Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo counts herself as fortunate, having gone through most of her career unscathed by sexual harassment.

But that's not to say she has avoided it entirely.

"I actually did have a situation with James Toback where I kind of told him to go (expletive) himself," she tells USA TODAY, recalling an incident early in her career.

And it didn't go well — for him.

"It was held in a public place and I brought a man — my friend Tony," she recalls. "And he didn't like that at all. And I could tell that. I could tell instantly that he was, like, no good. The minute my friend left, he asked me if I would get naked in a movie. And I was like, 'Really, dude? My friend has been missing all of 30 seconds and now you say that? I kind of laughed in his face."

USA TODAY requested comment from Toback's last-known representatives, who said they do not work with him. No other publicist, agent or attorney could be identified.

Toback has been accused of sexual harassment or assault by approximately 40 women, often inviting them to his apartment or hotel rooms under the guise of private auditions. The accusations began with an Oct. 22 exposé in the Los Angeles Times.

The most recent accusers include Legally Blonde actress Selma Blair, who says he barred her from leaving his hotel room until he masturbated to completion, and Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams, who says he told her multiple times that he masturbated while thinking of her audition for the 2001 film Harvard Man.

Pompeo says she also met with Harvey Weinstein at his hotel but fared better than many of the other women who did.

"I met with Harvey at the Peninsula and he didn't try anything on me," she says. "I was very lucky. I escaped those clutches."

She says her comparative fortune may be one reason she's stayed on Grey's for 14 seasons.

"I've been so lucky and maybe part of my choice to stay was (due to) knowing exactly what my environment was," she acknowledges. "Going out there and auditioning for jobs and basically having to beg men and get their approval for jobs was never fun for me. Even though I didn't have any terrible experiences like some of these poor girls, this is the environment and you're aware of it. I'm very grateful in my choice to stay in my safe space."