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Heigl began modeling as a child and appeared in TV commercials. She made her film debut in 'That Night' (1992) and took on minor roles in several films. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles to focus on her acting career.
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After gaining recognition as "Isabel" in the cult-hit series 'Roswell' (1999–2002), Heigl transitioned into television movies, including 'Love Comes Softly' (2003) and its sequel, 'Love’s Enduring Promise' (2004). Her breakthrough role came in 2005 when she was cast as "Dr. Isobel Izzie Stevens" in the medical drama 'Grey’s Anatomy'.
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The dramatic series 'Grey’s Anatomy', created by Shonda Rhimes, follows the lives of surgical interns and quickly became a massive success, propelling Katherine Heigl to stardom. Her portrayal of "Dr. Izzie Stevens" earned her an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2007. After five seasons on the hit show, Heigl departed in 2010.
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Beyond television, Katherine Heigl built her presence in feature films, but her breakout moment on the big screen came with Judd Apatow's 'Knocked Up'.
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This unconventional romantic comedy stars Heigl as an entertainment reporter whose life takes an unexpected turn after a drunken one-night stand with a slacker, played by Seth Rogen.
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In 2007, Katherine and her mother, Nancy Heigl, co-founded the production company Abishag. Katherine has since served as an executive producer on several film and TV projects she also starred in. Under Abishag, they developed and produced the CIA espionage series 'State of Affairs' for NBC, where Katherine played the lead role alongside Alfre Woodard.
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Outside of her acting career, Katherine co-founded the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation with her mother, Nancy, in 2008 to combat animal cruelty, neglect, and abuse. The nonprofit has rescued over 8,000 dogs from high-kill shelters and funded 25,000 spay and neuter surgeries.
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Katherine married to singer-songwriter Josh Kelley. The couple has three children: daughters Nancy Leigh Mi-Eun and Adalaide Marie Hope, and a son, Joshua Bishop Kelley.
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In 2022, Katherine launched Badlands Ranch, a premium dog nutrition brand named after her family ranch, supporting animal welfare through sponsorship of the Heigl Foundation. She also actively supports children’s charities, promotes adoption and fostering, and raises awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.
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Katherine starred alongside Sarah Chalke in Netflix's adaptation of the best-selling novel 'Firefly Lane'. The hit drama, which she also executive produced, attracted over 49 million viewers in its first month and returned for a second season in late 2022.
Katherine Heigl has had an amazing journey from young actress to Hollywood star.
This gallery shows highlights from her career, including her time on 'Grey’s Anatomy', red carpet looks, and personal moments. Take a look at her story through these pictures.