Greys Anatomy alum Katherine Heigl portrayed Dr. Izzie Stevens from 2005 to 2010. Withdrawing from the Emmy Awards in 2008,Heigl went public withher disappointment in her storylines with tabloids reporting that she was angling to get out of her contract.

The actress voiced her frustration again regarding the prime time drama during an appearance on a late night talk show,stating that showsschedule demands were over the top.

When Heigls statements regarding the 2008 Emmys hit the headlines, the Greys star began developing a reputation for being difficult.

I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention, Heigl stated, according toEntertainment Weekly.In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.

Though she apologized to show creator Shonda Rhimes for her remarks, Heigls comments had already made their mark.

On some level, it stung and on some level I was not surprised, Rhimes toldOprah Winfrey in 2012of the actresss actions. When people show you who they are, believe them.

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By 2009, Heigl was already fielding film offers and juggling her schedule to fulfill her commitment to Greys. Starring alongside Gerard Butler in The Ugly Truth, both Heigl and Greys producers had to make some creative arrangements regarding her shooting time. Yet when Heigl made an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, the actress was quite vocal on her grueling work agenda.

Our first day back was Wednesday, she told Letterman in July 2009, according to Newsday. It was Im going to keep saying this because I hope it embarrasses them a 17-hour day, which I think is cruel and mean.

At the time, her characters fate was left hanging due to surgery for a brain tumor. You last saw Izzie, you know, flatlining, Heigl explained. So, I wont give it away, but, you know, Im there so Im either there as a ghost, on the other side, or I survived a disease no one survives.

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Letterman picked up on her comment, noting Im guessing if youre working 17 hours, that means youre not dead. Heigls responded saying, What if, however, Dave, I was in a bed in a coma for 17 hours? They could do that to me.

The brass at ABC didnt take too kindly to Heigls remarks, issuing some comments of their own.

I think its unfortunate, ABC entertainment presidentStephen McPhersonsaid, as reported by NBCLosAngeles.com. People are going to behave in the way they choose to behave. There are so many people who work so hard on Greys, and all of our shows, without any notoriety and those are the ones Id be concerned about, people who feel like theyre being criticized or looked down upon.

While show producers revealed that Heigls long work day was to accommodate her film schedule for The Ugly Truth, the actress wasnt completely convinced and felt she put a burden on the production crew.

If that is true, I really wish [the producers] had warned me. I would have forgone the talk shows, she told Entertainment Weekly in 2010. I asked the entire crew without really understanding that I was asking this to work a 17-hour day. And for them its much worse than just 17 hours. They get there an hour before us and they leave an hour after us. And they all have families they want to get home to. They dont get any of the attention and they dont get the paycheck.

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Heigl claimed she didnt get any flak after the interview when she returned to the set, though she did get appreciation from the crew. No one brought it up because I think they were all like, Ehh, Katie, the Greys alum recalled. But there were some members of the crew who actually thanked me for saying something because they cant say anything.

In January 2010, Heigls last episode of Greys Anatomy aired.

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'Grey's Anatomy:' Why Katherine Heigl Once Called Working Conditions 'Cruel and Mean' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet