ABC’s medical drama The Good Doctor has just lost one of its biggest stars. Antonia Thomas, who portrayed surgical resident Dr. Claire Browne, confirmed to Deadline that she won’t be part of the series moving forward.
Thomas had her last appearance as series regular in the finale of season four, which aired on Monday night. The episode, titled “Vamos,” sees Dr. Browne taking a job at one Guatemalan clinic while the rest of her colleagues return to the United States.
In an interview with Deadline, Thomas, who was under contract for two more seasons, called the decision to exit The Good Doctor “a really, really difficult” one.
“I am just now ready to try something new, ultimately,” said Thomas, before leaving the door open for a guest appearance in the future.
“I absolutely would love to come back every now and then and say hi, bring Claire’s skills from Guatemala and her stories. I’m very much looking forward to that,” she added.
Thomas later broke the news on her social media with a series of farewell posts.
Following Thomas’s exit, The Good Doctor will promote Noah Galvin (Dr. Asher Wolke) and Bria Samone Henderson (Dr. Jordan Allen) to series regulars in season five. Osvaldo Benavides, who was introduced as Dr. Mateo Rendon Osma in the season four finale, will also join the main cast. The new episodes are expected to premiere in the fall.
Besides The Good Doctor, Antonia Thomas is also known for her role in the British sitcom Lovesick and as a narrator for the reboot of the popular children’s show Teletubbies. She also appeared in movies The Hybrid and Survivor.
