why did ellen barkin leave animal kingdom

Ellen Barkin left the TV series "Animal Kingdom" because she wanted to exit the show from almost the beginning and had been asking to leave for about four years. Despite her repeated requests, she was not allowed to leave and was kept on much longer than she desired. The show's producers initially did not write her character out, likely because the series heavily relied on her portrayal of Smurf, the complex matriarch. Barkin expressed frustration about the lack of agency she had in this decision, contrasting her experience with that of co-star Scott Speedman, who was allowed to exit earlier. She also felt sidelined when the show cast a younger version of her character for flashbacks, which reduced her screen time. Furthermore, Barkin described the working environment as unpleasant, including instances of men screaming at her on set, contributing to her desire to leave. Her character was eventually written out in a dramatic death by her grandson in Season 4.