When this season ends, CSI will be losing one of its charter members. Although the news was initially reported by various online outlets, actress Jorja Fox has finally come forward and confirmed her intent to leave the show during this season.
Speaking with EW.com, the 39-year-old actress said she won't be returning to her role as Sara Sidle after next month. However, unlike previous spats with the show's producers, her decision to leave apparently has nothing to do with her contract.
"There are all these things I want to do," said Fox in an interview. "Some are personal. Some are professional. And I really need to do some of them before I get too old."
Fox will reportedly be in only five more episodes of the top-rated crime drama, with her last airing in mid-November. She was asked to return for CSI's eighth season, but only wanted to return for a few episodes.
"If I thought the show were on its last legs, I would have tried harder to stay the course," she explained. "But I feel like it's going to be around for a while, so if I don't want some of those dreams to pass me by, I have to get off the ride for a while."
Fox has been on CSI since the show's debut in 2000.
Comments (39)
To PennyRua: No, she doesn't have any known babies so far. She is also a declared lesbian so she'll probably get pregnant by indirect means. Anyway, to me it's good she's out of the show. Never liked her self righteous character or the silly sub plot of her and Grissom's romance. Plus, i never really believed her acting. Too plain and simple to be Grissom's romantic counterpart. CSI will be better off without her. Anyway, as a person/actress you can only wish her luck in her next projects. And let's hope season 8 bounces back our CSI up to new heights.
I really don't want Sara or Jorja to leave! It won't be the same and I don't even know for sure if I'll continue watching CSI without her on it and numerous (hundreds) of my friends feel the same way. Couldn't you work part-time on the show still and also pursue other things that you want to? I love Sara Sidle!!! Don't go!!
You have no idea how happy this makes me! She has been my least favorite character from the start! I hope they kill her off so there's no chance she'll come back..Then I may start watching the show again!
Is the personal portion of her life she wishes to pursue, pregnancy. Haven't heard anything, but some of the posturing and clothing say, possible.
I never liked her it's good shes going.
I am really going to miss seeing Jorja Fox/Sara on CSI. The GSR fans got what they wanted they may not be getting married but atleast they got to see them have a personal realationship and not just a working relationship. For those of us who are SNICKERS fans such as me may not get our wish of Nick and Sara getting together. Hopefully we get that wish before she leaves. SNICKERS ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't beleive she is 39!
I didn't like her at the start but now have grown to like her character.
It will be sad to see her go but it is her decision and I wish her luck!
While I support Jorja 100%, CSI will not be the same when she has gone. Hopefully she will come back for more then a one episode guest spot.
If they don't kill her off on her last episode, I could see her doing periodic guest shots around her other projects. I've enjoyed the development of the Grissom-Sara relationship -- I hope it won't be gone for good.
I'm glad she didn't leave because of her contract. I understand why she wants to leave, I just don't see Sarah leave yet. Especially with the recent developments between her and Grissom.
Personally, I grew rather fond of her character after season 5. They seem to have tried to hard to put an ugly duckling in a swan position. It would have been nice to see someone from Grissom's past to come in & sweep him away, like that one blonde that studied anthropology. She put faces together. I remember her & Grissom have dinner a couple of times but he'd get called away on a case. Anyhow, I would have much rather see Katherine go than Sara. I've always disliked her. She seems to always try to be as smart as Grissom,,,NOT!!!!!!!!!!
It is sad to see her go! The saddest thing though is that the replacement character is horrible!!! This Ronnie girl is disgusting! I'd prefer another man or a little bit older woman for a replacement. The new girl is a snot; she is obnoxious and a terrible actress!
Sarah is the character i liked the least in CSI. I actually hoped she would've died in the season premiere. That would have left some serious drama for Grissom and the rest of the crew to deal with her death.
