While Arizona Robbins left Grey’s Anatomy in season fourteen, she remains a fan-favorite character as the show continues without her. The pediatric surgeon holds a special place in the hearts of viewers. Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital just isn’t the same with her gone. Fans have been asking for her to come back in season sixteen.
The actor who played Arizona, Jessica Capshaw, loved her time on the show and has said it was her favorite role to play. While she is best known for her role on the hospital drama, it isn’t the only acting job she’s ever had. She also has a family, is friends with fellow celebrities, and has some well-known parents.
Grey’s fans have memorized everything there is to know about their favorite characters, but they may not know everything about the actors who play them. Read on to learn 18 Surprising Facts About Grey’s Anatomy Star, Jessica Capshaw.
18 Her Mom Is Famous
Acting definitely runs in the Capshaw family. Her mother, Kate Capshaw, is also famous.
She is best known for playing Willie Scott in Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom. She had Jessica in 1976, but eventually divorced her first husband and she is now married to director Steven Spielberg.
17 She’s A Mom Of Four
The Grey’s star is a mother herself. She has four children with her husband, Christopher Gavigan. He is an entrepreneur and CEO of a nonprofit organization, Healthy Child Healthy World.
The couple has three girls, Josephine, Poppy, and Eve, and one boy, Luke. They’re all between the ages of 3 and 12.
16 She’s Friendly With Taylor Swift
It seems like every celebrity has been connected to Taylor Swift somehow, and Capshaw is no exception. The actor said she’s become “friendly” with the famous pop star.
Swift is a big fan of Grey’s Anatomy and even named her cat Meredith after the main character. Capshaw said in an interview that she’s going to use her bond with Swift to impress her kids when they’re older.
15 Her Favorite Food Is Sandwiches
Everyone enjoys sandwiches, but Capshaw loves them. They’re actually her favorite food.
While her character Arizona admitted she doesn’t like sandwiches to Callie in a Grey’s episode, Capshaw said she spends “countless amounts of time” making her sandwiches as perfect as they can be. That’s definitely a skill to be admired.
14 She’s Obsessed With Game Of Thrones
Game Of Thrones may have ended, but the fanbase is still here. Capshaw herself is a major fan of the popular HBO show.
In her words, she’s “addicted to” the show. She said it made her want a baby dragon and she loves to watch Khaleesi. A lot of fans can relate.
13 She Has 10 Siblings
Capshaw has a huge family. After her mother married director Steven Spielberg, she gained a lot of siblings. She’s one of ten.
Her family is a big mix. She has step-siblings, adopted siblings, half-siblings, and siblings on her father’s side. They are quite the Brady Bunch when they get together.
12 She Once Co-Starred With Her Mother
Capshaw’s first big movie break was also the first and only time she has co-starred with her mother, Kate Capshaw.
It was called The Locusts and came out in 1997. She was only 19 and it was a minor role, but it was her first time on the big screen.
11 Playing A Gay Woman Changed Her Life
While Capshaw is straight in real life, Arizona is an iconic gay character that broke television boundaries. The actor has said playing a gay woman changed her life.
She is proud to have played a character that resonated with so many people and provided much-needed representation. Arizona helped teach people who watch the show about sexuality and acceptance. Capshaw said playing a character like that has been very rewarding.
10 She Wasn’t Supposed To Be A Series Regular
Despite Arizona’s immense popularity, she actually wasn’t always supposed to be such a major character. She was originally slated for only three episodes in season five.
They extended her contract for season five, and by season six she was officially a series regular. Grey’s would have been a very different show without she and Callie’s relationship.
9 She Does A Great Cher Impression
In her interview with US Weekly, Capshaw revealed that she does a surprisingly great Cher impression.
Specifically, the impression is of her iconic song “If I Could Turn Back Time”. There is currently no evidence of this impression, so fans will just have to take her word for it for now.
8 She Guest Starred on ER
Grey’s Anatomy isn’t the only hospital drama that Capshaw has been a part of. She actually played a very minor role on ER before her time as a pediatric surgeon at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Guest starring on ER in 1999 was actually her first television role. She played a character named Sally.
7 She’s Best Friends With Sasha Alexander
Capshaw is best friends with another actress, Sasha Alexander. Alexander is most recognized for her roles in Dawson’s Creek, Yes Man, and He’s Just Not That Into You. Most recently, she starred on Rizzoli and Isles.
She and Capshaw are godmother to each other's children. Some people even think they look alike.
6 She’s A Leo
Astrology is on the rise right now. Everyone into it wants to know what star sign their favorite celebrity is. You can even look up their birth charts online to find out.
For fans who were wondering, Capshaw was born on August 9th, making her a Leo, a bold, intelligent fire sign.
5 She Had A Big Crush On Michael J. Fox
Even celebrities have their own celebrity crushes. Capshaw revealed she always had a crush on Michael J Fox because she always loved the “funny guy”.
Fans of the Back To Future movies can definitely relate to that childhood crush. Who didn’t love Marty McFly when they first watched the series?
4 Arizona Is Her Favorite Role She’s Played
Capshaw has starred in quite a few movies and shows at this point, but her time on Grey’s has been the best. Arizona is her favorite role she’s played.
She said playing a role for nine years creates a different kind of connection to the character she’s playing and loved having fans connect to Arizona.
3 Steven Spielberg Is Her Stepdad
Capshaw's mother and father divorced when she was young. Steven Spielberg married her mother and became her stepdad when she was only fifteen years old.
Spielberg met her mother on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. With Capshaw, her mother, and her stepdad, it’s clear star power runs in the family.
2 She Can’t Do An Australian Accent
Capshaw may be an experienced actor, but there are some things she just can’t do for a role. An Australian accent is one of them.
She said she can do all kinds of accents, but can’t do an Aussie one to save her life. Thankfully, none of her roles have required that so far
1 She Starred In A Film With Tom Cruise
Most people are familiar with Capshaw from her role in Grey’s, but they don’t know most of her other roles. She actually starred in a film with Tom Cruise in the early 2000’s.
Minority Report came out in 2002. Capshaw played Evanna, and while it wasn’t the biggest role in the film, she got to star alongside some pretty big actors, including Colin Farrell.