'Sex Education': Emma Mackey hints 'gracefully exiting' from Netflix series after season 4
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Netflix's 'Sex Education' fans found out Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric Effiong, recently suggested he's departing the show after the upcoming season. In an Instagram post, Gatwa shared a photo of his trailer door with Eric's name on it. His caption reads, "Last day. Last time. Bye bubs, thank you for all the lessons and for all the strength." Following Gatwa's departure, Emma Mackey, who portrays Otis' love interest, Maeve, might quit the series after season 4.
Since its 2019 debut, 'Sex Education' has received overwhelming critical acclaim for tackling sensitive subjects related to sexual intimacy, the ensemble cast’s performances and its authentic and diverse depiction of the LGBTQ+ community, with several main characters of the queer experience. Mackey stars alongside Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa, Aimee Lou Wood, Connor Swindells, and Gillian Anderson.
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'It's something that I want to gracefully exit from'
In a conversation with Total Film (via Games Radar), Mackey opened up about 'Sex Education' and her possible exit from the series. As she pointed out, the actors are well beyond the ages they portray, and revealed that she is ready to "gracefully exit." She said, "It’s just always tricky, it’s different when you're playing a character that is sort of stuck in time. You know, we're playing 17-year-olds, and we're all almost 30, it is a bit weird."
Mackey added, "It’s a blessing because it is a launchpad, and it is something that has given us opportunities in different ways but it's something that I want to gracefully exit from, and be happy that it exists and protect it and enjoy it in the time that it has existed in but yeah, it needs to be left alone now I think. [...] We can all move on and take what we learned from Sex Ed as well because it has been a school, quite literally, for all of us. It's just wonderful to have had that education and to have that baptism of fire and to have just been flung into that whole world. I think it's made us stronger."
New season welcomes fresh cast members
Although some of the OGs might not be a part of the series, Netflix has announced a plethora of new stars joining the upcomming seasons, including Marie Reuther, Felix Mufti, Anthony Lexa, Alexandra James, Reda Elazouar, Bella Maclean, Imani Yashua and Thaddea Graham. The aforementioned stars were confirmed after 'Sex Education' writer Krishna Istha took to social media with a casting call for two trans roles.
'Sex Education' Season 4 currently has no set release window but is expected to premiere sometime this year.