Currently starring in the historic 22nd season of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Kim Raver continues to command the screen as fan-favorite Dr. Teddy Altman. More than two decades into the groundbreaking series, her performance as chief of surgery remains as compelling as ever, anchoring the show through one of its most ambitious eras.
This season, Raver steps back behind the camera, marking her third time directing for the series. Airing tonight, she helms episode 2209, Fortunate Son, an emotionally layered installment that explores family dynamics and unexpected reunions, while testing the strength of relationships both inside and outside the hospital walls.
Beyond Grey’s, Raver is expanding her creative reach, co-producing three Lifetime films with her husband based on bestselling novels by Jane Green. From her directorial debut Tempting Fate to To Have and To Hold and Family Pictures, she’s proving her influence extends well beyond the OR—and now, into skin care, too. With a new partnership with French beauty brand Esthederm, Raver brings the same intention she’s known for on-screen to her off-duty skin-care routine.
Word on the street is you have a new beauty partnership. Can you tell me a little bit about Esthederm and why you like it?
“It’s an incredible alignment with who I am. I got to visit their factory in the South of France and really see everything—how they do it and the care that goes into it. Their whole mission is about optimal beauty and confidence at every age. I just love that. I try to approach beauty through food and fitness, and they’re also about nourishing from the inside out. They also have this amazing cutting-edge science. They activate—though I don’t know the technical term—the biology of your own skin on a cellular level.”
Very cool. That’s great that you got to go to France to see where it was made.
“Yes, and it’s just amazing. They really took me through it all, and I saw all of these women who are their biochemists. It was fabulous to walk past because they have all these glass windows, so you can really see what’s happening.”
On the work front, you have a big episode coming out in January. I know you can’t share everything, but what can fans expect for the one that you directed?
“I just feel so lucky that I’m getting to direct there, and that I’ve got Debbie Allen as my mentor. She’s just extraordinary. I learned so much from her and have such an unbelievable crew. The writing of this episode, in particular, is just amazing. There’s a very big storyline with Jim Pickens. I know that he’s publicly come out with prostate cancer… and we are also following that story in my episode for his character, Richard.
We have extraordinary guest actors. Dorian Harewood plays, well, I can’t say who he plays, but he’s extraordinary in it. Then Erica Marsh is another character played by Brit Morgan. That’s the whole storyline with Ellen Pompeo and Scott. It really is an episode that follows three strong storylines. It’s quintessential Grey’s, but you really get into the depth of Ellen’s character with Nick, and then also watching Debbie Allen and Chandra Wilson‘s characters.”
You said that you’re into wellness. How does the day work for you, from getting into character and then getting back to your personal life? Do you have a pretty good schedule down?
“It’s ever-fluctuating. I think that is also, again, why I am loving working with Esthederm: I can have a routine in the morning, and I was never much of a skin-care person before. I felt lucky enough to be like, ‘Well, whatever,’ I put on my face. They have such an incredible routine, and as I’m getting older, I feel like it’s really nice to have one.
I do that every morning and every night. They have this whole Osmo cleansing thing. Then I use this Eau Cellulaire Water Mist, which I’m absolutely addicted to. I’ll use that underneath my makeup, but then also when I’m on set. It’s a great little boost.
Then I use the Age Proteom, which is this incredible base, and then their intensive cream that goes over that. Then, I have my coffee and drive to set. Then, depending on what kind of day I have, I’ll listen to certain music and get into that vibe. If I have a lot of medical dialogue, then I go back to my acting basics and tongue-twisters because the medical stuff can be so much.
I also do this thing where I’ve been walking a ton. From our trailers, it’s a little bit further away from the stages. There are these little golf carts that go back and forth. I walk, and I put my set bag, which we call Claudette, on the golf cart because it’s so heavy. I’ve got my water, my scripts and my computer. It’s a big joke. They’re like, ‘Is Claude riding?’ I’m like, ‘Yes, she’s getting in.’ It’s a fun joke. Then I walk back and forth, and I’ll get all my steps in just walking back and forth from the stages to my trailer. Then, coming back home, I usually grab my mint tea and decompress.
Directing is a completely different thing. That is six weeks of just full on. I’m up at 4 a.m. every single morning, and I’m breaking down the script. I’m making sure that that day I’m completely prepared, not only as an actor, but also that I have everything that I need for my actors and that I have everything for my camera crew and for the crew. I try to get there before everyone. Some of the crew are there very, very early, too. Then, I walk through the stages of what scenes I have that day. Then at night, I go over all the scenes I have for the next day, just so I’m super, super prepared.”
I know the show will keep you busy this month, but is there anything else you’re looking forward to in the new year—maybe a vacation or something else?
“It sounds crazy, but I’m really excited just to work. We have such incredible storylines that we’re telling right now. I feel like we left it on such a cliffhanger. I’m excited for the audience to see. This episode is such… I think everyone knows the Richard character for all these years, from the beginning, so to see that character in harm’s way is a beautiful journey.
I’m excited for the fans to really follow these storylines. Ellen was just incredible. Her and Scott are just amazing in this episode. I’m excited for everyone to see that. I’m excited to maybe, once we wrap, to go back to France and go back to Esthederm and just keep seeing more of what they’re doing there because it’s just such an innovative skin-care company. Then my youngest graduates, so I’ll be going, going, going!”
