Katherine Heigl: I'll Stay If 'Grey's' Will Have Me

LOS ANGELES — Katherine Heigl said Friday she's ready to stay with "Grey's Anatomy" and the decision rests with the show.

Attending a studio party to mark the ABC medical drama's 100th episode, Heigl said it's premature to think her days as Dr. Izzie Stevens are numbered.

"I was assuming that at one point and I got a lot of shrugged shoulders and shakes of the head, so I don't know if that's a yes or a no. No one will tell me and I don't know how this is going to go," Heigl said, noting series creator Shonda Rhimes' passion for plot secrecy.

"I don't know if I live or die. I don't know how Izzie fares," said the actress, who's played the character since the show debuted in 2005.

"I'm there" if Izzie remains part of "Grey's Anatomy," Heigl said. She called the set "one of my favorite places to be" and said her colleagues are also friends.

She and fellow cast members, including Ellen Pompeo (Dr. Meredith Grey) and Patrick Dempsey (Dr. Derek Shepherd), were on hand for the celebration that included a cake decorated with scalpels and syringes made out of icing.

Rhimes, who's also an executive producer for the show, called the milestone a "huge accomplishment" and thanked the cast and crew for their efforts.

In an interview, she dropped a tantalizing clue about the episode airing May 7.

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"The only thing I'll tell you about the 100th is that it takes place on Meredith and Derek's wedding day," Rhimes said. "That's big ... and that's all I'm going to say."

On Thursday's episode, Izzie was seen surviving brain surgery. There's been speculation that Heigl wants to pursue her blossoming film career ("Knocked Up," the upcoming "The Ugly Truth") full-time, and that her character might be killed off.

Rhimes declined comment on what would happen to Heigl's character.

Last month, fellow cast member James Pickens Jr. said Heigl was leaving the show, along with T.R. Knight, both of whom declined comment at the time. Knight missed the studio party because he'd previously scheduled the day off, an ABC spokeswoman said.

On Friday, Heigl said she's comfortable balancing movies and TV by working on big-screen projects during the summer hiatus for "Grey's Anatomy."

"I'm more than happy to make that compromise. As my agent likes to say, 'High-class problems,'" Heigl said.

"I don't know if I want to continue for five years working 12 months a year, but I can take at least another year or two," she said.

Dempsey said he intends to fulfill the remaining two years on his contract with "Grey's Anatomy and "then we'll see what happens after that."

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On the net:

http://www.abc.go.com

Comments

[Aoede]

She is excruciatingly overrated. Go, stay. Whatever. I stopped watching after season 2.

[politicsandamericanpie]

Even if we discount the
Heigl made her bed last year when she took her name out of Emmy consideration as the writers had not given her "Emmy-worthy material" (and that WASN'T from any tabloids that was from interviews given directly by Ms. Heigl herself.) The writers then cooked up the whole Dead Denny-Crazy Izzy storyline which we've been saddled with this entire season and that has taken over the show. She did nothing but bad-mouth the show last year when she had full-production movies coming out but this year when budgets are tighter all-around suddenly she wants to stay in the Grey's Anatomy family. SHE wanted to fly the coup, I say give her wing and push her out of the nest. We've all suffered enough for her tamtrums.

[masha2008]

heigl is now eating the proverbial humble pie.

she has dissed the people around her and now realizes, outside of grey's, she really has no career to speak of unless she kisses judd apatow's a s s first.

[deadalus]

I was Ms. Heigl's dog walker on the set of "27 Dresses" and I am delighted to tell you that humble isn't the only kind of pie she eats.

[DougNTexas]

I guess I missed the other pie deal. Want to explain what the other pie means?

[sweetwhine]

Didn't she also diss the movie "Knocked Up"?

[AJ39]

This show was so much fun its first season. Second season I watched only because I'd committed to it during the first season. After that, I gave up. Truly trashy. I'm so tired of the immature, childish "smart" doctors with their ridiculous personal lives. I watched one show this season when its story overlapped with "Private Practice." Heigl seems to be an intelligent person but the character she plays is tiresome, as are they all. Let the show die.

[bluguy8]

of corse she wants to stay--she really can make a movie a success with her name. She's isn't a great actress. She is a tv actress . And even then the women of shows like Brothers & Sisters run rings around her.Time to take some acting lessons

[RedStateCenterLeft]

Seriously, last year when Heigl didn't want any of her stuff placed in nomination, she was right. It was junk.

This year, she has some of the best stuff on the show. Her character is incredibly likable. Yeah, she's hot, too. She's very worthy of Emmy consideration this year. Definitely a reason to DVR the show while watching CSI.

[jaymcb]

Likable? I guess if you like self centered people. She lost any Emmy chances by calling out the writers.

[firewmn]

**
CAN Izzy..!!.. Her acting is bad and the character is a big baby.. get rid of the cancer growing.. end her character with a blood clot from somthing else not Derek's surgery.. He can't take it anymore..

[YeahDonkey]

What a difference a bad economy will do for your attitude.

The only good movie she has ever been in was Knocked Up, of course after filming she trashed the movie and her character in it, thanks for nothing Aptow.

