Grey's Anatomy star Jessica Capshaw has responded to the fans' reaction ahead of her anticipated return to the show.

The actress is set to reprise her role as Dr Arizona Robbins on US screens this week (April 4), as part of the long-running medical drama's 20th season.

The beloved paediatric surgeon was last seen in 2018, when she left Seattle for New York to be closer to daughter Sofia amidst her divorce from Dr Callie Torres (Sara Ramrez).

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Speaking to The Wrap ahead of Arizona's return to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, Capshaw shared her excitement at the viewers' reaction and explained how the character's return came about.

"The mission was very clear for Arizona to come back at this time where everyone's a little bit world-weary and missing the magic and joy of healing and bring back some of that joy and levity," she said.

"Hearing the reactions from viewers feeling so excited to reconnect with her made my heart grow a size for sure."

Upon her return, Arizona is set to work on a challenging case with her former colleagues Dr Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), Dr Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) and Dr Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone).

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Capshaw went on to explain that putting the scrubs back on felt like a "seamless" experience, adding: "I put on my costume and I stepped onto the stage and it was just fun. There was no wanting to throw up or die, no scariness.

"It was just like being [back] with friends. The first day was full of reunions, every time I walked around a corner, there'd be a different person that I would just scream with excitement about being able to see."

She concluded: "I have tremendous and deep respect for all the changes that have happened, so I felt very much like this is a house that someone else lives in and I'm coming to visit so let's have the best party while I'm here."

Grey's Anatomy season 20 and Station 19's final season air on ABC in the US. Both shows stream on Disney+ in the UK.

Sara Baalla is a freelance news reporter for Digital Spy.

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Grey's Anatomy's Jessica Capshaw on fan reaction ahead of show return - Digital Spy