Television: A Woman and Her Anatomy

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The youngest in a middle-class Chicago family of six kids, four of whom are girls, Rhimes says the banter of women is the most familiar sound in her world. In fact, her mother, who returned to school and earned a doctorate in education after raising her children, was the main inspiration for Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson), the take-no-guff senior resident and one of the series' strongest characters. Having graduated from Dartmouth in 1991, Rhimes tried writing advertising copy, novels and then movies. Her films--Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Crossroads and HBO's Introducing Dorothy Dandridge--all deal with women who make plucky choices. Four years ago, Rhimes made one herself. Single and unattached, she adopted Harper.

It's one of life's little ironies that her decision to take time off for motherhood led to her most successful work. As she scrambles to wrap up the season, Rhimes has already started developing the news-correspondents show. And she's still under contract with Disney to deliver two more movies. Rhimes is adamant that she will remain closely involved with Grey's. "This is my other baby. I'm not leaving it," she says. And why would she? Babies have been great for her career.