Katherine Heigl reflects on leaving 'Grey's Anatomy': 'I did the right thing for me'

Katherine Heigl recently reflected on her exit from the show that made her a household name -- "Grey's Anatomy."

The medical drama, which premiered in 2005, scored Heigl an Emmy for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens.

She famously left the show in 2010, and the actress recently admitted to People, "I could have handled it with more grace."

Heigl left the series around the time Hollywood branded her for being "difficult" because she was unafraid to speak her mind about her projects.

One of her more infamous moments came in 2008, when nominated for her second consecutive Emmy Award for her work on "Grey's." Heigl requested for her nomination to be withdrawn because, "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant [the honor.]"

Looking back at that particular moment in her life, the 42-year-old admitted, "I know there's a better way to deal with those things than I did."

Despite that, Heigl says she hasn't lost sleep over relinquishing her cushy job on the ABC medical drama.

"I don't actually regret leaving 'Grey's Anatomy' -- I did the right thing for me and for my family," she expressed, saying it allowed her to spend quality time with her daughter Naleigh.

The one thing she does regret from her exit, however, is "the heightened drama I was feeling at that time."

In hindsight, Heigl said she learned an extremely important lesson from starring on Shonda Rhimes' show, noting, "Something else that experience taught me is that no matter how big an opportunity or how rewarding something is, there will be moments of struggle."

"There will be difficulties and disappointment and miscommunications, but you must learn how to manage those with grace instead of fear," she added.