‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star questions quality of show

By Matthew B. Zeidman

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 6/12/08 – Katherine Heigl may have won an Emmy for her role as a model-turned-doctor on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” last year, but this year she wants no part of it. The actress questioned the quality of the show’s script, while explaining her decision not to seek a nomination.

“I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination,” Heigl, 29, said in a written statement, “and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention. In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.”

Heigl’s character, Izzie Stevens, spent the recent season (season four) almost exclusively navigating romantic entanglements. However, season two featured Stevens falling in love with a heart patient and purposely causing his condition to worsen, risking his life, to give him priority for a transplant about to be given to another patient. The season after dealt with Stevens’ grief over his death, her decision to continue in the medical field, her donation of bone marrow to a young cancer patient she gave up for adoption and her involvement with a married co-worker.

Though “Grey’s Anatomy” has made her a household name, Heigl is an industry veteran, having landed her first starring role in 1994, playing Gérard Depardieu’s headstrong daughter with a penchant for deception in “My Father the Hero.” The following year, she portrayed the resentful niece of Steven Seagal in the action sequel “Under Siege 2: Dark Territory,” and in 1999, she began a three-season stint as one of several aliens with miraculous abilities on The WB’s (and later UPN’s) “Roswell,” where she was joined by “Lost” castaway Emilie de Ravin during season two.