Katherine Heigl will likely not be returning to Grey's Anatomy.

The actress portrayed Dr. Izzie Stevens on the popular ABC show, which she starred in from 2005 to 2010. She left to focus on her family, but also made some seemingly controversial comments about the programme such as that the material she had to work with was not worthy of an Emmy Award.

Katherine recently said she would love to go back and see where Izzie is now, but show creator Shonda Rhimes has appeared to disregard that idea.

"I think it was really nice to hear her appreciating the show. We are on a track we have been planning, and the idea of changing that track is not something we are interested in right now," she told TV Guide, when asked if Katherine would be welcomed back.

Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey also appear in Grey's Anatomy. Patrick caused a storm last year when he said the current eighth series would be his last comments he later claimed were taken out of context.

Shonda is refusing to discuss which stars will be returning for the next season.

"I have no idea. I have my fingers crossed," she replied, when asked if Ellen and Patrick would be back. "What I think is really lovely is that everybody wants to come back. There's [money] stuff happening. I am [confident], but I have a plan in place for the finale that can occur regardless of who is staying. Our goal is to have Derek and Meredith move in to the completed dream house. [The home the pair's characters have been building through the show]. And our residents will be interviewing for jobs all around the country."

Appearing on a US talk show in January, Katherine explained how much her time on Grey's Anatomy meant to her. She also revealed she misses the show, which helped launch her movie career.

"Oh yeah, sometimes [I regret leaving]. You miss it... I miss it. I miss my friends. It was a great work environment in that we all got along really well, and it becomes a family. I spent six years with these people every day We grew up in a way," she said.