Maggie Pierce

"I make terrible choices. I leave things behind and just let the bridges burn. I did it with Ethan. I did it with Dean. Oh, my God. I did it with my entire life. One day, I chose to learn a little bit about my birth mother. Cut to I live in her house with her daughter, and I work with the kind stranger who fathered me, and I left behind an entire life and family that no longer exists. My parents are divorced. My childhood home is sold. My mother is in Hawaii making soups now. I—I have no home. It's like I-I flew to this planet on an exploratory mission, and the earth blew up behind me and I can't go back. And now I'm here with you aliens. Except I'm the alien, and I'm all alone, and I have nothing, and no one wants me."

- Maggie Pierce

Maggie Pierce is the current Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. She was hired after Jeff Russell quit. Shortly after starting work, she revealed to Richard Webber that Ellis Grey is her birth mom.

Education
Margaret is very driven and finished both high school and medical school faster than normal. She worked extremely hard and was a focused student.

Search for her Birth Mom
Two weeks after she was hired as head of cardiothoracic surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, Margaret told Dr. Richard Webber that she was adopted, and that 2 years prior, she looked for her birth mom and needed to go to the court for the records. She found out that she was dead, but got her name, and discovered that she was an amazing surgeon that worked at the Seattle Grace Hospital, now Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, Margaret's current workplace. She stated that that's not why she took the job, but it's "a little bit" why she was interviewed. When Richard asked Margaret what her mother's name was, she said that it was Ellis Grey. ("Fear (of the Unknown)")

Working at Grey Sloan Memorial and Bonding
Maggie quickly began to integrate into the hospital, getting to know everyone and how things work. However, she butted heads with Meredith Grey over a case. This came to a head when Maggie told Meredith that Ellis Grey is her birth mom. ("Puzzle With a Piece Missing")

Derek's Death
Maggie was one of the first people to find out about Derek's death as she was present when Meredith returned to Grey Sloan to announce his death. She presumably attended Derek's funeral. Shortly after, Meredith disappeared with her kids without leaving other than a small note saying she and the kids were fine. Over the year that Meredith was gone, Maggie continued to bond with her colleagues, especially Alex, and confessed to him that she felt abandoned by Meredith, now that they finally got to be somewhat of a family. They celebrated the holidays with other colleagues. She became a little closer to Richard when she invited him for Christmas, as he appeared to be a little lonely. She also defended him when Catherine stated he was too romantic for her. Maggie said that being romantic probably made him feel good about himself. When Meredith finally returned, she hung with Maggie and Alex while they informed her about the past year. ("She's Leaving Home")

Parents' Divorce
While Maggie and her colleagues were busy dealing with Keith Gardner after a tunnel collapse, Maggie got a phone call from her mother, who informed her that her parents were getting a divorce. Maggie was emotional about this, but she didn't want to bother her colleagues about it. ("Time Stops")

Personality
Maggie describes herself as a big control freak, resulting in a great professional drive and her being unable to leave things unfinished. She is also described as perky and chatty, often putting her in awkward situations when she's not up to date on other people's personal life.

Past Relationships
She dated a man named Dean who loved to cuddle. But since she can't sleep with someone lying next to her, she would sneak out after he fell asleep and spend the night on the couch before returning in the morning before he woke up. He eventually proposed and she explained the sleeping to him, telling him he could sleep in a room down the hall. He didn't want a woman who didn't sleep in the same room as him. He is now married to a woman who loves cuddling. ("The Bed's Too Big Without You") 

Andrew DeLuca
Maggie ends up making out and sleeping with intern Andrew DeLuca after a short conversation and a couple of drinks at Joe's. ("I Choose You")

Maggie kind of freaks out the next day, and in an office in the hospital they talk and agree it was a one-time thing. They shake on it, before they once again start kissing and proceed to undress. ("Old Time Rock and Roll")

Parents
She describes her parents as good, funny, kind, and goofy. About two years after she started working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, her mother confessed to her that she'd been having an affair with their car serviceman for 11 years and they had only stayed together for her sake, but were getting a divorce now that she was out on her own.

