Sarah Drew openly discusses her departure from Grey’s Anatomy, stating that she ‘has no attachment’ to the show

Drew revealed her and Jessica Capshaw’s dismissal from the long-running medical drama on a recent episode of the Call It What It Is podcast. Drew elucidated that leaving the show in 2018 amounted to a sense of “firing from our family,” following her nine-year tenure.

“We were unceremoniously let go in a way that felt really mean and unjust,” the actress, whose new Hallmark+ show Mistletoe Murders launches on October 31, stated. “And, because of that, the outpouring of love was so enormous it was like you were sitting there watching people say all the things that they love about you after you’re dead.”

Maya Drew, who plays April Kepner, has returned for guest appearances but says the role is different.

“I have no attachment to it at all,” she explained. “So, I suppose there is peace. When you’re on the program, you never know what to expect. You never know when they’ll lose interest in your narrative, and if you offend the wrong person, it could lead to unexpected consequences. You don’t know. However, when I simply returned to say hello, I experienced no anxiety, and I no longer require assistance from anyone on that set.

“They’re not responsible for my livelihood anymore,” said the star of A Carpenter Christmas Romance, which will air on Lifetime on December 21. “They are not accountable for my success or happiness. Therefore, it feels immensely liberating to return, as I realize that this is a wonderful place to visit.

Capshaw, whose part as Arizona Robbins was deleted from the program after season 14 (along with Drew), then questioned how the Everwood alum was originally placed on the series.

“I came on to get fired in the “I Saw What I Saw” episode,” she said. “I had just finished a pilot with Shonda, and she said, ‘You wanna come play for two episodes?'” In fact, here’s a hilarious story: I was originally offered the role of the woman George saved and was struck by a truck, and she had an episode at the end of season 5 and the beginning of season 6 when you’ve got the ‘double o seven,’ the entire thing.”

Drew mentioned that she had to decline the initial offer because of a scheduling conflict, but subsequently received a two-episode arc for April. She went on to appear on Supernatural, Glee, and Mad Men before her plot on Grey’s resumed.

Jesse Williams’ portrayal of April’s romance with Jackson Avery rose to prominence on the show.

When Luddington and Capshaw complimented her on being “such a good actor” who appeared on so many different series, Drew acknowledged she didn’t start receiving more developed roles until after Grey’s Anatomy.

“This is an interesting little take on what our industry does,” she told me. “I was just discussing this with someone else earlier—before my character teamed up with Jesse Williams, I’ve consistently portrayed characters who were awkward, grating, annoying, and not particularly beautiful.”

“I was unattractive until my character began dating Jesse, and now I play romantic leads,” she informed me.

In 2018, Drew shared her initial response to Grey’s Anatomy’s cancellation with The Hollywood Reporter. She admitted that she sobbed when she heard the news but stated she was finding peace in the circumstances.

“I’m a believer in things happening for a reason and finding beauty in grief,” she told a news organization. “I have no regrets or resent anyone in this season of my life. “I’m embracing it.”

“I had a profound and incredible season of my life on Grey’s Anatomy,” Drew told the audience. “I got to tell stories that I believed in. I got to collaborate with [producers] Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers and learn from the finest. I got to work with an outstanding group of people with whom I will make lasting connections. Because of Shonda’s character and the way she treats her mothers and women, I was able to establish a platform and raise my children in a nurturing environment. It’s difficult for me to think of anything to be furious about.”