[Warning: Spoilers from the Grey’s Anatomy finale follow.]
Confirming suspicions raised last month, Sara Ramirez announced Thursday that she’s leaving Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital — at least for the time being. The update came tied to the Grey’s Anatomy season-12 finale, which saw Ramirez’s character, Dr. Callie Torres, receive a shared child-custody offer from her ex-wife, Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw). “I’m deeply grateful to have spent the last 10 years with my family at Grey’s Anatomy & ABC but for now I’m taking some welcome time off,†Ramirez tweeted. “Shonda’s been so incredible to work for, and we will definitely continue our conversations!†At the end of April, Ramirez had hinted that this year would entail a “wrap for Doctor Callie Torres,†but it wasn’t — and still isn’t — clear if that’s permanent or if she’ll be back in the future. If it’s the former, the ten-season veteran’s move puts her in the same company as other esteemed Grey’s actors who have left recently, including Sandra Oh and Patrick Dempsey.
Shonda Rhimes commented:
Dr. Callie Torres came into our lives dancing it out in her underwear almost a decade ago and I could not be happier or more proud of her journey. Sara Ramirez’s performance inspired me as well as millions of fans each week. We wish her the best on her well-deserved time off. I will miss Callie tremendously, but am excited for what the future holds for Sara. She will always have a home at Shondaland.
Other stars of the show are reportedly in the process of renegotiating their contracts for the show’s 13th season, which returns in the fall.
Read Vulture’s full recap of the finale here.