Below is her interview with Deadline 😞
Q: You’ve been part of the show for four seasons and could have stayed for at least two more before your contract ended. What made you decide to leave?
A: You know, it was honestly a super, super difficult decision, and I have to say, these past four years have been such an incredible time for me. I feel lucky and extremely grateful to David Shore and the writers for giving me the chance to play Claire — a wonderful doctor, such a layered character, with so much to explore — the kind of role any actor would be thrilled to play.
I think that, at this point, we’ve explored so many different aspects of Claire, and it’s time for me to discover something new. As an actor, flexibility and creativity are so important. I’ve devoted four years to Claire and her journey feels complete. I think now is the time for me to step away and try something new.
Q: When did you tell David Shore about your decision to leave, and how did he react?
A: He’s been an amazing, understanding, and kind showrunner throughout filming. I called him after Season 3 ended. I opened up about how I felt, and we came to the decision together.
Speaking of Claire, she’s been through a lot over these four years and has grown both personally and professionally. As a resident, she’s learned to balance her personal emotions, to be open, compassionate, and kind.
She’s faced many hardships — always putting others before herself. She’s carried emotional scars, from losing her mother right after they reconciled, to losing Melendez.
Over the seasons, she finally found her own peace, even reconciling with her father despite the pain it once caused her.
When Claire went to Guatemala and saw the patients there, it felt like a new adventure (as seen in the final two episodes of Season 4), and she decided to follow that dream.
Q: And what about Freddie (Shaun)? How did he and the rest of the cast react when they heard you were leaving?
A: I also spoke to Freddie, as openly as I did with David. Freddie has become an incredibly, incredibly good friend of mine. Like I said, it really was a difficult decision. He’s always been supportive and understanding about me wanting to try new things. The same goes for the rest of the cast — we’re all good friends, and they’ve been so supportive of my choice.
Q: In the finale, Claire doesn’t speak the local language in Guatemala and doesn’t know anyone there. Do you think she’ll stay long-term, or will she return to the U.S. soon?
A: I think Claire will be in Guatemala for quite a while. Of course, she’ll come back to the U.S. during holidays to visit friends and family. She’s brave and determined, so I think she’ll make it work. It’s a huge leap with a lot of scary challenges ahead — not speaking the language, not knowing anyone. But I know she can do it. After everything she’s been through, Claire has the strength to overcome it.
By choosing to stay, I hope she’ll continue to grow as a surgeon, becoming more creative and improving her skills, because the facilities in Guatemala are nothing like St. Bonaventure’s. I think it’ll challenge her to apply what she’s learned in a completely different environment — and that’s exciting.
Q: Do you think you might return for a guest appearance in the future?
A: Absolutely. I’d be really excited for an episode where Claire comes back with all the new things she’s learned in Guatemala.
Q: After Claire’s departure, who do you think will be the moral compass of the team? And who will be Shaun’s shoulder to lean on, since Claire was one of the first to truly accept him (after Dr. Glassman)?
A: Well, I think it’ll be the two new residents, Asher and Jordan. They’re both really talented, warm, and empathetic toward patients. They have good hearts, and they know how to talk to patients openly and compassionately. They’re a bit younger, and I wonder if they’ll become good friends with Shaun and give him advice whenever he needs it. I’m sure they’ll each find their own way of connecting with him.
Also, the underlying message in those moments when Shaun calls Glassman for advice is that he’s really growing — learning and able to draw lessons for himself. Shaun will be fine. He’s also about to marry Lea, which is wonderful.
Q: Was your last scene the airport farewell? How did you feel filming it?
A: Actually, that wasn’t my final scene, but on the show it was the goodbye. Those tears were real, especially in the scene with Dr. Lim, who’s such a special friend. We were like, “We can’t cry at the start of this scene, we have to wait until the right moment.”
The airport farewell was honestly so sad. We had a great time filming those last scenes, so the tears came easily.
After that, my actual final scene was one with no lines — very simple, very quick. We’d been a family for four years, and I feel so lucky to have worked with the kindest, most generous, most talented people — and they’ve become my closest friends. I was sad to say goodbye, but I know it’s not really goodbye because I will be back. I was just sad that such an amazing time in my life was coming to a close.
Q: Do you have a favorite scene? One that stands out the most from the entire show?
A: It’s hard to choose just one from four years, but one scene pops into my mind. It was in the final two episodes, filmed in a rural area outside Vancouver. We were sitting on a bus that drove around in circles. We sang “Turn Around” by Bonnie Tyler, and it felt like we were truly singing together, not just acting.
Q: Looking back, what does The Good Doctor mean to you, and what will you miss the most?
A: The Good Doctor means so much to me as an actor. I got to work with David Shore, who created this incredible character for me, who helped me grow as an actress and become more versatile in my craft.
I lived far from my family, away from London, for four years — suddenly finding myself in Vancouver. Through that, I grew so much personally, and I made so many new friends. It was a completely different and new chapter for me. I’m so grateful to the show for giving me experiences I never would have had otherwise. I’m leaving with a heart full of gratitude and lasting friendships. I will truly miss everyone.
Q: You mentioned “new opportunities.” Interestingly, The Good Doctor seems to have opened new doors for you — for instance, Chuku Modu (Dr. Kalu from Season 1) has become your writing partner for your new project Freedom’s Name Is Mighty Sweet. What’s next for you behind the camera?
A: Yeah, I really want to explore new opportunities behind the camera. We’ve been working and developing this for quite a while now. We made a short film together, and we have so many plans ahead.
