Sarah Drew is looking back at her experience on Grey’s Anatomy.
Th 44-year-old actress — who played April Kepner on the series from 2009 to 2018 on the ABC medical drama — told PEOPLE at the Dance Party to End ALZ: The Halloween Edition at AVALON in Los Angeles that Grey’s Anatomy was “an amazing place where I got to grow as a character.”
“I got to be challenged in all kinds of amazing ways and make friendships for life,” she recalled before reflecting on her personal growth journey — including welcoming children Micah Emmanuel, 12, and Hannah Mali Rose, 9, with husband Peter Lanfer — while appearing on the beloved series.
“I had both my babies in an environment that was so supportive of women. I mean, I look back on that time and it was such a period of growth for me,” she added. “And now I’m out in the world creating and making my own stuff and it’s really exciting.”
Drew shared that “really gained a voice while I was working on that show that enabled me to go to all the different places I’m in now” at the annual event, which was hosted by Kimberly Williams-Paisley in 2017 to raise Alzheimer’s awareness and funds and has raised over $2 million to fund diverse and exciting Alzheimer’s research.
The Mistletoe Murders star’s comments come after she recently opened up about her departure from the long-running medical drama during an episode of the Call It What It Is podcast with her former Grey’s co-stars Camilla Luddington and Jessica Capshaw.
Drew noted leaving in 2018 felt like “being fired from our family” after being part of the cast for nine seasons.
“We were unceremoniously let go in a way that felt really mean and unjust,” she said of her and Capshaw, whose role as Arizona Robbins was cut from the show at the end of season 14 (at the same time as Drew). “And, because of that, the outpouring of love was so enormous it was like you were sitting there watching people say all the things that they love about you after you’re dead.”
Drew — who has since come back to the show for guest appearances — explained that she no longer has the same ties to the series as she did originally.
“I have no attachment to it at all,” she explained. “So I think so there’s peace. When you’re on the show, you know, you never know what’s gonna happen. You never know if they’re gonna lose interest in your story line or if you piss off the wrong person, then something’s gonna happen. Like, you don’t know. But when I just popped back in to say hello, it I have zero anxiety, and I don’t need anything from anybody on that set anymore.”
“They’re not responsible for my livelihood anymore,” continued Drew, who stars in A Carpenter Christmas Romance, out Dec. 21 on Lifetime. “They’re not responsible for my success or my joy. So it feels very, very freeing to pop back in because I’m like, ‘Hey, this is a fun spot to come visit.’”
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC and can be streamed on Hulu the next day. Mistletoe Murders premieres Oct. 31 on Hallmark+ and A Carpenter Christmas Romance debuts Dec. 21 on Lifetime.