As part of an interview on the Let’s Be Clear… with Shannen Doherty podcast, the headline-grabbing Emmys withdrawal was addressed. Doherty, who had her own much-discussed departures from Charmed and Beverly Hills, 90210, asked Heigl about the situation. In response, the Grey’s Anatomy alum underlines that she “wasn’t trying to be a dick,” elaborating on her decision and reflecting on whether she should have done it differently. Read the full quote below (via Cinemablend):
I didn’t, and everybody keeps saying that. I didn’t turn it down. 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. And I should, you know, I don’t know, my mother and I were talking about this recently. I should have said nothing. I should have said nothing. I should have just said ‘Oh I forgot,’ because it created such a maelstrom that was so unnecessary, and it really was.
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. 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 dick.
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Heigl also spoke out about Grey’s long work days, which stretched to 17 hours, and said it was “ cruel and mean. ”
Heigl has a point about withdrawing herself from the nomination process if she feels that her work does not warrant it. She is not alone in that regard. After being recognized for his performance on the original Night Court for four straight years, John Larroquette asked that he shouldn’t be considered for that particular sitcom. It allows other performers to be considered when the Emmys, in particular, are notorious for recognizing the same shows and the same usual performances, regardless of quality.
It’s worth noting, as Heigl herself mentions, that she was specifically unhappy about some of her storylines at the time. The actor referred to the Grey’s Anatomy season 3 affair between Izzie and George as a “ratings ploy.” These comments, and the Emmy withdrawal, reportedly angered writers and producers of the medical drama, although series creator Shonda Rhimes said she did not feel insulted by Heigl’s viewpoint. Heigl also spoke out about Grey’s long work days, which stretched to 17 hours, and said it was “cruel and mean.”
Heigl has not reprised the role of Izzie Stevens since her 2010 exit, though she has reunited with some of her Grey’s Anatomy co-stars off-screen, including a group reunion to present at the 2023 Primetime Emmys. There was also a measure of closure in terms of what happened to Heigl’s character during a season 16 episode, which uses a body double to preview Izzie’s life and her reunion with Alex Karev. With recent roles in Suits and Netflix’s Firefly Lane, Heigl remains open to coming back to the medical drama while sharing more of her perspective.
Grey’s Anatomy is available to stream on Hulu and Netflix.
