Katherine Heigl Released From "Grey's Anatomy" Contract

Katherine Heigl is leaving "Grey's Anatomy." The 31-year-old actress, who plays Dr. Izzie Stevens on the ABC medical series, has reportedly been released from her contract after a long hiatus from the show.

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EW reports that creator Shonda Rhimes finally agreed to let go of the actress, who has been known to diss the show every chance she gets.

Heigl has been absent from the show more than half of the current season to shoot a movie and spend more time with her and husband Josh Kelley's adopted daughter, Nancy Leigh. She was supposed to be back on set on March 1 to film the five remaining episodes of the season, but she was nowhere in sight.

A source told EW that the actress was "at home and ready to return to work," but another insisted that "it's much more complicated than that."

Talks between Heigl and the network have reportedly been on the table for months. It was just last week when the two camps mutually decided to part ways now instead of waiting for the season to end.

Heigl's "Grey's Anatomy" life wasn't always peachy. In 2008, she refused to submit her name for the Emmy Award race because she felt the writers did not give her material that warranted a nomination.

She also complained to David Letterman last year that the show forced her into a "cruel and mean" working condition when they let her work for 17 hours in one day.