“Grey’s Anatomy” star Sarah Drew reveals how her dad's advice helped her overcome panic attacks during pregnancy

Grey's Anatomy star Sarah Drew says she overcame panic attacks thanks to advice from her dad.

Key Points

• The actress said his method of "aggressive gratitude" has become "the greatest combatant of fear in my life."

• Drew previously recounted experiencing panic attacks in the wake of filming a harrowing Grey's finale.

Grey's Anatomyalum Sarah Drew is opening up about the life-changing advice that she once received from her dad.

Drew, who spent over a decade portraying the insecure yet highly-capable surgeon Dr. April Kepner, recently recounted her struggle to overcome panic attacks while pregnant with her first child.

"One of the biggest, scariest risks that I leaped into was choosing to become a mom," the actress toldFox Newsin an interview published Saturday. "I took the risk, and I was pregnant. I was probably about six months pregnant, and I had been having panic attacks."

She explained, "I’d been so caught up with anxiety about all of it— I was worried I was going to screw up. I was worried for my kids that I wasn’t going to have the necessary selflessness that’s required. I was worried that I was too self-absorbed to do this well. [I was worried that] I would resent the fact that [my kids] were … demanding things from me."

Drew said she was walking into motherhood with "so many big fears" that the panic attacks kept recurring. Eventually, she turned to her father — a pastor — for guidance.

"I remember writing to my dad and just saying, 'Do you have any advice or any wisdom or any Scripture that you can point me toward that could help combat this fear? Because it’s really overwhelming,'" she recalled.

Drew said her father indeed sent over some Bible verses, but noted that even more helpful was a brief piece of advice he gave her. He told her that the best way to combat all the fear she was experiencing was to embrace "aggressive gratitude."

"I was like, 'Tell me more,'" she recalled. "He calls it 'aggressive' because it’s not always easy when you first start practicing gratitude because sometimes you’re just in a mind spiral, and all you can see is the scary and the dark."

Drew explained, "You’re replacing the scary and the dark with, 'I’m grateful that there is oxygen in my lungs. I am grateful that I have a roof over my head. Look, I have this beautiful meal. I’m so grateful for this. Thank you for this. Thank you for that.’ All of a sudden, your brain chemistry starts to shift."

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She added that it has proven to be "the greatest combatant of fear in my life."

Drew, who is now mother to son Micah Emmanuel (born in 2012) and daughter Hannah Mali Rose (born in 2014), likened aggressive gratitude to rewiring her brain, saying that the approach taught her to immediately look towards good things rather than focusing on all the potential negatives. Now, it has become part of her every day life

"Whenever I’m feeling really scared about something, I go straight to gratitude," Drew shared. "And that generally turns the corner for me. As soon as I start being grateful for things, I start noticing more things to be grateful for, and it transforms."

Drew has previously talked about struggling with panic attacks while filmingGrey's Anatomy— particularly when it came to the mass shooting storyline at the center of the season 6 two-part finale.

"I had nightmares and panic attacks while we were shooting that, even for several days after we finished," Drew said in Lynette Rice's 2021 bookHow to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy,perBusiness Insider.

Drew added, "It was very intense and scary and hard to go to those places and then leave them at the door and then come home and be like, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine. Nobody’s trying to kill me. I didn’t just watch my best friend die. I didn’t just get covered in her blood.'"

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In the two-part episode, a grieving widower named Gary Clark (Michael O'Neill) comes into the hospital with a loaded gun, seeking revenge on a group of doctors that he blames for his wife's death. It proves to be a particularly traumatizing ordeal for April, who is on the team that Clark targets. At one point, she slips on blood and finds her friend Reed (Nora Zehetner) dead in a medical supply closet. Later, she pleads for her life at gunpoint.

Drew said that filming such a frightening situation "does something to your body because your body doesn’t know that it’s not [really] happening."

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May 24, 2026

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Sarah Drew reveals how her dad's advice helped her overcome panic attacks during pregnancy

Grey's Anatomy star Sarah Drew says she overcame panic attacks thanks to advice from her dad. Key Points The ...

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'The Mandalorian and Grogu' box office revealed – How did it do?

It's been a long time, but moviegoers are finally returning to a galaxy far, far away.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu," the first new "Star Wars" movie since 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker," grossed $82 million in its three-day opening weekend at the domestic box office, according to estimates from Comscore released on Sunday, May 24.

That would be the lowest-grossing opening weekend for a "Star Wars" movie released by Disney, though only by a hair. In 2018, the Han Solo prequel "Solo: A Star Wars Story" opened similarly with $84 million over three days and $103 million through Memorial Day.

With "Solo," those numbers were considered hugely disappointing, and the movie was ultimately a box office failure. But "The Mandalorian and Grogu" should have an easier path to profitability because its budget is reportedly much lower.

