Many acclaimed actors have guest-starred on the emotional hospital drama Grey's Anatomy, including Elisabeth Moss, who appeared in one season 3 episode. The actor is known for playing memorable strong and independent TV characters, including Zoey Bartlett on The West Wing, Peggy Olson on Mad Men, and a detective and archivist in the TV thrillers Top of the Lake and Shining Girls, respectively. She's also won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of June Osborne on The Handmaid's Tale. Her characters are always smart, ambitious, and determined.
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Very different from Elisabeth Moss's horror movie roles, her brief guest role on Grey's Anatomy aired in 2007, the same year that she began portraying Peggy on Mad Men. This is significant since Moss didn't make as much of an impression as she would have if she had a one-episode arc today. In the years leading up to this episode, the actor had other guest-starring roles on procedural shows, including The Practice, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Her Grey's Anatomy character is quite different from the others she has played.
Elisabeth Moss Played Nina Rogerson In Season 3 Of Grey's Anatomy
In Grey's Anatomy season 3, episode 19, "My Favorite Mistake," Elisabeth Moss plays Nina Rogerson, a woman whose mother, Cathy (Catherine Dent), needs to have surgery for a genetic condition where her muscles become bone. Nina is a full-time caretaker who has forgotten about her own wants and needs in order to help her mother. Cathy is another one of the most likable Grey's Anatomy patients and Nina is understandably afraid about the situation. One of her most compelling details is the dollhouse that she creates and brings into her mother's room. While she thinks this gives her mother peace and comfort, it appears that it helps Nina instead.
Nina's fearful personality is revealed when Cathy's surgery doesn't work. Cathy tells Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) that Nina is in denial that her mother is dying. Cathy also makes the wise remark that her daughter is no longer truly alive, as she is too worried and preoccupied with what can go wrong. Instead of playing a patient with a fatal illness or someone who has gotten into a bad accident, Elisabeth Moss's Grey's Anatomy character showcases the toll that caring for a sick loved one can take.
Elisabeth Moss Had A Positive Impact On The Show
Elisabeth Moss's turn on Grey's Anatomy wasn't notable at the time it aired, since she wasn't yet famous for playing strong-willed June on The Handmaid's Tale or Peggy Olsen on Mad Men. Now that Moss is known for her TV roles, she is often mentioned as a Grey's Anatomy guest star who has been forgotten about until now. However, her character has a more meaningful message than patients or loved ones at the hospital. Nina's storyline is one of the most memorable and important single-episode arcs. She proves that being a full-time caregiver is an important pursuit, but ignoring self-care and not finding enjoyment every day can have consequences.
Elisabeth Moss's Grey's Anatomy character makes an impact on Izzie, who is sympathetic toward Nina and who starts a trend of taking a real interest in her patients. Izzie helps Nina see that although she has lost the most important person in her life, she has a lot to look forward to and can be proud of how she has looked after her mother.