The woman who played Michonne opens up about leaving TWD after 8 seasons.
Danai Guriacant stop laughing.
she bellows before proceeding to playfully rib her costars momentary dread.
Eliza Morse/AMC
And the cacophony as everything falls!
These are the good times, the ones Gurira will miss the most moving on from AMCs record-breaking drama.
It was incredibly hard to even imagine leaving.
Dennis Leupold for EW
I loved that show.
I loved the family that I had there.
Its been a true gift to my life to have been part of it.
But now Gurira has a new gift to open.
And so it was incredibly hard to come to that place, but I had to.
Her formerTWDfamily members have no problem articulating the respect and love they feel for their departing friend.
The thing that shes always brought is so much passion, says showrunnerAngela Kang.
This was her first series-regular gig, and she threw everything into it.
Her work ethic is incredible, and she also knows how to have a good time.
She attacks every scene with a ferocity and a grace thats really inspiring to work with, Reedus says.
Ive seen her in the most vulnerable state and also the most aggressive.
Weve gone through it together.
So its more than just losing a cast member.
Youre losing somebody that you have such a tight bond with.
Shes a natural-born leader, that girl.
It was very emotional, says Gurira about her final days onThe Walking Dead.
I was really blown back by how much love I received from everybody.
she says, laughing.
They were all over lying on my couch, on my chair, in the shower.
For her part, Gurira appreciated the voice she was allowed to have in mapping out Michonnes final chapter.
Youre carrying your characters soul at this point of the show, she explains.
And that just made it even more special that I got to be a part of it that way.
Gurira may have physically already leftThe Walking Dead, but the show will never truly leave her.
Even if those environments just happen to include 50 zombies chilling in your trailer.
