After six wonderful years playing Emily Prentiss, I have decided it's time for me to move on. As much as I will miss my Criminal Minds family, I am excited about the future and other opportunities.

When I was asked to leave, I left... Then they made me come back. I did, and I decided to enjoy it. It was one year. I care about everyone at 'Criminal Minds' but I knew, in my heart, I had left.

I'm not saying anything to denigrate 'Criminal Minds'; that's a great show. I just didn't appreciate it anymore. I appreciate those people, but I realized my heart wasn't in and I needed to go because plenty of people would rip their arm off to be on that show, so they should be.

I really didn't feel challenged anymore. I wanted to learn something and be excited again... While it can be a family - that environment is actually a family - in the sense that also you sometimes hate each other, you can't stand being around each other and grudges are held... I was getting cranky on 'Criminal Minds.

I've reached the point where I really can't care what anyone thinks. Of course, I do. I'm an actress. I'm totally insecure, but I'm trying to stick to my guns about what is important to me, and it doesn't matter what anyone thinks I should or shouldn't do.

After six wonderful years playing Emily Prentiss, I have decided it's time for me to move on. As much as I will miss my Criminal Minds family, I am excited about the future and other opportunities.

I had a stalker who was extremely violent. He broke into the studio with knives and I was locked in a bathroom.