Shortly after Sunday's Golden Globes, Melissa George (Sadie) presented Entertainment Weekly with a doozy of a scoop: She's leaving Grey's Anatomy, STAT.
"It was my choice," the actress-slash-Golden Globe nominee (for In Treatment) confirmed at HBO's red-hot after-party, held poolside at the Beverly Hilton.
"My last day of work is Tuesday."
But lest we think this is yet another in a long line of rocky Grey's Anatomy exits (see also: Isaiah Washington, Brooke Smith, possibly T.R. Knight), George, who joined the ABC medical drama last November as Mer's maybe-gay BFF, is leaving on the best of terms.
"I love the show so much," she gushes. "I've made some beautiful friends. I love T.R. Knight. I love Patrick Dempsey, Justin Chambers ... I adore Ellen Pompeo. I think she's a strong, incredible woman. And Katherine Heigl is the most beautiful creature on Earth."
Then why leave?
Melissa George says she simply wants to "do something else." Already? Well, a Grey's Anatomy insider suggests that the parting of the ways was more mutual than simply the actress' choice.
"Melissa's arc came to a natural end. Everyone at the show adores her. We're genuinely sad to see her go," the source divulged.
George's initial deal called for her to appear in roughly 8-11 episodes with an option to become a series regular, like Kevin McKidd.
But her Sadie had a much more rocky introduction than the Iraq doctor, what with the self-mutilation and ambiguous sexuality. The latter characteristic was especially ill-timed coming off of Erica Hahn's controversial exit.
"The character was cursed from Day One," sniffs an ABC source. "She was very difficult to root for."
Melissa George concedes that Sadie was unconventional, even by Grey's Anatomy standards. But recent episodes had revealed a calmer, gentler side to her.
"When you take out your insides and you're hitting on every guy and girl in the hospital… you have to pull back," her portrayer suggests.
"She's a doctor. You have to be professional. For her, she had to stop doing that or else she would've been kicked out."
Is that a tease for Sadie's exit? George won't say, but she reveals that "it won't be a big send-off, but it's really cool what they do."
In other words, Sadie won't be banished to the parking lot with Hahn. What do you think of Melissa George leaving?
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26 Comments
January 13th, 2009 8:55 AM
Yes! Get rid of all the nonsense extras! Focus -- FOCUS! -- on the original doctors, please.
But then, I must say, Sadie is growing on me. Callie's just so cute when she's around her. And what the hell happened in Amsterdam??
January 13th, 2009 9:13 AM
I will be happy to see Sadie go. I thought the character was an ill fit from the beginning. The only part of her I enjoyed was her speech to Meredith about pushing Cristina away in the last episode. Nothing personal against Melissa George, she is a very good actress, I just don't like the way the character fits in the show. Beside, by eliminating some of the extras, maybe Mer/Der will get more screen time. Last episode was awesome with them being together almost the entire episode, and then the scene was adorable! That was the best episode all season!
January 13th, 2009 9:17 AM
Dang. Just when i started to like her!
January 13th, 2009 9:42 AM
aww she adres ellen thats so sweet but im glad shes going and i hope lexie goes with her.
January 13th, 2009 10:15 AM
I hated how she just randomly fell into the show and we were suppposed to like her, despite the fact that Mer and Christina had been friends to us, the viewers, for four years now.
And than -BANG- some girl we never heard of was supposed to be Mer's best friend who was soooo awesome and hot and stuff?
Please, us viewers aren't morons!
January 13th, 2009 11:47 AM
oh well, i think she could've had a chance to standout more. I'm glad to see her go. Beside, she'll have better success in film. So, when is Preston Burke coming back? the show needs him back.
January 13th, 2009 11:47 AM
I'm glad I wasn't the only person who wanted to know what happened in Amsterdam.
January 13th, 2009 12:13 PM
I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU.SADIE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE SERIES AS
LEXIE AS WELL.
PRESTON BURKE SHOULD COME BACK: PERFECT ACTOR, PERFECT MATCH
IN THE SHOW.
AND YES: THE SHOW SHOULD FOCUS ON THE MAIN CHARACTERS, NOT ON
THE PERIPHERAL. MAIN CHARACTERS HAVE ALOT OF UNEXPLORED DEPTH.
January 13th, 2009 6:26 PM
I think it's sad.I like Sadie.She's a character that would let us to know more about Mer's past, which, I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to know.
And I'm praying for Burke doesn't come back because I think he's so egocentric and proud, confident.And it would be sad for Cristina, I mean, now that she forgot him and everything.However would be exciting to see the circus on fire
January 13th, 2009 6:35 PM
Out of all the new pointless people they have thrown in this season I liked Sadie the best, so I'm gonna miss her. But overall they should really start to develop the main characters.