Natalie Morales – who guest-starred on “Grey’s Anatomy” last season – has officially joined the recurring cast of the long-running ABC drama for season 21. In season 20, Morales originated the role of Dr. Monica Beltran, a new pediatric surgeon at Gray Sloan. Memorial Hospital.
Morales will first appear in the second episode of the season and will appear in a guaranteed six episodes – with an option for more.
At the hospital in season 20, Monica was all business and eventually convinced Dr. Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) in his search for a children’s scholarship. In her personal life, Monica said she was going through a messy divorce, but she also appeared to be a potential love interest for both Winston (Anthony Hill) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) in what would be a disastrous love triangle, should it happen.
The official description of the character from ABC reads: “Morales plays Dr. Beltran, a pediatric surgeon who is at the top and knows it. She is loved in her field for her great pragmatism and down-to-earthness, and she has a smart way of dealing with both her little patients and their parents. But Dr. Beltran may not always agree with her colleagues and will let nothing stand in her way of helping her children.”
On television, Morales has appeared on “The Morning Show,” “Dead to Me,” “Abby” (as the title character), “The Newsroom,” “Girls” and “Bojack Horseman.” In films, he has appeared in films such as ‘No Hard Feelings’, ‘Self-Reliance’ and ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’. She is represented by Bleeker Street Entertainment.
The upcoming season of the Shonda Rhimes-created show will see “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo reprise her role as Meredith Gray for at least seven episodes. Variety has reported. Season 21 premieres September 26 on ABC.