‘Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. Amelia Shepherd Is Mom of 3, One of Whom Has Down Syndrome – Inside Her Motherhood Journey

Caterina Scorsone achieved success both on and off the screen as a talented actress and a dedicated mother. She has since shared her journey caring for a daughter with Down syndrome and is an advocate for the condition.

Caterina Scorsone discovered her passion for acting at a young age and pursued the arts in her hometown, Toronto, Canada, where she was born and raised. Her journey as an actress reached great heights with her pivotal role in the long-running series "Grey's Anatomy."

Beyond her success in the entertainment industry, Scorsone shines as a devoted mother to her children. Alongside her thriving career, Scorsone navigates motherhood, proving that work-life balance is possible for any goal-oriented and family-oriented person.

Caterina Scorsone Is a Talented Actress

Scorsone was only eight years old when she began her journey as a professional actress, starring in the Canadian children's program "Mr. Dressup." She honed her passion for acting and studied Arts and Science BA at the University of Toronto while simultaneously continuing her on-screen work.

Throughout her extensive television career, Scorsone's talent was highlighted with a Gemini Award, the Emmy equivalent for Canadian entertainment, for her 1998 performance in "Power Play."

She went on to star in other productions, such as "Missing," alongside Vivica A. Fox, "The Third Miracle," with Anne Heche and Ed Harris, "My Horrible Year!" "Borderline Normal," and "Strike!"

However, Scorsone's most prominent role to date is in "Grey's Anatomy," where she stars as Dr. Amelia Shepherd. Having worked with the cast for 19 seasons, she spoke fondly of her co-stars and highlighted the good relationships that defined her experience on set.

Caterina Scorsone Is a Mom of Three

At the height of her career, Scorsone received another beautiful blessing: she became a mother. In February 2012, the "Private Practice" star revealed that she and her husband, The Rescues musician Rob Giles, were expecting their first child. She said, "We're over the moon. I'm starting to show now. Everybody on set has been pretty sweet and is offering me fruit."

Her character, Dr. Shepherd, was simultaneously pregnant in the series as well. "As an actress, it never feels like the right time. But once we knew what was happening, we were like, 'This is perfect,'" she added. A few months later, on July 6, 2012, her daughter Eliza Giles was born via home delivery in Los Angeles.

After four years, Scorsone and Giles welcomed their second child, a daughter named Paloma "Pippa" Michaela Giles. The lovely mom posted the wonderful news on Twitter alongside a photo of her newborn wearing a polka-dot onesie.

She announced her pregnancy a few months before giving birth but kept the baby's gender a secret from the public until she was born. As a dedicated actress, Scorsone continued to work on "Grey's Anatomy" even while heavily pregnant.

In 2019, Scorsone and Giles welcomed yet another baby girl, Arwen Giles, who made it to the parents' Instagram shortly after birth. Photographed beside her older sisters, Arwen looked peaceful while asleep.

Her mom captioned the post, "Lucky is here! Our family wishes you a happy new year, a happy new decade, and a happy heart made by new love in every exquisite moment."

Caterina Scorsone Is Open about Raising a Child with Down Syndrome

Being a mother is, without a doubt, a challenging role, more so with a special needs child. However, Scorsone has been navigating motherhood wonderfully. Pippa, her middle child, was diagnosed with Down syndrome as a child.

In October 2023, the talented entertainer celebrated Down syndrome awareness month with photos of her daughter on Instagram.

Upon learning of her daughter's condition, Scorsone knew she had to teach her child how to survive a complex world while experiencing physical and cognitive challenges. She said, "Pippa signs a lot. She understands everything that we're saying to her, but her motor planning is a little bit delayed, and her speech, but she has tons of signs."

In October 2023, the talented entertainer celebrated Down syndrome awareness month with photos of her daughter on Instagram. She also penned sweet words about how her daughter changed her life in many good ways.

She also shared about how Pippa added more color and texture into her life during an interview with "Good Morning America," which is why she believes advocating for kids with differences is essential in the community.

"You have to roll with whatever is happening," she said. Taking advantage of the opportunity to understand and accommodate others allows for valuable insights into their preferences and ways of engaging with the world.

Her experience as a mom also allowed her to find her sense of humor and see amusements in situations where she initially wanted to protect her ego. Admittedly, parenting can get chaotic. However, she always finds beauty in her children's curiosity.

Scorsone's daughters have lots of love for each other. She once shared about her eldest, Eliza, being vocal about how much she loved Pippa before bed. Her daughter's words undoubtedly made her smile and look forward to her girls growing up together.

Despite having three beautiful children, Scorsone's marriage with Giles ended in 2020. The actress cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce filing. She doesn't disclose much about her private life besides her journey as a parent of a child with Down syndrome.

She also disclosed some things about her kids in interviews, including Eliza's love for Minecraft, animals, and horseback riding. Eliza mostly enjoys reading "Harry Potter" and "Dog Man." Meanwhile, Pippa enjoys role-playing as a doctor and walking around the neighborhood with her mom.

Arwen, who is still very young, was a laid-back baby who mostly enjoyed opening and closing jars. Scorsone's kids have made her life beautiful in more ways than one.