Lindsey Shaw left Pretty Little Liars after five seasons. She was 'let go' over her drug use.

Pretty Little Liars star Lindsey Shaw has opened up about why she left the show during the fifth season.

Shaw, who is known for previously starring in Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, joined the popular teen drama series in the first season.

Her character Paige became a major supporting character when she starts dating one of the leads, Emily (played by Shay Mitchell).

However, in the fifth season, Shaw's character leaves the show, moving to California to get away from the drama.

Lindsey Shaw and Shay Mitchell in Pretty Little Liars. Image: ABC.

During the latest episode of Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide, the 34-year-old actress shared she was actually "let go" from Pretty Little Liars.

Shaw told her former Nickelodeon co-stars Devon Werkheiser and Daniel Curtis Lee that she was struggling with her relationship with food which led to a drug problem.

"When I had my drug problem and I was in between working on stuff, I would never have to address my relationship with food because it was like, I could always just go get more Adderall and be okay with it," she said.

"I got basically let go from Pretty Little Liars in season five because of the weight that I had lost, and it was really an embarrassing thing.

"I didn't look good too skinny and then when I started to put the weight back on, I couldn't handle being too heavy, so it kind of played into this dumb cycle."

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Shaw recalls the series creator I. Marlene King asking her to leave the show.

"It was so bad. I got called into [the] Pretty Little Liars creator's office," Shaw said. 

"And she was just like, 'So we're gonna let you go.' She was like, 'It's not because of your acting, but do you have anybody to talk to?' And I was like, 'No.' She's like, 'Well, find somebody,' and 'We have to let you go now.'"

Shaw added that she was "so much happier" now.

"There are things that I enjoy so much about my body now that I can't put words to," she said. 

"I'm starting to be able to, like, step away from or forgive and appreciate and accept. That was a wild time, and it kind of brought me here to where I am now. 

"And for better, for worse, whatever happens in the future, like, this is the only life that I can be living."

Shaw also shared on the podcast how grateful she was that the Pretty Little Liars team brought her back in the final season to bring closure to her and Shay Mitchell's characters. 

"It was really sweet, because they brought me back in season seven," she said. 

"It was so lovely of that writing team to just see that relationship and that character out. But that was rough."

She added: "They did me so right bringing me back for season seven and just letting me say goodbye. 

"I will never forget that."

For help and support for eating disorders, contact the Butterfly Foundation’s National Support line and online service on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673).

Feature image: ABC.