Heigl Confirms Grey's Anatomy Exit

The actress has been dogged by rumours of a departure from the show ever since she landed her breakthrough movie role in 2007's Knocked Up and went on to forge a promising film career away from the small screen.

Now after a three-month break from the series, Heigl has announced she won't be returning, so she can concentrate on raising her daughter Naleigh with her husband Josh Kelley after they adopted her from South Korea last year (09).

She tells Entertainment Weekly, "I am done. We just finalised our agreement. Everyone had been working really hard to find an amicable and gracious way of letting go and moving on. It's sad but it's what I wanted. I know I'm disappointing the fans. I just had to make a choice. I hope I made the right one."

Heigl last appeared on Grey's Anatomy in January (10).