SPOILER ALERT:Do notread ahead, if you have not watched the season finale of Greys Anatomy Season 13, which aired onThursday, May 18.

Grey Sloan Memorial said goodbye to one of its own, after a fire rocked the hospital in the Season 13 finale of Greys Anatomy but despite some major foreshadowing, the goodbye was not due to death, unlike most Greys departures.

However, that doesnt mean the exit isnt permanent. The season finale revealed that Jerrika Hintons Dr. Stephanie Edwards is leaving her job and the medical profession entirely. The storyline comes as the actress is exiting the ABC series for a role in Alan Balls new HBO drama, asVariety previously reported.

In Thursday nights episode, after fighting off a rapist and dodging an explosion, Edwards spent the season-ender ignoring her own life-threatening burns to save a little girl which she did, by the way in the process, she realized what she wants out of life: to stop spending all her time in hospitals.

As for Hinton, the actress joined Greys Anatomy in 2012. She expanded her Shondaland relationship last season when she was cast as the lead in the companys comedy pilot Toast, which ultimately did not go to series.

Regarding Hintons exit, in a statement provided toVariety, series creator Shonda Rhimes said: Actors evolve differently and when an actor like Jerrika comes to me and says she wants to try something new creatively, I like to honor that.Jerrika has shared so much of herself with Stephanie and I am incredibly proud of the journey weve taken together. While Im sad to see Stephanie leave Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, I am excited to see whats next for Jerrika.

Here,Hinton fights back tears as she speaks to Variety about her decision to leave Greys Anatomy, her new HBO series, and why youshouldnt expect to see Edwards back in Seattle any time soon

When did you decide to leave the show?

Shonda and I met almost a year ago now, and we had a very lengthy and gratifying and really splendid conversation about work and creative process. She was immensely supportive of my wishes, and shes really lovely, Shonda. Every private conversation Ive had with her has left with me feeling just heard and seen and respected as a human being and as an artist, and I really appreciate that.

Have we seen the last of Edwards full time, or could we see her come backin a guest role?

I genuinely dont know the answer to that question. I will say, though, that because of the nature of her injuries and because of what she says she wants to experience in her next chapter of life, if we do see her come back through those doors, it will be a long time. I think that she needs to heal. She needs to heal in a variety of ways before that place becomes a viable option again.

Can you pinpoint a favorite moment you had withyour character over the years?

To be honest, that final scene with Jim Pickens [who plays Dr. Webber], that stands out in my memory. That was, for a scene thats so weighty, so heavy, tapping into it was a beautifully straightforward process. Jim is a fantastic scene partner. I always feel very safe with him. And Debbie [Allen, who directed the episode], the way that Debbie really just let us do what we needed to do allowed for all elements to really coalesce. And I havent seen it, [so] I hope that it comes across on screen. But on the day, shooting that was lovely.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time on the show?

I dont know if Im gonna have an opportunity to talk about what I will miss about Stephanie, is that okay? Im gonna miss wow, I didnt expect this. Im feeling emotional now. Need to go grab some Kleenex. I think Im just gonna miss her willingness to go the extra mile for what she believes in. I think its a quality that has been there from day one. I was thinking about this a few weeks ago, and something I remember from back in Season 9 is the way she really rallied Leah and Joe when Shane was going through a hard time. She told them not to give up and that we are all a part of this together. I think that she has such great fortitude and empathy and brilliance, and shes just, I think, for all of the folly of youth that she has, shes such a wonderful person. I was friends with her, and thats a great compliment because I choose friends carefully.

Can you tease anything about your HBO show?

I will say this: Five years of working in Shondaland makes me nervous about teasing things. I think I can, but all of my instincts in my body say, Keep your mouth shut, and Ive gotta work on letting go of that. But its a really wonderful new project. Its a new drama from Alan Ball, who is a phenomenal writer. And I will say that weve already started working on it, and its genuinely been a gratifying, collaborative, generous, and welcoming experience, and I feel so fortunate. I used to say, all the time, that being welcomed into Shondaland felt like winning the lottery, and I still feel that way. And now, moving from there to this, I dont even know whats beyond the lottery.

Even though youre leaving, do you have any intel on Greys Anatomy Season 14?

I literally have zero idea, and I have not asked because I dont work there anymore. When I worked there, I would ask all of those questions, and now that I dont, its a beautiful mystery.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Season 13 Finale Says Goodbye to Another Cast Member (SPOILERS) - Variety