Katherine Heigl to Leave Grey's Anatomy ... Briefly

Oft-maligned malcontent Katherine Heigl just got her wish.

The 30-year-old actress will be leaving Grey's Anatomy this fall. At least temporarily. She will be filming the omantic comedy Life as We Know It, reports say.

Grey’s Anatomy has worked around Heigl’s schedule before, but giving her an extended leave is a puzzling move - especially considering her recent behavior.

Katherine Heigl is known as much for disparaging remarks about the show as for her work on it (she won an Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy in 2007).

The temporary departure of her character, Izzie Stevens, "will be explained on screen," although it’s not yet clear how. Wonder if it ends up being permanent.

Katherine Heigl: So beautiful. So talented. So obnoxious.

Heigl’s departure, which starts this month, will likely coincide with her co-star Ellen Pompeo’s maternity leave, meaning that Grey’s Anatomy (which just bid farewell to George) will be without Izzie and Meredith at the same time.

Grey’s Anatomy executive producer Shonda Rhimes said that this will be a transitional season for the show, and "eventually, everybody is going to leave."

We just didn't think they'd be shedding cast members so fast.