Playing Ellen Pompeo on Her Greys Anatomy Directorial Debut and Hiring a Baby Nurse: Id Be Nowhere Without Her

Ellen Pompeo is dishing on the secret to juggling motherhood with a busy career, which comes to a head with her upcoming Greys Anatomy directorial debut -- nurse Jackie!

The 47-year-old mom-of-three stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where her 5-month-old son, Eli, waited backstage.

WATCH: Ellen Pompeo Shares Boy Crazy Video Dancing With Infant Son

He is the sweetest thing ever so adorable, Pompeo gushed, before adding that the tot is now sleeping through the night. He is. I have the most fantastic baby nurse, Jackie, whos also backstage -- Hi Jackie!

She helps me and Id be nowhere without her because I work long days and I need help caring for him, she continued. Shes got my back -- and his. Its funny because everyone who meets her is like, I want Jackie! and Im like, You dont have a baby. [Theyre like], Yeah, I know but I just want Jackie!

Photo: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros

Long days at work are nothing new for the Greys veteran, but shes been even busier than usual on set lately, due to directing her first episode of the ABC series.

Titled Be Still, My Soul, the episode airs on March 30, and Pompeo said she had a blast behind the camera.

I definitely had an advantage being there for 13 seasons, says Pompeo, whose Ellen appearance airs on March 23. It was super fun. [Executive producer] Debbie Allen really wasnt going to take no for an answer and enough women dont get the opportunity to direct, so I thought, Who am I to get the opportunity and say no?

EXCLUSIVE: Greys Anatomy Star Justin Chambers on a Meredith-Alex Romance

If work and kids arent enough to keep her busy, Pompeo also added to the familys brood by adopting another dog recently.

[I now have] four dogs, four chickens and a fish, she shared. Oh, and a husband too.

We adopted Lily from Love Leo Rescue, she said of the new addition. I was scared for her when she first came because she was scared. Every time someone would come in the house she would run and hide under a bed. Ive worked with her a lot to get her to the place where she is comfortable and she has made the most amazing progress. Shes a completely different dog.

See what Pompeos castmate, Justin Chambers, had to say about a possible Alex-Meredith romance on the show in the video below.

Read the original:
Ellen Pompeo on Her 'Grey's Anatomy' Directorial Debut and Hiring a Baby Nurse: 'I'd Be Nowhere Without Her' - Entertainment Tonight