is a fictional character from the ABC American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy and the series Private Practice, portrayed by Caterina Scorsone.

After Private Practice ended its six-season run in January 2013, Scorsone returned to Grey's Anatomy, making recurring appearances in the final four episodes of Season 10 (2014).

She is a recovering drug addict whose storylines across both Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice revolve around her battle for sobriety, recklessness, and her career as a talented yet troubled neurosurgeon.

Over the course of her arc, Amelia faces numerous personal and professional challenges, all while trying to establish herself beyond the shadow of her late brother, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey).

Scorsone herself has described Amelia's "hero" journey as showing the "full phoenix-ing of a woman who was so broken and traumatized by loss and addiction", emphasizing the character's growth and redemption from her darker past.

Eric Stoltz, who directed Scorsone's debut episode, “Eyes Wide Open”, recommended her for the role after recalling her talent from their previous work together in My Horrible Year!

Stoltz pointed out Scorsone's acting skills and her resemblance to Patrick Dempsey, who portrays Derek Shepherd, which caught Rhimes' attention.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scorsone discussed Amelia's past as a recovering addict, which is revealed in Grey's Anatomy's Season 11 episode, "Could We Start Again, Please?".

She elaborated on the emotional depth of the storyline, saying, "There's the shock and sadness of seeing that all of the work that she's done to build this new life in Seattle is being destroyed, as everybody is finding out about her past in a way that she's not in control of.

"[5] Scorsone also highlighted the intensity required to portray Amelia, saying the character demands "lots of emotional energy to play" and explaining how she manages to distance herself from the role after filming: “To kind of shake it out and get back to my real personality, it helps to kind of go away and explore new things and see the world a little bit.”[4] In reflecting on Amelia's journey during the fifth season of Private Practice, Scorsone commented in 2011 about her character's struggles: "Yes, at this point she suffers emotionally and chemically.

In Season 13 (2016–17), Amelia faces a significant rift with her newly wedded husband, Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd), over the prospect of having children.

Scorsone felt that Amelia was now more prepared for motherhood, having co-parented Leo and supported Betty, as well as processing the loss of Christopher aloud for the first time.

The season presents Amelia in a much healthier and happier place, where she has grown into her “authentic self”, with her career, community, and support of sisters Meredith and Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary).

Scorsone elaborated, saying, “She doesn't want or need to lose herself in anything or anyone anymore,” emphasizing that Amelia's sense of identity and motherhood is not contingent on her relationship with Atticus "Link" Lincoln (Chris Carmack).

[1] Amelia's backstory, particularly the trauma of witnessing her father's murder at the age of 5, is a central aspect of her character development, as she explains in the Grey's Anatomy episode "In the Name of Love".

Amelia first appears in Private Practice during the Season 3 episode "Eyes Wide Open", as part of a team of neurosurgeons visiting Los Angeles for a consult.

However, she is soon fired after offering a patient's family hope by suggesting an experimental surgery, which her boss, Dr. Geraldine Ginsberg (Nora Dunn), and her brother, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), disagree with.

Immediately after the surgery, she rushes to treat Dell Parker (Chris Lowell), a beloved colleague who has suffered brain bleeds, but he tragically dies on the operating table.

In a final act of love and to give meaning to Christopher's short life, Amelia donates all of his organs, ensuring that his death was not in vain.

Later, in the fifteenth episode of season 8, she worked alongside Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) on a neuro case involving a patient with a brain tumor.

[10] In Grey's Anatomy's eleventh season, Amelia ended her engagement with James and began a secret romantic relationship with Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd).

Additionally, she harbored resentment towards Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) for hiring Penny Blake (Samantha Sloyan), one of the doctors involved in Derek's care on the day he died.