Trivia

After graduating from Dartmouth College, she read a news article that claimed that getting into USC School of Cinematic Arts was harder than getting into Harvard Law School, so she elected to take on the more competitive challenge.

Has three daughters: two adopted daughters are named Harper Rhimes (b. 2002) and Emerson Pearl Rhimes (b. February 1, 2012) and another one daughter named Beckett Rhimes (b. September 2013) who was born via surrogate mother.

The youngest of six children and has three brothers and three sisters. Her mother was a college professor who received her Ph.D in educational administration, and her father was a university administration who later became the chief information officer at the University of Southern California.

Received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, Grafton, County, New Hampshire (1991). She later received an honorary degree (Doctor of Arts) from the university (2014). Received her Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television.

Maintains two rooms across from her studio for her two children.

On the first day in September 2001 that she moved into a rental house in Vermont as a quiet place to finish a movie script, the World Trade Center was attacked, which prompted Rhimes to reassess her future and her goals. She decided her top priority was to adopt a child and nine months later she did, with daughter Harper, and became a single mother. Emerson followed in 2012.

In 2013, she and her Shondaland company partner Betsy Beers were named co-winners of the 2014 Directors Guild of America Diversity Award.

Was on the Time 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine, with an homage penned by actress and singer Dame Julie Andrews (2007, 2013 and 2021).

Her professional output is responsible for an estimated 70 hours of television per season.

Worked for few years as a film-development assistant before selling her first screenplay.

Attended and graduated from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois (1987).

Shed 117 lbs in a weight loss program. (2016)

Suffers from a deep fear of public speaking (glossophobia).

Interned for producer Debra Martin Chase while attending USC.

Is a huge fan of the HBO television series Game of Thrones (2011).

Born on the exact same date as Keith Coogan.