Shonda Rhimes Says This Fan-Favorite Character Of Hers Desperately Needs A ‘Year Of Yes’

Shonda Rhimes is a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, known for creating some of the most iconic TV shows, including "Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal," "Private Practice," and "How to Get Away with Murder." Rhimes, 55, is also known for penning some of the most dramatic storylines that have kept viewers on the edges of their seats for decades.

During a conversation with Robin Roberts at the Shonda Rhimes in Conversation event, the TV producer and mother of three opened up about the 10th anniversary of her 2015 memoir, "Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person." Along with the book, Rhimes dished on which of her well-known characters could benefit from having their own "year of yes."

According to Rhimes, Olivia Pope, the political fixer known for wreaking havoc across Washington, D.C., in the drama "Scandal," is the one character who needs her own "year of yes."

Rhimes admitted that Pope, played by the legendary Kerry Washington, always had a lot on her plate during the show's initial run. "She's had a tough life. I think she could really benefit from a 'yes.'"

For those unfamiliar, Rhimes' memoir, "Year of Yes," is about the writer's one-year journey of saying "yes" to anything that made her slightly nervous or fearful—from speaking engagements to having "uncomfortable conversations."

In fact, Rhimes told Roberts that the latter is one lesson she's kept close to her heart over the years, mainly because she grew up as a person who was afraid of conflict. As she's gotten older, however, Rhimes stated she found herself in stickier situations by not saying what she meant the first time. "So now, 10 years later, ... I say the hard thing first, as the first part of the sentence," she said.

For Rhimes, coming out of the gate swinging with the most challenging part of what needs to be said has helped her navigate tough waters tremendously. "I say it, you know, whether it's, 'You can't work here anymore,' or, 'This relationship's not working,' or 'You've asked for too much too many times,'" she said. "Or to my daughter, 'You're not getting a nose ring no matter what you say.'"

Recently, Rhimes released an extended version of her "Year of Yes" memoir, adding seven new chapters based on her lived experiences since its initial release. While reworking the publication, Rhimes admitted to getting emotional when looking back at what she'd written the first time.

"Just like anybody else who hadn't read the book in a long time, I sat down and I reread what I had written, and my heart went out to that person," she said. "My heart went out to that woman who was so closed off and so shy."

Rhimes added that the woman who wrote the first version of the book in 2015 isn't the same person in 2026. "I could feel the pain that I clearly was feeling at that time, and it made me realize that there's been so much going on in the 10 years since that I almost don't recognize the person at the end of the book," she said.

Rhimes explained that people today can notice the writer's demeanor has completely shifted. "People say to me that I seem lighter and more ... just more comfortable in my own skin, I think. And maybe I'm having a lot more fun," she said.

In 2024, when Washington—who also has credits in "Little Fires Everywhere," "Django Unchained," "The Simpsons," and more—received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the actress and mother of three opened up about how playing Olivia Pope (the first Black woman lead in a network TV drama in 40 years) had a major impact on her.

"When people come up to me, they often talk about how Olivia Pope changed their life, and I get it — because she changed my life too," she said, according to Variety. "I got married [to Nnamdi Asomugha], had children and bought a home. So much changed for me in those years," she added, explaining that she's "really, really grateful" to Olivia Pope "for how she impacted culture ... and me."

Washington played the role of Pope from 2012 to 2018, and during that time, the actress earned two Primetime Emmy nominations. According to Washington, being the show's leading lady also did more for her than people might've imagined.

"She reminded our culture that everybody deserves to be the lead character in the story of their lives, regardless of what they look like, or who they love, or what Zip code they were born into, or what religion they are," she said. "On a personal level, it took me being No. 1 on the call sheet to be willing to see myself as No. 1 in my own life."