Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan Made of Honor Press Conference
There’s a definitive moment when your character realizes Michelle’s character is the one. When was that moment for you with your wife?
Patrick Dempsey: “I think when I first saw her I said, ‘Oh this is interesting. This is different.’ It was sort of a moment that I’ll never forget, late afternoon I can just see it clearly. I think it was [snaps fingers] a transformative moment for me. It has been the best thing for me. Family, kids, it’s great. I love it.”
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done for love?
Patrick Dempsey: “Oh, we're out of tape. Sorry, I can’t answer this question. (Laughing) What’s the craziest thing? I don't know. I don’t think I ever did anything crazy like that. I think just having had been married, obviously, the first time, and then the second time, just like going, ‘I want to do this again.’ I think that was the craziest thing I did and also the most positive thing I've ever done.”
Have you ever had to fight for another girl?
Patrick Dempsey: “No, I was never in that situation. I wouldn’t put myself in that situation probably. There was a girl that I liked and she didn’t even see me - I remember that – until many years later. I was like, ‘Ah, now you see me.’”
How are you dealing with the rejuvenation of your career?
Patrick Dempsey: “I’m dealing with it great. I love it. (Laughing) I am. The thing is I just want to be thankful and not forget how difficult it is to be in this position. You have a moment and to really appreciate it. Driving here today, I was like, ‘I just really want to appreciate what’s happening, because in a week’s time, who knows how the movie is going to do? Enjoy the moment now and hopefully have more opportunities in the future.’ And I'm really enjoying the work more than ever, and I liked having more control on this movie and having that feedback. If I can continue from that place, I think I'd be very [happy].”
Compared to the first period of time…
Patrick Dempsey: “I think fame is one of those things where you have a window of opportunity and you have a certain amount of trust from the fans, and without that you don’t have a career. And I think you always have to keep that in perspective. And fame is fleeting. Sometimes people like you, sometimes they don’t. Not all people are going to like you and you have to come to [terms] with that. I think you just can’t start buying into the hype of it all and you have to keep working on the developing material, which I didn’t do early on and that’s the key. Controlling the material and bringing it to you, and hopefully if you are making money, the studios are going to give you the opportunity.
I have really had a great time working with Sony. They were incredibly supportive the whole way and very collaborative. And they support the movie really well, so, I think, I hope I’m answering your question. I think I am. But, I just really appreciate it. I’m really happy to have a family and a life outside of the business, so when it gets tough and you see all this stuff that just doesn’t make sense and how empty it ultimately is at the end of the day, the creation of it, the work of it is the best part, and everything else is kind of, ‘Eh, what is that?’”
Do you still have fans who call you Ronald [from Can’t Buy Me Love] or is it all McDreamy?
Patrick Dempsey: “Oh, no, no, no. There's a lot of them. Everybody goes, ‘Do the dance! Come on, do the animal…' No, I'm not going to do the dance. Everybody wants me to do the dance.”
Have you gone back to shoot more Grey’s Anatomy this season?
Patrick Dempsey: “Oh yeah. There’s a two hour season thing we’re just in the middle of right now and the hours are incredibly long. It’s a lot of work.”
How happy are you that Derek and Meredith are getting back together…again?
Patrick Dempsey: “Who knows? Are they? I’m so spun out over that. I don't know if it’s me or the character at this point. It’s funny. I’m excited. I just hope we keep moving forward and keep the stories fresh, and we don’t do what is predictable. I think that’s going to be the challenge. That's what it's going to be, to keep that audience watching.”
How much more Grey’s Anatomy do you see yourself doing?
Patrick Dempsey: “Well, I have a contract so I’m with them and I don’t think it’s wise to leave a show. You’ve seen other people who have done that and I think it’s a big mistake. There’s an audience there. I think it really gets down to the stories and we are going to continue to keep it fresh and entertaining and not too predictable. I think that's going to be at the end of the day [what keeps] everybody there.”
How important do you think it was to come back and do more of the season right away and not wait?
Patrick Dempsey: “I think it’s really important. You notice there was a real dip in the ratings across the board for television because the audience has been the lost because of the strike. It has been damaging and I think also the Internet, people were downloading the shows too. It’s going to be interesting to see if we get some momentum going into the next six shows. We have to gain the trust of the audience again and they have to fall back into the storylines and get reconnected.”
Page 4: On Grey's Anatomy, the Writers Strike, Enchanted Sequel, and Trucker