I CAN'T believe it! She is a SO GREAT actress and her leaving is going to be a very big loss for CSI! She was my favorite character of the show...However, I wish her all the best for her future!-And by the way the last few words of her statement "...I have to get off the ride for a while" let's us keep some of our hope that she could come back in a later season (hopefully)...
Life's to short-I don't blame you for wanting to take the time to do other things. Your a great star...God Bless you.
I'M REALLY SAD TO SEE JORJA GO. I LOVE SARA/GRISSOM TOGETHER. I HOPE SHE WILL CHANGE HER MIND AND COME BACK SOON. I LOVE CSI!!! :)
I will miss her character terribly. Sara was my favorite. I hope that she will return later in the season to complete the GSR storyline. I am still hopeful for a happy 'ending'. Good Luck, Jorja!
Grissom will be the next to leave after this season; and a doubt there will be a 9th season. Grissom is like Hawkeye in MASH, the shows won't survive without them and Petersom has frequently said he would like to do other things. CBS might be able to arrange 5 or 6 two hour episodes for next season to make fans happy, but the truth is that the show is running out of energy and the cast isn't getting any younger.
I won't be watching CSI after Sara leaves. I guess there's no point in evening watching tomorrow nights episode since we know Grissom and Sara are not going to get married. Oh well, back to Grey's Anatomy.
She already said in another mag that she did not like what she was offered to renew the contract. Guess she will find out that things are not always greener on the other side...
She says she just wants to get off for awhile, meaning maybe she wants to return later once she does some of those things.
Well I am personally glad to see her go the whole thing with having her and Grissom together was kind of stupid and unbelievable. Even though I personally wanted to see her character die in the season premiere, I guess that this is the next best thing!
Wish her all the luck. CSI Miami just had an episode with Speedle from the first season on, he hasn't done much since he left. Word of warning. ;)
I'm glad her character survived her miniature killer odyssey but now CSI lost some charm to me and I won't watch it as much as I do now. I'm glad she decided to move on other things, but for me, it's sad news.
she might want to have babies. does she have any already?
I think it was a good idea that she survived the whole MCSK thing & that she quit rather than got sacked. I'm not sure that I'll watch CSI as regularly now though - she was the most interesting character on that show.
good I never did did like the hole grisom and her thing
Hopefully they will replace her with someone who is young and hot like that new photographer girl. I got bored of the Sarah character after the second year. I doubt that her career will get any better than it is now unless she can scam her way onto Desperate Housewives (but she isn't the type for that show). I forsee a life of guest appearances on Lifetime TV.
Personally CSI:LV is the only CSI I don't watch. Hope people who do watch it, aren't too much heartbroken.
didn't she join after the pilot, I seem to recall she was bought in by Grissom when A Csi was killed in the pilot on a crime scene
I agree that having her character die at the end of the last season would have been a dramatic end. CSI:LV has always had good cliffhanger season finale's and this would have been the best.Personally I didn't like her character too much. They had her character always take the moral role; condemning anything that wasn't "normal". She was more convincing as the security guard in WestWing than a CSI agent.Best of luck to her in new roles; but CSI:LV can only get better from here on in.
She could have left after last season finale, seeing Sara die would have been a much better conclusion.
Bad news. But the rumors about her exit had already been there.
"Mm, well I think she has some bigger things ahead of her. This is only the very beginging for her career. I think she made the right move, even though she'll sadly be missed on CSI".
I agree , As she said : " "There are all these things I want to do," Fox says in an interview. "Some are personal. Some are professional. And I really need to do some of them before I get too old." So , She need time for both , And CSI well not stop for her.
I don't watch CSI but she's always looked kind of bland from the previews.
I watch CSI Miami and NY so I glad this info ain't about them.
OMFG i can't believe she quit. the show won'tbe the same without her!
Mm, well I think she has some bigger things ahead of her. This is only the very beginging for her career. I think she made the right move, even though she'll sadly be missed on <i>CSI</i>.
I can't believe this.
So I guess Ronnie will replace her, huh?