 Grey 's Anatomy used a color @-@ blind casting technique , resulting in a racially diverse ensemble . Each role was cast without the character 's races being pre @-@ determined , keeping Rhimes ' vision of diversity . The production staff began casting with the program 's title character , Meredith Grey , which Rhimes stated was a difficult role to cast . " I kept saying we need a girl like that girl from Moonlight Mile , " said Rhimes , " and after a while , they were like , ' We think we can get that girl from Moonlight Mile . " The next to be cast , Sandra Oh ( Dr. Cristina Yang ) , was initially invited to audition for the character of Bailey , but pressed to read for the role of Cristina instead . Many actors read for the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd , but when Patrick Dempsey read for the part , " he was just perfect " , according to Rhimes . 
