During a sit-down with Shannen Doherty, the actress sets the record straight about her alleged refusal of an Emmy nomination for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on 'Grey's Anatomy'.
- Jun 29, 2024
AceShowbiz - Katherine Heigl is setting the record straight about her supposedly turning down an Emmy nomination for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on "Grey's Anatomy". She recently addressed the long-standing rumor on the "Let's Be Clear" podcast with host Shannen Doherty.
During the podcast appearance, Doherty praised Heigl's perseverance both as a woman and as an actor. The host mentioned that she doesn't know anyone in Hollywood who has ever turned down an Emmy nomination, hinting at the narrative that has followed Heigl since 2008. Back then, Heigl faced backlash for seemingly inferring she turned down a nomination for her performance on the beloved ABC medical drama. At the time, Heigl controversially stated, "I do not feel I was given the material this season to warrant a nomination."
After years of speculation, the 45-year-old actress is clearing up the misconception. "Well, I didn't [turn down an Emmy nomination] and everybody keeps saying that. I didn't turn it down," Heigl clarified. "You know, you have to submit yourself. You have to submit your work and then they deliberate and then they decide if they want to give you a nomination. I just didn't submit my work that year... I should have said nothing."
Heigl continued, "I was kind of trying to make a bit of a snarky point about my material that year, but I was also just not feeling my material. I didn't think I had anything that warranted even the consideration for a nomination. I just wasn't proud of my work. I would never be so bold or so arrogant to turn down a nomination." She further conveyed her regrets, admitting, "I would take that nomination if it came my way. I'd be down. But I just knew there wasn't anything that would really warrant one that year, and I was trying to be honorable. I guess I was trying to have some integrity. I wasn't trying to be a d**k."
The tensions between Heigl and "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes eventually reached a breaking point in 2010. Both parties agreed to release Heigl from her contract, with her final appearance as Izzie Stevens airing on January 21, 2010. Heigl made a surprise cameo in season 16, which thrilled fans.
Last year, Heigl and her "Grey's Anatomy" co-star Ellen Pompeo sat down for Variety's "Actors on Actors" series to discuss her controversial exit. Reflecting on the past, Heigl described herself as "so naive" in how she handled the situation. "There was no part of me that imagined a bad reaction," she said. "I felt really justified in how I felt about it and where I was coming from."
Recently, Heigl reunited with her co-stars at the Primetime Emmy Awards in January. Despite the difficulties of getting the cast together, she expressed excitement over the event. "It's hard," she admitted about the reunion logistics. "I came in from Utah Sunday and then came here and did a rehearsal with them."