According toVarietyandThe Hollywood Reporter, "Mandalorian" cost $165 million to make. That would make it cheaper than other recent "Star Wars" movies, so it carries with it a different set of box office expectations and doesn't need to reach the enormous heights of the franchise's past films to be a success. "Solo," for comparison,reportedly had a budgetof $250 million or more, and its price tag was inflated due to significant reshoots after the original directors were fired during production.

Still, the "Mandalorian" launch is certainly a comedown from "Star Wars" at the peak of its box office powers. In 2015, "The Force Awakens" opened to a staggering $247 million domestically, and it is still the highest-grossing film of all time in the United States, not adjusted for inflation. Its sequels, 2017's "The Last Jedi" and 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker," opened with $220 million and $177 million, respectively, and the spinoff "Rogue One" also had a strong opening of $155 million in 2016.

Lucasfilm always planned for "Star Wars" to take a break from movie theaters after 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker." But that break turned out to be much longer than expected, as in the years since the divisive trilogy capper, the studio seemed to struggle to find the best way to relaunch "Star Wars" on the big screen. Several "Star Wars" movies were announced from 2019 onwards that were bound for theaters, including a fighter pilot movie called "Rogue Squadron" that was at one point scheduled for 2023.

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But none of these projects came to fruition, leading more and more years to pass with no new "Star Wars" film in sight. All the while, the series lived on the small screen with numerous Disney+ shows.

By 2024, Lucasfilm seemed to seek a safe, reliable bet for a "Star Wars" movie that wouldn't be difficult to get off the ground, so they turned to the most popular of their Disney+ shows: "The Mandalorian," which made "Baby Yoda" a pop culture phenomenon in 2019. "The Mandalorian and Grogu" continues the story of the show, withPedro Pascalreturning as bounty hunter Din Djarin, but with a plot intended to be approachable for newcomers who haven't watched the series.

Reviews for "The Mandalorian and Grogu" were mixed, and the movie's 62% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is one of the lowest of the franchise.

But audiences seem to be liking "Mandalorian" well enough that it should have solid legs in theaters as the summer continues. Moviegoers polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of A-. That's the same average rating as "Solo" and an improvement on "The Rise of Skywalker," which received a B+. But it's a step down from "The Force Awakens" and "The Last Jedi," which each earned A grades. "Rogue One" also received an A.

As a largely standalone story without many unresolved threads, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" doesn't provide much indication of where "Star Wars" will go from here, and the fact that it's based on a TV show may have limited its audience or led some moviegoers to simply wait to watch it on Disney+.

But the bigger test of the franchise's health will come next summer with "Star Wars: Starfighter," an all-new adventure starringRyan Goslingthat will take the series' timeline beyond the ending of "The Rise of Skywalker" for the first time. The pressure is high for that movie to establish a new era for "Star Wars" movies and prove that the Force is still strong with the brand.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How did 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' perform at the box office?

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May 24, 2026

'The Mandalorian and Grogu' box office revealed – How did it do?

It's been a long time, but moviegoers are finally returning to a galaxy far, far away. "The Mandalorian and Grogu," ...

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How Brendan Wayne channeled his grandfather, John Wayne, in his “Mandalorian” performance

The Mandalorian and Grogu actor Brendan Wayne is sharing how he brought a bit of his grandfather, John Wayne, to his portrayal of the bounty hunter.

Key Points

• The actor, who shares the role with Pedro Pascal and Lateef Crowder, tells Entertainment Weekly that he wanted to make sure every one of Mando's movements counted.

• "The more I became like my grandfather, the more I became like the samurai that he studied," he said.

The Mandalorian and Grogustar Brendan Wayne is sharing how his grandfather,John Wayne,influenced his performance as the titular stoic bounty hunter.

The actor, who physically embodies Mando alongsidePedro Pascal(who voices the character and plays him without the helmet) and Lateef Crowder (who handles the stuntwork), tellsEntertainment Weeklythat he had to learn to be present in a scene to play the heavily armored character on the Emmy-winningStar Warsseries.

"I had to really learn stillness, and it's really been one of the greatest things I've learned as an actor," Wane says. "For me, that journey, I always fought that because my grandfather was exceptional at being present and radiating whatever [was happening around him].John Fordloved to say to him, 'The less I give you, Duke, the better the movie is going to be.' It sounds like a slight, but it was more about if you just be there, it's as powerful as anything."

He found himself bringing a bit of his grandfather's serenity to the character when working with directors Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Deborah Chow, and Rick Famuyiwa on the first three seasons ofThe Mandalorian.

"When they were directing me, the more still I became, the more I became like my grandfather, the more I became like the samurai that he studied," Wayne says. "Every movement had a meaning; you don't waste them. And with samurai, every movement is a kill movement."