Grandparents
All her grandparents are still living.

She has a grandmother who refers to her vagina as "lady place" and is not shy about talking about it. ("Walking Tall")

Ellis Grey
Margaret never met her birth mother, but 2 years prior to joining the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital staff, she looked for her birth mother and found out that she was dead, but got her name. After learning that Maggie is her half-sister, Meredith gave Maggie Ellis's journals, so Maggie could get an idea of what Ellis was like.

Richard Webber
Margaret met her birth father unknowingly when she arrived at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Maggie quickly bonded with Webber while they worked together. She admired his skill greatly. When he eventually tried to tell her that he's her biological father, she became upset with him for having not told her right away.

Meredith Grey
Meredith and Maggie didn't get along at first. They fought over little things and about patients. Derek planned a family dinner for himself, Meredith, Maggie, and Richard but he and Meredith ended up having sex in the shower and missing the dinner, hurting Maggie's feelings. ("Don't Let's Start")

When Meredith confronted her about it, she told Meredith that the reason she was sad about the dinner being canceled was because she was excited to talk to people and eat food that wasn't from a packet and socialize. Meredith then invited Maggie to Ellis's old house to socialize with Callie and Alex. ("Could We Start Again, Please?")

Amelia Shepherd
Although having no legal or blood relation to Amelia, Maggie considers herself Amelia's sister [through Meredith]. Amelia reciprocates this as Amelia was comfortable enough to speak to Maggie about race. Despite appreciating Amelia's sincerity, she advised Amelia to check her white privilege and to not treat her as the spokeswoman for all black people. ("Something Against You")

Cristina Yang
Cristina and Margaret first met when Cristina interviewed Margaret for the head of cardio position at GSM. Despite feeling that Maggie was very young to do the job, she admitted to Owen that she was qualified to do it.

Once she was officially hired, Margaret became frustrated because Cristina didn't respect her as her new boss. On Cristina's last day, she scheduled a pediatric heart transplant (for Link McNeil) amidst the chaos of the explosion at the mall, much to Maggie's confusion and frustration. Cristina even treated her as a resident by not listening to her objections and practically forcing her to prepare Link for the surgery. Margaret ultimately did the transplant herself as Cristina had to leave to catch her flight.

Career
Pierce is the current Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. She finished high school, college, and med school early. After med school, she began and subsequently completed a surgical residency. At twenty-five, she began her cardiothoracic surgery fellowship. Some time after, she was promoted to head the cardiothoracic surgical department.

Two years later, Pierce applied for the head of cardio position at Grey Sloan Memorial and succeeded Jeff Russell as the new department head. Despite having submitted her notice of resignation very early in her tenure, she was convinced to remain at her post by Derek Shepherd.

Notes and Trivia

 * Maggie finished high school and medical school early.
 * In the episode, Fear (of the Unknown), it is revealed that her birth mother was Ellis Grey and therefore, Meredith Grey is her biological maternal half-sister.
 * Her biological father is Richard Webber.
 * The writers stated they knew about Maggie's existence since the very beginning and wanted to introduce the character ever since season 4, but chose to introduce Thatcher's other children first; afterwards, it never felt like the right time until Cristina left, creating a hole in Meredith's life. This also led Shonda to claim that there have been indirect references to Maggie over the course of the series. This is especially evident in season 3 as Only Mama Knows features numerous flashbacks from that season.
 * There's nothing Maggie doesn't eat.
 * Growing up, Maggie was bullied because she was younger and smaller than the other kids and because of her lisp. ("Sledgehammer")
 * On Twitter, Shonda Rhimes revealed she thought a lot about making Ellis and Richard's love child a son. She even looked for an actor, but decided to settle for Kelly McCreary's acting talents, as the actor's great acting skills were more important to her than the actor's sex.
 * Her salary is $126,000/year.
 * Her employee ID number is 6654.
 * Her work email address is mpierce@greysloan.
 * Maggie is very accomplished for her age: despite being five years younger than Meredith, Maggie had already been a cardio chief for two years prior to her employment at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, board-certified, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
 * She can't sleep if anyone else is in the bed with her. ("The Bed's Too Big Without You")
 * She was a girl scout. ("All I Could Do Was Cry")
 * She was registered with a babysitting service as a teen. ("All I Could Do Was Cry")
 * She had a full genetic history done when she was 12. It revealed a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. ("Don't Dream It's Over")
 * As of Old Time Rock and Roll, Maggie continues the tradition of attendings sleeping with interns.
 * Albeit briefly, Maggie is the fifth consecutive cardio chief that has resigned.
 * Amelia has referred to herself, Meredith, and Maggie as "Lady Chief Trifecta", "The House of Lady Chiefs", and "Sister Lady Chiefs".

