'I Left [Girlfriends] Because I Wanted To Do Movies.'

Jill Marie Jones is finally dishing on why she left CW11's black hit, Girlfriends, after six years of playing diva, Toni Childs.

In an interview with Essence, Jones explains her departure from Girlfriends was purely business and denies all rumors (started by Tracey Ellis Ross) that she left over a money squabble.

"My contract was up after my sixth season and people forget that just like the network can choose whether or not to renew your contract, I can also choose and evaluate whether or not I want to come back.", says Jones in the interview.

Originally from Texas, Jones equates working on a TV show as having a 9-5 job which doesn't allow for much traveling to do movies as she so desires. Since her departure from television, she's secured roles in the straight-to-DVD indie film, 'Redrum', 'Major Movie Star', where she co-stars with Jessica Simpson and 'The Comeback' which she is currently shooting in Lousiana.

When asked if she misses Girlfriends? Jones explains:

"I do miss Girlfriends. I don’t know if people know this, but Girlfriends was only my third audition. I booked my first audition for City Guys, a Saturday morning show. My second audition I didn’t book and then Girlfriends was my third, so you have to understand that I still very green to this industry and there was the whole film world that I didn’t know. So when I left Girlfriends after six years, there was just so much I wanted to know and do. I’ve just been having a ball having opportunities to do movies. It’s just been great."

To read more on this interview click here.