Katherine Heigl - Heigl Clears Knocked Up Remarks

Greys Anatomy star Katherine Heigl has clarified recent comments in which she labelled her hit comedy Knocked Up as "a little bit sexist".

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the 29-year-old had said the film "paints the women as shrews, as humourless and uptight, and it paints the men as loveable, goofy, fun-loving guys.

"It exaggerated the characters," she added, "and I had a hard time with it, on some days. It was hard for me to love the movie."

But in a statement to People magazine, the actress has cleared up her thoughts on the comedy hit of the year.

"It's important to me to take a minute and clarify the quote about Knocked Up in Vanity Fair," she said. "I was responding to previous reviews about the movie the interviewer brought to my attention. My motive was to encourage other women like myself to not take that element of the movie too seriously and to remember that it's a broad comedy.

"Although I stand behind my opinion, I'm disheartened that it has become the focus of my experience with the movie. The truth is it was the best filming experience of my career."

She added: "Every person that was a part of making Knocked Up helped to encourage, support and inspire me. I never intended for anyone to think otherwise."

Knocked Up has grossed than $140 million (£69 million) after its US opening in June 2007.