Pauley Perrette bids an emotional goodbye to Abby on 'NCIS'

It’s been known for quite some time that Pauley Perrette would be leaving NCIS. In a recent interview, the star shared how she felt about leaving her character behind.

Perrette revealed how hard it has been for her to let go of the character she’s played for 15 seasons. The star’s last appearance on NCIS is expected to be on May 22, 2018, according to CBS News.

Perrette, 49, plays Abby Sciuto on NCIS. She revealed that she was still grieving and would usually cry in her car every day when she drove to work, and cry on her way home again.

The star confessed that she was leaving the show and role because she wanted some privacy. She felt that she had earned some time to herself to stay at home or go to church.

Her desire for privacy does not, however, mean that she will be retiring from acting. She said she loved the work and was currently dealing with many opportunities being offered to her.

Despite the offers, Perrette explained that she currently preferred to have time to sit at home on the couch drinking beer with her dogs because she was really good at it. She admitted that she hoped Sciuto’s impact would continue for years to come.

‘It makes me sad to imagine a world without Abby in it. It really makes me sad.’

Pauley Perrette, Pop Culture, April 22, 2018

Perrette even created a scholarship fund for women who wished to go into scientific fields. This was her way of making sure that her character lived on forever.

The actress shared that her roles had made science cool and obtainable for young women. She added that her television character did more than encourage it but also made it exciting and fun.

It’s currently not clear how her character will be written off on the show. Perrette's final episode is expected to be NCIS' season finale.

NCIS airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.