Kevin McKidd: “Bringing Owen and Teddy back? We’re already talking about it”

After 18 years in Grey’s Anatomy, Kevin McKidd is turning the page. For Première, the Scottish actor looks back on his departure, his future and the possibility of a return to Seattle. Interview.

Juror of the 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival this week, Kevin McKidd has definitely put away his white blouche. At 52, the Scottish actor has just left Grey’s Anatomy at the end of season 22, after playing Owen Hunt for 18 years and 385 episodes. What trace does such an adventure leave? How do you bounce back after spending almost two decades on the same show? And above all, will he ever return to Seattle? Encounter.

FIRST: Kevin, we met right here, in Monte-Carlo, in 2016. Did you imagine at the time that you would still be here 10 years later to talk about Grey’s Anatomy?
KEVIN MCKIDD: Yes, that’s true, I came here ten years ago. At the time, I had just renewed my contract. No, of course, I couldn’t imagine doing this for another ten years. It’s true that it lasted so long… For any actor, doing an entire season is already a lot. So make it eighteen? Can you imagine? It’s an opportunity and at the same time, we inevitably wonder how to keep it interesting to play.

When you become a Grey’s Anatomy star for that long, doesn’t that end up overshadowing everything else in your career?
No, I don’t think so. I did a lot of different things before Grey’s. I don’t think I’m defined solely by this series. Besides, if a man comes to see me, he will often talk to me about Rome on HBO. Or Dog Soldiers by Neil Marshall. And if it’s a woman, then she’ll definitely talk to me about Grey’s Anatomy.

For example, you started in Trainspotting thirty years ago. Do people still talk to you about it today?
Of course ! This film has become so important in popular culture even though at the time, we could not imagine making something so iconic. It truly is a film that changed all of our lives.

How do you actually leave Grey’s Anatomy? Is this a decision taken by mutual agreement with the producers or do we simply receive a message one day saying that the adventure is over?
(He laughs) No, no text messages. It’s really a conversation. They respect us enough that we can have a real discussion. In fact, it had already been two or three years since I felt like I had done the trick. Owen’s adventure seemed to have reached the end of something. Today he is more mature, less angry. It was the right time for me to leave, while I still had the energy to do this job. I want to play other roles, do other projects… It’s a bit like leaving home as an adult: it’s hard, it’s scary, but you have to do it at one point or another.

You’d think that after all these years, Owen Hunt and Kevin McKidd have almost become one. But maybe it’s completely false and you managed to maintain a real separation between you and the character?
This is true for most of the Grey’s Anatomy actors, who are very close to their characters. But for me it’s very different, because I’m a Scotsman playing an American army veteran! Needless to say, I’m not Owen at all. If only for the accent. I have to hide my Scottish accent, the way I speak, when I become Owen. Almost like a disguise. It was quite tricky to do for the first two seasons. And then afterward, it became a reflex. But clearly, I was playing Owen, I was not Owen.

Besides, your first project after Grey’s Anatomy is the new film Highlander!
Yes. I went to Scotland to film the day after my last day of filming on Grey’s. It was quite a great experience. Highlander is a massive production, obviously very different. (He shows a photo on his phone) Look, I’m in a warrior costume. It was really fun to make this kind of historical film with action. After playing a doctor for eighteen years, it’s almost a return to my roots for me!

Do you remember the last scene you shot as Owen?
It was the sequence where Owen comes to help this family stuck in their car after the bridge collapsed. Big practical effects, so that’s what we shot last. All of this was filmed in a specific location with a huge pond where we were able to build the set. This was a particularly intense final scene. Exhausting even. Especially since I also directed this episode.

What do you think of the happy ending offered to Owen and Teddy?
A few years ago, I felt like Owen had to die in a tragic way. In a heroic way. He was saving someone and losing his life in the process. Then we talked about it with Meg (Marinis), the showrunner. She told me she didn’t want to kill Owen. That the world was already dark enough right now and she preferred to imagine a happy ending. And I think she was right, basically. I’m glad we made this choice. And perhaps this will allow us to see them again one day.

Indeed, the former actors of Grey’s Anatomy who survive almost all end up returning for a turn in the series. Do you imagine yourself coming back one day?
Of course. I will continue to direct episodes. And we’ve already started talking about how we might bring back Owen and Teddy at some point. It’s clearly on the table. And I’ll come back to the set the second I’m asked!

What plot particularly struck you during these 385 episodes? From Owen’s post-traumatic stress disorder to an open marriage to Teddy?
These are really Owen’s first years on the show. He was such a damaged character. We had to look in very dark places to interpret this post-traumatic stress syndrome. I have read a lot about the suffering of veterans. And then he and Cristina had such a strong, intense relationship. The emotions we had to play were incredible. These first two seasons will really stay with me.

What will you miss the most? The rhythm of daily filming? Partners?
I honestly think it will be the other actors and actresses. We became a bit of a family. Linda Klein, one of the producers, even became the godmother of one of my children.

How do you bounce back as an actor after so many years on a show? Do you know what you want to do now?
I will continue to play as I know how. Find good roles. Trying to take the fans with me in this new stage. Afterwards, my dream would be to be able to work with Christopher Nolan one day. I know, it’s not very original to say that. But even for a very small role, it would be fantastic. He is at the top of the 7th art today. Him or Denis Villeneuve. These are two filmmakers that I admire enormously.

I know you are a huge Harry Potter fan. You almost appeared in David Yates films. Could we see you in the HBO series one day?
I really hope so! I missed the opportunity at the time because I was under contract with Fox for the Journeyman series. But it’s true that I love books. Who do you think I could play? A teacher, why not? But honestly, I’m open to anything. Fingers crossed I’ll be there this time.