The Knocked Up star has been rumored to be on the verge of quitting the medical drama for some time, after complaining about long work hours and the quality of writing for her character in the series -- and now she's taking a break.
Heigl, who has starred in big-screen romantic comedies 27 Dresses and The Ugly Truth, has been given permission to take a hiatus from the show that made her a star, so she can concentrate on shooting new movie Life As We Know It.
A spokesperson for Grey's Anatomy says, "Katherine is taking time off to film a movie. The producers at Grey’s have accommodated past things like that before. It’s a cast of 13 and it is a true ensemble, so the show is mindful (of other commitments)."
Heigl's hiatus comes just weeks after castmate and friend T.R. Knight was given permission to break his contract and leave the show to concentrate on theater projects.
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