The Hottest Hunks of Shondaland: Unveiling Their Epic Transformation! Find Out Where Patrick Dempsey, Alfred Enoch and More Heartthrobs Are Now

The attractive men of Shondaland, Shonda Rhimes' television production company, have been captivating viewers' hearts ever since the debut of Grey's Anatomy in 2005.

Patrick Dempsey, known for his portrayal of Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama, affectionately referred to as "McDreamy," has revealed that his children are not fazed by his heartthrob image. Dempsey and his wife, Jillian Fink, are proud parents to three children: daughter Talula, born in 2002, and twin boys Sullivan and Darby, born in 2007.

"They mock me," said the Maine native during an interview with Entertainment Tonight in August 2019, referring to his former colleagues on the show. "They don't let me get too caught up in my own success, and I think that's a positive thing."

Tony Goldwyn, known for his portrayal of President Fitzgerald "Fitz" Thomas Grant III on Scandal, acknowledges the trend of attractive leading men in every Shondaland series.

In February 2016, the Divergent actor revealed in an interview with The Cut that Shonda, the creator of the show, had a particular rule regarding love scenes. According to him, Shonda insisted that in Shondaland, it was the boys who had to strip down while the girls could have the freedom to decide what they wanted to do.

Fast forward to April 2021, when Rhimes, the renowned TV producer, spoke with Vanity Fair about her latest project, Bridgerton. During the interview, she expressed her intention to prioritize the feminine perspective in the television adaptation of Julia Quinn's novels.

"I appreciated the opportunity to delve into a woman's perspective. I wanted the books' portrayal of the female gaze to be translated onto television," she shared with the publication.

Following the highly praised first season of the historical romance series, Regé-Jean Page, who played the role of Simon Basset, made the decision to depart from the show. Rhimes explained to Vanity Fair that while Page is incredibly talented, she and her business partner, Betsy Beers, have a knack for finding charismatic leading men to take the place of departing cast members.

"That's been our responsibility, something Betsy and I have been dedicated to for, well, maybe 20 years now? Finding individuals, particularly men, who captivate our audiences and create an intense emotional connection. It's remarkable how strongly they react when we introduce any changes," the showrunner expressed.

In Season 2 of this historical series, the spotlight shone on Lord Anthony Bridgerton, portrayed by Jonathan Bailey, as he embarked on a passionate quest for love. Defending the show's emphasis on sexuality and the inner world of women, the English actor engaged in a conversation with Entertainment Weekly in February 2022.

“There are numerous individuals who dismissively say, ‘Oh, yeah, Bonkerton.’ However, the significance of the female gaze cannot be undermined, as it encompasses the various ways through which people communicate through sex and the profound implications it holds for one's body in the eyes of others. It becomes crucial to challenge the conventional portrayal of sexuality and the exploitation that often accompanies it in narratives surrounding sex,” he elaborated.

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock; Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The Hunks of Shondaland Shows: Where Are They Now? Patrick Dempsey, Alfred Enoch and More

Eye candy! The men of Shondaland — Shonda Rhimes’ TV production company — have been making viewers swoon since Grey’s Anatomy premiered in 2005.

Patrick Dempsey, known for his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd on the popular medical drama, revealed that his children are not swayed by his heartthrob image. The actor, who shares three kids with his wife Jillian Fink, including daughter Talula and twin boys Sullivan and Darby, admitted that his kids often tease him. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in August 2019, Dempsey, who left the show four years prior, shared that his children keep him grounded by not allowing him to take himself too seriously.

Tony Goldwyn, known for his role as President Fitzgerald "Fitz" Thomas Grant III on Scandal, acknowledges the recurring presence of attractive leading men in Shondaland series. In an interview with The Cut in February 2016, the Divergent actor revealed that Shonda Rhimes playfully jokes about the gender dynamics in love scenes within her productions. According to Goldwyn, Rhimes emphasizes that in Shondaland, it is the men who are expected to undress while the women have the freedom to choose their level of exposure.

In an interview with Vanity Fair in April 2021 regarding her Netflix series Bridgerton, Rhimes expressed her intention to highlight the feminine perspective in the TV adaptation of Julia Quinn's novels. She emphasized her desire for the portrayal of the female gaze in the books to be translated onto the television screen.

Regé-Jean Page, who portrayed Simon Basset in the first season of the beloved historical-romance series, made the decision to depart from the show following its highly successful debut. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Rhimes acknowledged Page's incredible talent but assured fans that she and her business partner, Betsy Beers, have a knack for discovering charismatic leading men to fill the void left by departing cast members.

"Finding captivating individuals, particularly men, that our audience finds irresistibly charming and forms deep emotional connections with, has always been our expertise. Betsy and I have been doing this for what feels like an eternity - perhaps even 20 years. Although we hope to also discover remarkable female talents, it is undeniable that our audience becomes fiercely devoted to these male characters and expresses their outrage whenever we make any changes to their narratives," the showrunner explained.

