'Sex Education' star Emma Mackey won't return for season 5: 'I've said goodbye to Maeve'

• Emma Mackey said she won't be in "Sex Education" season five.
• The star plays Maeve Wiley in the Netflix series.

"Sex Education" fans are eagerly awaiting the fourth season of the Netflix series, but Maeve Wiley actor Emma Mackey has confirmed that she won't be in the fifth season.

Mackey won the Rising Star award at the 2023 BAFTAs Sunday for her roles in "Sex Education," "Eiffel," "Death on the Nile," and "Emily."

But when speaking to press, including Insider, after her win, Mackey was asked about whether she'll be back for "Sex Education" season five.

Mackey said: "Season five of 'Sex Education?' Bloody hell, I've just finished the fourth one, love — last week! No, I don't think so. I've said goodbye to Maeve. So it's a happy goodbye."

The 27-year-old star will next be seen in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" movie alongside Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and Simu Liu, although she previously said that she wished fans would stop comparing her to Robbie.

The news comes soon after Eric Effiong actor Ncuti Gatwa announced his departure from the show after season four, presumably because of his upcoming role as the 15th Doctor in the BBC's long-running science-fiction series, "Doctor Who."

Gatwa is also set to star alongside Mackey in "Barbie," although it's not clear who they're playing in the highly anticipated movie.

Since Netflix has finished production on the next batch of episodes, it seems likely that "Sex Education" season four will arrive on the platform towards the latter half of 2023. But Mackey and Gatwa aren't the only ones leaving the series.

A handful of other "Sex Education" actors are also not returning for season four, with "Bridgerton" star Simone Ashley leaving her role as Olivia Hanan behind. Tanya Reynolds and Patricia Allison are also not returning as fan-favorite couple Lily Inglehart and Ola Nyman.