Brooke Smith says she isn't holding a grudge after abruptly and controversially getting fired from the cast of ABC's Grey's Anatomy last month.

"It's an end of a chapter," the actress, 41, said over the weekend at the Trevor Project's 11th Annual Cracked Christmas event in Los Angeles.

"Grey's Anatomy was good experience," she added. "I'd played gay characters before, and I don't think that's going to end. There's no hard feelings. I have other projects now, so it is what it is."

Smith is now writing a new show with NYPD Blue producer David Milch.

Rumors swirled that Brooke Smith got the ax because her character was gay, but show creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes denied that in a statement, saying:

"Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian. Clearly it's not an issue as we have a lesbian character - Dr. Calliope Torres (Sara Ramirez)... we did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke's character would sustain in the long run."

Backing up Rhimes' remarks is the fact that intern Sadie (Melissa George) was flirting with Callie in the most recent episode, "All By Myself," while a new love interest, Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) is rumored to be joining the cast come Spring.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.