Jennifer Morrison quit TV show over 'gruelling' work schedule

Jennifer Morrison wants to focus more on her personal life now she’s left show Once Upon A Time.

The actress announced she’s departing the series on Instagram Monday morning (08May17), sharing a long message informing followers that she’s waving goodbye to her alter ego Emma Swan after playing her since 2011.

Discussing her decision further with Deadline, Jennifer, 38, explained how busy her life has been since she broke out onto the small screen.

“I spent six years year on House, a year on How I Met Your Mother and spent six years on Once Upon a Time, and collectively that’s 13 years of network schedule, which is an amazing and incredible gift but it’s a grueling schedule,” she sighed. “I’ve had some opportunities that I’ve passed up along the years in order to fulfill these network schedules, and I really had to weigh where I was in my life. I’m just at an age and a time in my life where I want to be home, I want to be with my family and my friends, to have a chance to have a personal life for a while, and also wanted to be available to do other creative things.”

In 2015 Jennifer shared her desire to direct comedy film Sun Dogs and the project is now set to head to the festival circuit this year (17). She has also worked on two other films and is currently rehearsing opposite former Friends star Matthew Perry in his off-Broadway play The End of Longing.

Touching upon what sort of TV series she’d be open to doing in the future, the star added: “Deep down there is a little part of me that wants to do a period piece, I think that would be fun but it has to be the right project.”