Reports of Katherine Heigl's exit from Grey's Anatomy have been greatly exaggerated, and that comes straight from the actress's mouth. Heigl's staying on Grey's Anatomy for the foreseeable future.

In recent weeks, since choosing not to submit her name for Emmy consideration because she was critical of the material she had this past season, speculation has been that the star wants out of the show. Fueling the fire is the fact that in the past year, thanks to Knocked Up (and a lot less to 27 Dresses), Ms. Heigl's getting many, many offers to jump to the big screen full time.

Life & Style caught up with her last week at L.A.'s Hotel Cafe, where she was watching her husband Josh Kelly, performing. When asked if she would be on Grey's this season, she said, "Of course, absolutely. Those people are like my family." She described the set as a happy, joyful place where there's lots of laughter despite the serious storylines they're playing.

Well, what do they think she was going to say? She's contracted for the 2008-9 season and is already filming episodes. If there's no actor's strike -- we hope -- she's committed to playing Izzie unless and until the producers choose to write her out.

Heigl strikes me as a smart cookie. If she does want to move on, she'd be wise to work with Shonda Rhimes to come up with a way to write Izzie out that's beneficial to both her and the show. It's happened on other shows in a positive way, remember George Clooney and ER?

He actually came back (for a scene) to help Juliana Margulies when she left the show. The bottom line is this, you get more with honey than you do with vinegar, so I suggest Heigl think things out carefully before coming to a decision, then playing nice to get what she wants. Whatever that is. Grey's Anatomy has been good to her. Thanks to that show, she's now an Emmy-award winner. Sure, she earned it, but they gave her the stage.

[via TVTattle]