We had the chance to chat with Patrick Dempsey, you know him best for his portrayal of Dr. Derek Shepherd in the hit show Grey's Anatomy has earned him a 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award and the 2007 People's Choice Award. However, his movie career is also keeping him equally in the spotlight with roles in successful films including the romantic comedy, Made Of Honor and the Disney romp, Enchanted.

With the season five DVD of Grey's Anatomy about to be released, the man behind McDreamy explains his thoughts on creating the perfect balance between work and family. He also opens up to reveal the secret to his long and successful marriage...

What have you learned about yourself after playing this character for five years?

Patrick Dempsey: Wow, that's a good question. When you're working on a character for so many hours of the week, it's easy to forget who you are. I've learned that you need to separate yourself from the character and not get caught up in the dynamic because you're in it all the time. You're working for 15 hours every day and sometimes you get confused about who you are. You spend more time being your character than you do being yourself.

How tough is it to work on a show like Grey's Anatomy?

Patrick Dempsey: It's a lot of fun, but it's also really hard because you never know what your schedule is going to be. It's hard to plan things with your family - and I find that very difficult. The stamina of it can be tough, too. It's fun, but it's a grind. We're doing 24 episodes and you have no control over your life. When your wife asks you, "Can we go and have dinner together?" You have to say, "I don't know what my schedule is. I can't tell you." That's really hard.

Is it extra difficult when you have three children at home?

Patrick Dempsey: Sure. It's tough to balance your life. For example, we didn't get home until quite late last night - but the boys are up at 5:00 in the morning. You try to balance out a family life with a career and you try to be a husband, but three children is a lot. Anybody who has kids can tell you that. You want to make sure you're there for those special moments with your family, but at the same time you're trying to provide for them. It's exhausting to try to find a balance for all of that.

Do you ever try the technique where you say to your children, "Daddy needs to work. Daddy needs to rest."

Patrick Dempsey: That doesn't work.