Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo has spoken candidly about her battle to earn fair pay on the hit TV show, where, for 13 seasons, she's played lead character Meredith Grey.

"I'm 48 now, so I've finally gotten to the place where I'm OK asking for what I deserve," she candidly told The Hollywood Reporter in a now viral interview.

"I'm not the most 'relevant' actress out there. I know that's the industry perception, because I've been this character for 14 years. But the truth is, anybody can be good on a show season one and two. Can you be good 14 years later? Now, that's a f---in' skill."

With her newly negotiated contract, Pompeo is set to become television's highest-earning actress, bumping her pay up to $US575,000 ($718,000) per episode.