Yahoo News Grey's Anatomy star talks domestic violence storyline
Grey's Anatomy is set to air a powerful domestic violence storyline for character Jo Wilson, which star Camilla Luddington says is a "long time coming".
The actress' character, Jo Wilson, was revealed to have been a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her former husband Paul (Matthew Morrison) in the season 12 finale.
However, in upcoming mid-season premiere '1-800-799-7233' – a reference to the National Domestic Violence Hotline – the show will tackle this story head on.
In the season 14 winter finale, Paul has since managed to track down Jo, and Luddington revealed that she will be understandably "horrified" by the news.
"You see her obviously absolutely horrified that he has infiltrated her world," she told Entertainment Weekly. "When she initially runs into him, she feels like everything is completely turned upside down.
"It picks up exactly with that same beat walking out of the elevator, and you see her paralysed. Jo is honestly trying to get ahead of the situation and do any damage control that she knows he will try and do. That's, in general, how you see Jo handle the rest of the episode."
Luddington also revealed that although the storyline is relevant in the current climate, they had been working on it for a while.
"The headlines had just started when we were just filming," the star continued. "These conversations for us have been happening for so long; they have been happening for certainly over a season.
"It's a long time coming, but now that it's airing right as Time's Up is happening, I just feel like it's serendipitous. Really this story is about a woman that is no longer feeling silenced and finding the strength to use her voice, to be heard, to be believed, to feel empowered.
"I think that's the heart of this story at the end of the day, and that's exactly what's going on right now. It just feels crazy that it's airing during this particular moment, but now I feel like it was meant to be, too."
Grey's Anatomy returns to ABC on January 18 in the US. The show airs on Sky Living and Now TV in the UK.
Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk) or Women's Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk). Both charities run the 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline, 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
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