Hilarie Burton Doesn't Have Any Regrets Leaving 'One Tree Hill' When She Did

Hilarie Burton left One Tree Hill in season 6 alongside Chad Michael Murray, and doesn’t regret her decision to leave the popular series.

Speaking with former co-star Jana Kramer on her podcast, Whine Down, the 37-year-old actress shared that her character, Peyton’s storyline came to a close just how she liked it.

“I was very happy with that,” Hilarie shared. “Chad and I had been in the pilot and we had been setting up the whole Lucas—Peyton star cross lovers thing the whole time on the show so I was really happy with that happy ending and the marriage and the baby. The family was complete and that’s what both characters were looking for.”

She added that both characters got the “nuclear family that they had always been craving. And frankly, I was a little concerned that if I stayed on the show, it would get messed with for dramatic purposes. Sometimes, it’s better to cut out in a good spot.”

“I don’t regret that at all,” Hilarie added. “I knew that I needed to start something new. It was time. I had a big chip on my shoulder and I just needed to put it down.”

Lucas and Peyton departed the series in season 6 with their baby and weren’t seen on the show after that again.

If you missed it, Hilarie recently reunited with Chad and James Lafferty earlier this year. See the selfie!