Justin Chambers is opening up about diversifying his acting portfolio.
After being on Grey’s Anatomy for 16 seasons, Chambers said he wanted to branch out from the empathetic, warm Alex Karev. Talking specifically about his guest appearance in Accused, a crime anthology series, the actor revealed what he was looking for when he took the part.
“What drew me in was the chance to play someone so different from Alex Karev,” Chambers told Us Weekly. “After years of being a familiar face as Karev, it felt exciting to step into a more complex, antagonistic role and show a different side of myself as an actor.”
Chambers said that being able to appear on Accused was “a blast,” but also praised the long-running medical drama for providing him with the opportunities he has today.
“Grey’s Anatomy has given me a freedom that many actors don’t often experience, and now I’m excited about exploring passion projects both within and outside of Hollywood,” he said. “I’m choosing to follow my heart in all my artistic and commercial pursuits. I really prefer being part of good storytelling, no matter how long it is. For me, it’s not about the quantity, it’s about the quality of the story and the acting. I want to tell stories that tackle real issues, like those in Accused.”
Although his appearance as Tyler on season 2 of the legal drama is just for a one-episode arc, Chambers told the outlet that he would be “open to returning” for a larger storyline.
“It felt like shooting a small film since each episode stands alone,” he said. “Working on something where you know the ending — unlike some other projects — is really exciting. I believe people will look forward to fresh episodes and new story lines on Accused.”
Still, in a separate interview with TVLine, Chambers called his time on Grey’s “one of the most incredible experiences of my life.”
“Thank you forever, Shonda Rhimes,” he continued, noting how “that chapter is closed for now.”
“But getting the opportunity to play characters like Marlon Brando in The Offer and Tyler in The Accused, both completely different from Alex, is why I’m excited to embrace new roles from talented writers and storytellers,” he added.
Chambers announced his exit from Grey’s Anatomy in 2020 after first joining the show in 2005. An original cast member, his final episode aired on Nov. 14, 2019, but fans didn’t know that was the last they’d be seeing of him at the time.
“There’s no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that’s defined so much of my life for the past 15 years,” Chambers said in a statement to PEOPLE in January 2020. “For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.”
He added, “As I move on from Grey’s Anatomy, I want to thank the ABC family, Shonda Rhimes, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr., and the rest of the amazing cast and crew, both past and present, and, of course, the fans for an extraordinary ride.”
Accused airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX, and Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.