Which is exactly how Mando operates, too. "That's Mando. Those are the precepts that he works upon," he notes, "and so to have that trust in yourself that whatever you're living in that moment — if I'm working with Katee [Sackhoff] as Bo-Katan or Emily Swallow — as long as you're present, that's 90 percent of the work."

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It was also important to Wayne that Mando always appear calm and collected — even when the cameras weren't rolling.

"I would get to set two and a half, three hours early, I'd do my workout, and then I'd go spend an hour at least walking the set, because I never wanted Mando to fall down in front of the crew," he says. "I wanted him to be as smooth as my grandfather, Clint Eastwood, or Yul Brynner inWestworld. I wanted him as smooth as could be so that every movement did matter."

As fate would have it, he's not the only member of the Wayne family who's part of theStar Warsuniverse. He toldPEOPLEthat he was completely unaware, when singing on to play Mando, that his grandfather's voice had been used for the Galactic Empire spy Garindan ezz Zavor inA New Hope.

"Back in the day, when we used film, they found the soundtrack on the ground in the editing room," he said. "And they knew it was fromTrue Grit. They took his voice [from stock audio], and they did whatever they do, their magic."

But don't worry, Wayne is completely fine with "riding the coattails of my grandfather" when it comes to playing a role in a galaxy far, far away. "I had hoped I might have been able to be the first in this," he teased, "but no, sadly, I was still second.'"

The Mandalorian and Groguis in theaters now.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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May 23, 2026

How Brendan Wayne channeled his grandfather, John Wayne, in his “Mandalorian” performance

The Mandalorian and Grogu  actor Brendan Wayne is sharing how he brought a bit of his grandfather, John Wayne, to his portrayal of the ...

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Idris Elba Says He’s Never Truly Been ‘in the Race’ to Play James Bond Despite Years-Long Rumors (Exclusive)

Idris Elba exclusively told PEOPLE he was never actually “in the race” to play James Bond despite years of fan speculation

NEED TO KNOW

• The actor previously admitted he was honored by the Bond rumors, but he said the conversation became “disgusting and off-putting” once it became centered on race

• Elba also opened up about starring in Masters of the Universe, revealing he’s a longtime fan of the franchise 

Idris Elbaclaims he has never been in seriouscontention to play James Bonddespite years of speculation from the Hollywood rumor mill.

Elba, 53, caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at the premiere of his new movie,Masters of the Universe,in Los Angeles on Monday, May 18. During the conversation, PEOPLE asked the actor how he felt about his name being “thrown out” as a potential star of theupcoming 007 reboot.

“My name's not getting thrown out, no way,” Elba replied. “They're going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can't wait — it's going to be amazing.”

“I'm honestly not in the race ever. I wasn't in the race in the first place,” he added.

TheLutherstar previously opened up about the topic in 2023 while appearing on theSmartlesspodcast, hosted byWill Arnett,Jason Bateman, andSean Hayes.

At the time, Elba admitted he was "super complimented" over the rumors that he could stepinto Bond's shoes, but he also said he was put off by the experience when the conversation became about race.

“We’re all actors and we understand that that role is one of those sort of coveted types. It’s like being namedSexiest Man [Alive]," he said, referring to the PEOPLE title, which he wasawarded in 2018.

"But being asked to be James Bond was like, 'Okay, you've sort of reached the pinnacle,' " Elba continued.

"Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world — except for some corners, which we will not talk about — were really happy aboutthe idea that I could be considered," he added. "Those that weren't happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it."

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Bond was last played byDaniel Craigin 2021'sNo Time To Die.Others whohave played 007includeSean Connery, David Niven,George Lazenby,Roger Moore,Timothy DaltonandPierce Brosnan.

Elba's name entered the mix long before Craig's final bow as Bond, when Sony Pictures executive Amy Pascal revealed in a leaked 2014 email that shefelt "Idris should be the next Bond."

Bond aside, Elba is currently busy promoting his latest project,Masters of the Universe, a fantasy-action franchise centered around the hero He-Man.

While speaking to PEOPLE at the L.A. premiere, Elba — who plays Duncan, one of He-Man’s closest allies, in the film — revealed that he has been a lifelong fan of the franchise.

“Masters of the Universewas my thing,” he said. “It was something that I watched a lot as a kid.”

“To get to play Duncan and change him —  make him to look like me — was a real treat. I got to be a bit comedic and big, so I went for it,” Elba added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I've done quite a few action films over the last three years,” he continued. “Some a little bit more cerebral action, likeHijack, but this has been a lot of fighting. I have to stay in shape so I can run and punch.”

Read the original article onPeople

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May 23, 2026

Idris Elba Says He’s Never Truly Been ‘in the Race’ to Play James Bond Despite Years-Long Rumors (Exclusive)

Idris Elba exclusively told PEOPLE he was never actually “in the race” to play James Bond despite years of fan speculation NEED T...

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