Katherine Heigl talks Grey's Anatomy
Katherine Heigl is setting the record straight on her Grey's Anatomy departure all those years ago.
It was reported at the time that she simply refused to show up to work one day, however, she insists this isn't the truth.
Katherine played Dr. Izzie Stevens in Grey's Anatomy for the show's first six seasons.
Her departure from the medical drama was shrouded in controversy, with rumours swirling around of behind the scenes feuds.
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The actress sets the record straight in Lynette Rice's new book How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy.
In an exclusive excerpt published by The Daily Telegraph, Katherine revealed she left in order to be with her family.
'I started a family, and it changed everything,' she said.
'It changed my desire to work full-time,' Katherine continued.
'I went on family leave and just got to be a [mum], and it changed my whole perspective… that was really the turning point.'
'So before I was due back, I spoke again to Shonda about wanting to leave.'
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'Then I waited at home until I was given the formal OK that I was off the show.'
Rumours
'The rumours that I refused to return were totally untrue,' she insisted.
'[Creator Shonda Rhimes] wanted to try to figure out how I could do both [parenting and Grey’s], and I kind of wanted to do both.'
'There wasn’t a great way to compromise the work schedule that didn’t negatively affect the crew or the cast.'
'It wasn’t feeling fair to them or the show to ask them to bend around my needs.'
Katherine said accusations she was, 'ungrateful,' really bothered her, and she believes she, 'allowed [herself] to be perceived that way.'
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'So much about living life, to me, is about humility and gratitude.'
'And I’ve tried very hard to have those qualities and be that person, and I’m just so disappointed in myself that I allowed it to slip.'
'Of course I’m grateful. How can I not be?' Katherine said.
Grey's Anatomy season 18 is due out later this month, and Kate Walsh has confirmed she'll be reprising her role as Addison Forbes Montgomery.
Read more here.
