Sasha Alexander left NCIS after only two seasons due to the demanding schedule and long hours required by the show. In a 2012 interview, Alexander explained that the grueling commitment of making 24 episodes a year, often working 17-hour days for 10 and a half months, was unsustainable for her.
Despite the difficulty of leaving such a popular show, Alexander doesn’t regret her decision, believing it led her to a happier personal and professional life. Since leaving NCIS, she has pursued various roles in both television and film, with her most notable post-NCIS role being as Maura Isles in Rizzoli & Isles, alongside Angie Harmon.