When Ruby Rose initially announced that she will be leaving The CW’s Batwoman after just one season, she did not elaborate on a reason beyond a cryptic message on her Instagram post. But now, several months after the announcement and when it seems the dust has more or less settled, Rose has finally explained her reason for leaving the titular role of Batwoman.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rose detailed the many challenges she faced when filming for the drama, including needing to go for emergency surgery due to an injury suffered on-set in 2019.
“Being the lead of a superhero show is tough. [Laughs] Being the lead in anything is tough,” Rose revealed in her interview with EW. “But I think, in that particular instance, it was a lot more difficult because I was still recovering from my surgery. I had my surgery and then 10 days later I went to work, which maybe wasn’t the best idea. Most people take about a month or three off before they return to work, so it was definitely made more difficult by that. But as far as being a lead of a show or a film — regardless if it’s action or if it’s emotional — in whichever ways it’s taxing.”
The actress had to undergo surgery in 2019 after herniating two discs in her back from her intense stunt works on the show. Rose added that her decision to leave the show was not just due to her injury.
“It wasn’t so much [the injury], especially because after we wrapped up we didn’t get to finish the real finale because of COVID,” Rose said. “You know, you have time in quarantine and sort of isolation to just think about a lot of different things and what you want to achieve in life and what you want to do. I think for both [me and the producers], it was a great opportunity to have a dialogue about a lot of things. I respect them so much and they’ve been so respectful to me.”
Rose reiterated that despite the challenges she has faced while filming the show, she is proud to have played the first LGBTQ lead character in a live-action superhero series.
“I think it was actually a beautiful way to do something, especially since that was the first time it’s ever been done — the first time Batwoman has ever been played in live-action and that she was LGBTQ. I’m very honoured to have been able to play her.”
As for the next Batwoman, Ryan Wilder, played by Javicia Leslie, Rose states she is confident Leslie will be able to pull her off well.
“I think she definitely knows what she’s doing and she seems fantastic,” Rose shared. “I think that honestly, I was so proud and so happy when I was told who would be replacing me. I’m just really stoked and I’m definitely going to watch the next season as well and see how it all comes together.”
Batwoman season 2 is slated to debut in January 2021.