Then she wants off Greys (terrible show, don't blame her) but after a couple of staring vehicles that bombed, now she want's to stay on the show she was trashing before( again, terrible show).

What a difference a bad economy will do for an actor.

[lioness39]

What a difference no charisma can make. Katherine is not nearly as hot as she thinks she is IMHO.

[jaymcb]

Amen.

[PwnedByJesus]

You're right. This is clearly an indication of her insecurity over her viability as an actress when times are tough for all industries. She is basically a one-trick pony: romantic comedies. Other than that, I don't see her doing much else.

[MochasMom]

I like her and I like Izzie (and Alex). I hope she stays.

[DFL]

She likes looking like a classy lady and not like a man.

[Goliadkin]

Looks like she is getting some humility. That's always nice to see.

[chaserblue]

My word...the snarling and hissing in this thread would put the meanest of cat fights to shame. What is wrong with you people??? Jealous much?? So what? She made something of herself. GOOD FOR HER! Wow...some of you people seriously need a life. What did she ever do to any of you personally to deserve this kind of venom and anger? You people should hold a mirror up to all that sniping and figure out why you feel the need to attack someone that has never once in their entire life done anything to harm you...glad I don't know any of you people personally.

[rob2007]

The national pastime in America is tearing down stars, then building them up again. The only thing Hollywood likes more than a train-wreck flame-out, is a comeback. The entire non-acting/non-star society (most everybody) is jealous and spiteful of their salaries. No less than humanitarian serial adopter Angelina Jolie claimed that "they pay me ridiculous sums of money to do what I do." Tom Cruise made $200,000,000.00 for MI3 not counting ancillary payouts for overseas distribution and stupid dolls and such. Johnnie Depp was cut a $350,000.00 check after each day of filming "Public Enemies." Most people cannot get their heads around such stratospheric amounts, they get angry they're not on the receiving end of such largesse, and it comes out sideways as anger. I just so happens you are more evolved than the masses. Even so, two hundred mil for a Tom Cruise project should be obscene by anyone's standards.

[MiniMogul]

Why do you assume money is at the root of the Heigl backlash? I disagree. You know, some folks out here among the great unwashed are functional and happy. It's not a money issue. It's an ungrateful, arrogant, brat issue. Some of us are tired of ungrateful, arrogant, brats in general and Heigl in particular. If you follow pop culture, you'll understand that celebs are not to be envied. Many (not all, but many) are messed up, mentally (ego, paranoia, low self esteem, etc) , physically (anorexia, bulimia, drug and alcohol problems, etc.) and spiritually (money, fame and access are their god). All the money in the world can't make up for what many of these folks fundamentally lack: character, boundaries, humility and values. That's my take on it...

[masha2008]

she exposed herself to be an arrogant woman and she's getting the feedback for it. if she doesnt want the attention then she should quit.

anyway, any kind of attention whether negative or positive, is good for her. she'll be in danger if she's not talked about at all. that's why these "stars" need to be thankful for paparazzi: they keep interest in them alive, and that keeps them in the limelight.

[Jofrbe]

Seems like many people are looking to dump their malice wherever they can find a receptacle for it. In my experience when I judge someone's else's supposed ego it is always my ego looking to feel superior. In fact it's my ego judging the people who are judging.

[deadalus]

These Philistines wouldn't know true talent if it d*ck slapped them in the face. For six glorious months I was Miss Heigl's personal shopper. And let me tell you, that girl had no qualms about instructing me to demand a full refund on a $25,000 Armani gown even though the dress was a Rorschach test of mysterious stains. She is a pro.

[baka432]

I don't understand, is that good? That she's cheap?

[reininop]

A little later you claimed to be her dog walker. A little obsessed perhaps?

[ChiGuy]

It's astonishing how many on this thread THINK they know everything about Heigl and the things that have gone on in her career, both in front of and behind the cameras.

It just goes to show that there are A LOT more mo_rons gobbling up the tripe offered by entertainment gossipers than would be willing to admit.

And as for the a'ttacks on her physical appearance?
Well, you either need help with your own low self-esteem, or you need this:

www.pearlevision.comsion.com

[ChiGuy]

Sorry
http://www.pearlevision.com

Hope it helps.

[baka432]

Most of the stuff that people cite as a reason for not liking her come directly from the girl's mouth. I'll be the first to admit I'd love to be rich, but girl is rude.

[iamrightagain]

I actually liked her in Knocked up.....I stoped watching Grey's after the first year...I thought it got too stupid....go figure.

Although knocked up is a pretty silly movie, I thought she actually demonstrated some very subtle comedic ability. Go Katherine!

[Mattie]

I also stopped after the first year, everyone was so whiny, it just turned really dumb. I didn't see knocked up, maybe I'll give it a try. I liked the Seven Dresses, not sure if I got the name right, but it was the one where she was the bridesmaid all the time.

[DougNTexas]

Yeah I liked it at first, but I have a ton of nurses in my family and the story board just wasn't believable. Secondly a few of the Actors are terrible. But then again, that applies to 95% of all Television and 75% of movies Actors. Movies and Television Stars are not of the caliber they used to be 30/40 years ago. Now days good looks counts for talent.

[TigersEye]

I'm not a fan but I think if she has a good thing with the show she should stick with it.