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Katherine Heigl: My Acting Career “Turned on Me,” I Felt Betrayed

Katherine Heigl on the cover of Marie Claire
Labeled by some as "difficult" to work with, Katherine Heigl is revealing that she once felt betrayed by her career in the August 2014 issue of Marie Claire UK

It all went downhill after Dr. Izzie Stevens left Seattle Grace Hospital.

After a scathing Hollywood Reporter story last year, in which insiders called her "difficult" to work with, Katherine Heigl reveals that she felt her acting career "betrayed" her and admits what mistakes she may have made along the way.

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"The thing that was my best friend for a long time [my career] suddenly turned on me. And I didn't expect it," the 35-year-old said in Marie Claire UK's August issue. "I was taken by surprise and angry at it for betraying me."

Heigl's Hollywood reputation arguably began its descent back in June 2008, when she opted not to put her name in for consideration for an Emmy for her work in Grey's Anatomy. In a statement, she said that she was not "given the material this season to warrant" such an honor. (She exited the ABC medical drama two years later.)

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According to Heigl, however, her fluffy slew of feature films was the real culprit for her career downturn. "I had an amazing time. I love romantic comedies. But maybe I hit it a little too hard. I couldn't say no," said the star, who saw decreasing commercial and critical returns after the successes of flicks like Knocked Up and 27 Dresses. "I stopped challenging myself. It became a bit by rote and, as a creative person, that can wear you down. That was part of why I took that time off, to ask myself, 'What do I want? What am I looking for?' and shut down all the noise." (Some of her flops included The Ugly Truth and Life as We Know It.)

Unbeknownst to the actress, things would just get worse. In September 2013, Tinsletown insiders told The Hollywood Reporter that she was "not worth" working with because of her demands. One source told THR that Heigl had constant "wardrobe issues," frequently refused to leave her trailer, and was "questioning the script every single day," one source said. Last December, Forbes also listed her as one of the most overpaid actors.

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All that backlash from over the years eventually took its toll. "Oh yeah, I had a moment where, I don't know, I was thinking I'd maybe open a knitting store, get my money out of retirement accounts and live off that, live off the land," Heigl told Marie Claire. "I had my moment where it all seemed so complicated and all I wanted to do was simplify."

The star lives part time in Utah with her singer husband Josh Kelley and their two adopted daughters Naleigh, 4, and Adalaide, 2, but hasn't been able to let go of the spotlight just yet.

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"There's a part of me that's a Hollywood animal as well," Heigl continued. "I can't wait to get into the writer's room and see how we do this. I feel like I'm finally rolling into the next phase of my adulthood."

Indeed, she also appears to be taking her own advice now. Up next, she's playing Alexis Bledel's love interest in the indie film Jenny's Wedding. She's also returning to TV in the highly-anticipated NBC series State of Affairs.

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