes and comments. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later, right?