In Season 2 of the period drama, Lord Anthony Bridgerton, portrayed by Jonathan Bailey, embarked on a passionate quest for love. During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly in February 2022, the English actor defended the show's portrayal of sex and its exploration of women's inner lives.

According to Bailey, the female perspective is crucial because sex is a multifaceted form of communication. It delves into the meaning of sex itself and how one's body is perceived by another person. The actor emphasized the importance of presenting an alternative perspective on sexuality and addressing the exploitation that can occur within sexual storytelling.

Scroll through to see what the men of Shondaland are up to now:

Credit: Mitch Haaseth/Shindaland/Nowalk/Abc/Kobal/Shutterstock; David Fisher/Shutterstock

Alfred Enoch — 'How to Get Away With Murder'

He also took on the role of a Dramaturg for the play Shades of Blue at Sadler's Wells, a London performing arts venue, in May 2022.

Credit: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Billy Brown — 'How to Get Away With Murder'

The California native, who played a hunky detective on the ABC smash, went on to star in the 2018 film Proud Mary opposite Taraji P. Henson. 

Credit: Courtesy of ABC/YouTube; MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Jack Falahee — 'How to Get Away With Murder'

Falahee, an alumnus of New York University, gained recognition among Shondaland fans for his portrayal of Connor Walsh and also appeared as Frank Stringellow in the PBS historical drama series Mercy Street from 2016 to 2017. In September 2019, Falahee collaborated with his childhood friend DJ Elephante to launch their musical project called Diplomacy.

Credit: Courtesy of ABC/YouTube; MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Matt McGorry — 'How to Get Away With Murder'

The Orange Is the New Black alum starred in Archive 81 in 2022 following his turn as the privileged Asher Millstone.

Credit: Ron Tom/Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Justin Chambers — 'Grey's Anatomy'

Chambers played Dr. Alex Karev for 16 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, exiting the show in 2020. In 2022, he appeared in the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer as Marlon Brando.

Credit: Craig Sjodin/Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

After departing from the medical drama series in 2015, Dempsey took on prominent roles in the 2016 film Bridget Jones’s Baby and the Sky Original series Devils. He is set to return as Patrick Philip in the highly anticipated 2022 Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted.

Credit: Randy Holmes/Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Eric Dane — 'Grey's Anatomy'

Known as the "McSteamy" to Dempsey's "McDreamy" on Grey's Anatomy, Dane departed from the series following the eighth season in 2012. The actor, originally from California, subsequently took on a leading role in the TNT drama The Last Ship and currently portrays Cal Jacobs in Euphoria.

Credit: Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Williams became a part of the Grey's Anatomy cast in 2009, where he brilliantly portrayed the character of Jackson Avery. However, in 2022, after season 19, he bid farewell to the show. His exceptional talent was recognized when he received a Tony Award nomination in the same year for his remarkable performance in the Broadway play Take Me Out. Additionally, fans can eagerly anticipate his appearance in the upcoming season 3 of Only Murders in the Building.

Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix; Maria Laura Antonelli/Shutterstock

Regé-Jean Page — 'Bridgerton'

Following his departure from the Netflix period drama Bridgerton after one season in 2021, the talented actor ventured into the world of film. In 2022, he graced the screens in the movie The Great Man and also landed a role in the upcoming fantasy film Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Credit: Nick Briggs/Netflix; Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Jonathan Bailey — 'Bridgerton'

In the upcoming two-part film adaptation of Wicked, the talented actor from Broadchurch will take on the role of Fiyero. His exceptional performance as the eldest Bridgerton sibling in Shondaland's popular Netflix series earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2021. Fans can look forward to his return in season 3 of the show.

Credit: Shondaland/Abc Studios/Kobal/Shutterstock; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Tony Goldwyn — 'Scandal''

After playing the President of the United States on Scandal from 2012 to 2018, Goldwyn appeared in the critically acclaimed 2021 film King Richard. 

Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix; Scott Kirkland/Shutterstock

Corey Mylchreest — ‘Queen Charlotte’

Before becoming a part of the Bridgerton spinoff, Mylchreest became a member of Shondaland in May 2023. He showcased his talent by portraying the character of King George. Prior to this, the accomplished actor had already made a mark in the industry with his roles in the short film Mars and the TV series The Sandman.

Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix; Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Tunji Kasim — ‘Queen Charlotte’

The Nancy Drew actor plays Adolphus, the older brother of Queen Charlotte’s title character (India Amarteifio).

Kasim’s acting credits also include The Good Liar, The Kill Tmea, Florence Foster Jenkins and Nearly Famous.

Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix ; Shutterstock

Luke Newton — ‘Bridgerton’

In 2016, this talented actor from England made his debut in the acting industry, portraying the character of Ben in Disney Channel's The Lodge. Fast forward almost four years, and he captivated audiences with his portrayal of Colin Bridgerton in the highly popular first season of the Netflix series. Now, in the upcoming third season, Colin is set to take center stage as he embarks on a romantic journey with his longtime friend Penelope Featherington, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan.