Sophia Bush on her 'Chicago P.D.' exit: 'I was miserable'

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Sophia Bush says she was "miserable" prior to her exit from Chicago P.D.

The 35-year-old actress, who played Det. Erin Lindsay on the NBC series, explained on Monday's episode of Refinery 29's Unstyled podcast why she left the police procedural after Season 4.

"I don't have to give everyone the specific breakdown of exactly why I left until I'm ready to do that. But, the overarching theme for me, was that I landed my dream job," Bush told Refinery29 co-founder Christene Barberich.

"I landed this job that, since I was 20 years old and trying to become an actor, I said I wanted. And aspects of it, don't get me wrong, were wonderful," she elaborated. "[But] I knew by the end of the second season I couldn't do that job anymore."

Bush said she struggled with the idea of quitting her "dream job" for months but ultimately told producers "in the summer between Seasons 3 and 4" that she was planning to leave the show.

"For me, not to put it on anybody else, but for me it felt like I was trapped in a burning building," she shared. "I was just so unhappy and it was my dream job and I was miserable and I had to go."

Deadline reported in May that Bush was leaving the series but would possibly return as a guest star. Sources later linked the actress' exit to co-star Jason Beghe, who apologized in November following accusations of "inappropriate behavior" on set.

"I am deeply sorry for my behavior, which I know has been hurtful to my friends and colleagues," the actor, who portrays Sgt. Hank Voight, said. "I have struggled with anger issues for some time, and over the past year, I have been working with a coach to help me learn how to mitigate my temper."

Chicago P.D. is in its fifth season and stars Beghe, Jon Seda and Jesse Lee Soffer. Bush will next appear in the movie Acts of Violence starring Bruce Willis and Cole Hauser.