Annette Brown/The CW
The actress has been a series regular on The CW drama since its start.
The CW's The Vampire Diaries appears poised to lose one of its leading ladies.
Star Kat Graham has announced plans to exit the Julie Plec-produced vampire drama after its upcoming eighth season, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Reps for The CW and producers Warner Bros. Television declined comment.
The news comes nearly a month after The CW announced that the aging series — which was moved to Fridays this season — would return for an eighth season. Season seven will wrap its run May 13.
"Season eight will be my last season," Graham told Us Weekly, which was the first to report the news. "But you know what, another season is a whole other year, and we’re going to blow it out."
Graham's exit comes as the series has had to find its footing again following the season-six departures of leading lady Nina Dobrev and co-star Michael Trevino.
While Graham may be exiting, it's unclear if producers, The CW and studio Warner Bros. Television plan to continue The Vampire Diaries beyond season eight. Its season-seven renewal was said to hinge on leading man Ian Somerhalder returning. After The Vampire Diaries and spinoff The Originals were moved to form a Friday block earlier this year, the pairing has helped improve the network's year-over-year draw.
Graham, who has starred on The CW's The Vampire Diaries for seven seasons, started her career as a back-up dancer for the stage and performing in music videos alongside Missy Elliott, Pharrell, Jamie Foxx, Lil' Bow Wow, John Legend, Nelly, Usher and more. The singer-actress recently sold a dance drama to The CW that would see her add executive producer to her résumé.
The Vampire Diaries