Notable Episodes
These episodes are Maggie-centric or are otherwise very informative about her life.
 * Fear (of the Unknown)
 * Puzzle With a Piece Missing
 * Only Mama Knows
 * You're My Home
 * Sledgehammer
 * Something Against You

Memorable Quotes

 * Maggie: You think I look too young. I finished high school early, also med school. Pretty annoying, right?


 * Maggie: When I find a puzzle, it's very hard for me to put it down.


 * Maggie: You wanna know why bullies bully? It's 'cause they can. Maybe you've got it worse at home or maybe you're just bullying to keep from getting bullied, but really, it's because people like me, like this girl at our table, are alone and small and vulnerable. And pushing us around makes you feel better about your sad pathetic little lives. Not you guys, though. You're cool. Now.


 * Maggie: I make terrible choices. I leave things behind and just let the bridges burn. I did it with Ethan. I did it with Dean. Oh, my God. I did it with my entire life. One day, I chose to learn a little bit about my birth mother. Cut to I live in her house with her daughter, and I work with the kind stranger who fathered me, and I left behind an entire life and family that no longer exists. My parents are divorced. My childhood home is sold. My mother is in Hawaii making soups now. I—I have no home. It's like I-I flew to this planet on an exploratory mission, and the earth blew up behind me and I can't go back. And now I'm here with you aliens. Except I'm the alien, and I'm all alone, and I have nothing, and no one wants me.
 * Callie: That… [ Clears throat ]
 * Meredith: You got us. We want you.
 * Maggie: I can't have sex with you. [ Sobs ]
 * Meredith: No.
 * Maggie: You're a cylon. [ Whimpers ] This is "Galatica".
 * Amelia: I really do like her. She makes me not the crazy sister.
 * Meredith: what do you think they're paying her?


 * Maggie: Amelia, use your words. Did what?
 * Amelia: Sided with Wilson over her because she's black; which I didn't do, I think. I... God, I-I hate that this is even an issue all of a sudden.
 * Maggie: Well, it's not an issue for you. And it's not all of a sudden. Okay, it's not Mississippi Burning or anything, but it is all over. It's when people assume I'm a nurse. Or when I go to get on an airplane with my first-class ticket, and they tell me that they're not boarding coach yet. It's like a low buzz in the background, and sometimes you don't even notice it, and sometimes it's loud and annoying, and sometimes it can get dangerous, and sometimes it is ridiculous, like right now.
 * Amelia: But it's not funny. I mean, if I'm doing it and I don't even notice it...
 * Maggie: Then notice it... Look, did Edwards tell you that she's okay?
 * Amelia: Yes.
 * Maggie: Okay... Then don't give her the extra work of having to make you feel good about it.
 * Amelia: Right... (Maggie starts to walk) Okay, but how do I know that she's really.
 * Maggie: (She stops) Because she knows you, okay? So listen to the words that are coming out of her mouth, and believe them. This is not a small thing... And I'm glad that you feel like you can talk to me about it, but... I-I don't speak for all black people. I am not the spokeswoman, no one is and it is kind of annoying to be asked questions like I am. But, um, one piece of advice that I can give you that I think we would all agree with is that if you feel uncomfortable having done it, check your white privilege, and don't do it again... But I don't think you're racist.
 * Amelia: You don't think?
 * Maggie: Girl, get in the car.



Appearances
Maggie Pierce