Loyal viewers of Grey’s Anatomy know that it requires a strong heart to be a fan as many beloved characters have left over the years—some more tragically than others.
As one of the original cast members, the departure of Dr. Izzie Stevens felt as painful as some of the procedures which the interns had to perform. More than a decade after hanging up her white coat, Katherine Heigl is now revealing what led to her decision as part of the new book by Lynette Rice titled How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy.
Although several rumors did the rounds, Heigl says that adopting her daughter Nancy Leigh and becoming a mother is what prompted her decision.
“I went on family leave and just got to be a mom, and it changed my whole perspective. It changed my desire to work full-time,” she explained.
Reports claimed that drama behind the scenes had caused then-showrunner Shonda Rhimes to write Izzie out, but the Firefly Lane actress confirmed Rhimes wanted to keep the new parent onboard, yet scheduling conflicts got in the way.
At least Izzie will live on in our hearts.
