Grey's 'failed to deliver'

2008-06-12 11:15

Lynn Elber

Los Angeles - Katherine Heigl will not be chewing her manicure at this year's Emmy ceremony: She says she did not seek a nomination because Grey's Anatomy failed to deliver the goods for an award-worthy performance.

Heigl, who was honoured as best supporting actress in a drama last year for the ABC series, declined to put her name in consideration for a bid, a spokesperson for the actress said on Wednesday.

"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 organisation" decided against competing, Heigl said in a written statement from her publicist, Melissa Kates, who was contacted by the AP.

"In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials," added Heigl. She plays Dr Izzie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy, which slipped in the ratings this past season but remained a top 10 show.

An after-hours message left with a publicist for Grey's Anatomy creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes was not immediately returned on Wednesday night.

Heigl, who shot to box office success with the comedy Knocked Up, has established herself as one of Hollywood's rare voices of candor.

In a Vanity Fair magazine interview published in January, she called the hit film "a little sexist" and said that it painted women as "shrews, as humourless and uptight", while the male characters were lovable and goofy.

Heigl also was outspoken when Grey's castmates Isaiah Washington and TR Knight clashed last year over Washington's alleged use of a homophobic slur.

"I'm going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public. Period," Heigl said at one point of Washington, who ended up being booted from the medical drama.

Nominations for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced on July 17. The ceremony is on September 21.

- AP