Katherine Heigl on the diva criticism: “It’s important to be honest”

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I’m seriously starting to wonder if the stylists and editors over at Harper’s Bazaar have something of a Grace Kelly fetish. They got their hands on yet another blonde cover girl – this time Katherine Heigl – and made her look very Grace Kelly-ish. They did the same thing with Gwyneth Paltrow for her Harper’s photo shoot. Well, Goopy’s was Grace Kelly-meets-Lady-of-the-manor. For Heigl, they just gave her some dogs to play with. Just as well, Heigl loves dogs. She has six dogs! She also loves her daughter, Naliegh, and Heigl talks a lot about Naleigh in the interview (full piece here):

On rescuing puppies: She heads to an outdoor deck, leaving Naleigh to watch The Backyardigans with her husband, singer Josh Kelley, and Mojo, one of their six dogs. For the moment, the rest of the pack is at the park, so the house is relatively quiet. When Katherine found Mojo on the set of 27 Dresses, Josh told her no more dogs. “I started crying,” says Katherine, who everyone calls Katie. “I said, ‘Where’s your heart? Where’s your soul? I’m supposed to be marrying you, and you don’t know who I am by now,’ and he’s like, ‘Fine, just take the dog. Jesus.'”

On Naleigh’s medical condition: Though Naleigh has been described in the press as special-needs, she was actually born with a congenital heart problem that was fixed via open-heart surgery before she left Korea. “Her heart is 100 percent fine now. She has a scar, so she won’t be wearing bikinis, which is fine by us,” Katherine explains, unembarrassed by her overprotectiveness. “A lot of children don’t find forever homes because they’re on that special-needs list, even if it’s because of something as simple as her mother smoked cigarettes for a month, not knowing she was pregnant. That’s not so huge that you couldn’t handle it.”

On working with babies in her new film Life as We Know It: “It was crazy, because as my character was learning how to take care of a one-year-old, I was too. But as I was working with these gorgeous little triplets who play my child, I was feeling bad that I was spending more time with them than with my own kid. And that broke my heart.”

Spending three months solid with her husband Josh Kelley, the most time they’ve spent together all the way through: “There were a good few weeks when I almost smothered him with his pillow,” she says. But that’s marriage, she adds: “two people with totally different lives and totally different experiences just trying to fit.”

On the diva criticisms, or why she‘s a loud-mouth: “I spent so many years just saying what I felt without thinking about the ramifications, without understanding that I have this opinion but not everyone might share that opinion and now they don’t like me because of it. That was really awkward. I hate it when people say this, but I’m a people pleaser. I was really raised with the idea that it’s important to be honest and to share your experiences, both disappointing and exhilarating. But sometimes I think the American public just wants to see my life as good fortune. They don’t want to know about the day-to-day. It ruins the fantasy. It’s lame to say that I’m a normal girl, but I think I am.”

On competing with other celebrity moms: She also finds it a challenge to keep up with the fashions of fellow celebrities’ daughters, like Suri Cruise or Zahara Jolie-Pitt. “Dude, I try, but I’m not nailing the baby fashion. It’s intimidating. I get beautiful outfits from Gap and baby Juicy, but I’m not layering it or putting her in Prada flats. It’s really stressing me out.” She also doesn’t want her daughter to grow up to be a spoiled rich kid. “I want her privilege to afford her to seek many different things that might fulfill her. I don’t want her to have a Beemer on her 16th birthday or spend the summer at a beach house with friends. Nope. You want a beach house, you pay for it.”

On Hollywood: “High school on steroids.” She and Kelley are considering a move to Nashville so he can be closer to his country-music career.

Dreams for Naleigh: Perhaps Naleigh will become “a Korean country-music star. That’d be sick,” she laughs. “I know she’s going to get pushed into music.”

On her relationship with her mom: “The relationship I have with my mother is rare, and I know for some people it looks like I’m a real mama’s girl. I never cut the apron strings, but that’s one thing I will never deny. It has saved me.”

Ashton Kutcher… “looks so hot with his shirt off.”

Plans for the future: “Now it’s time to reevaluate and grow up. I hope by my mid-30s, I get to the point where I don’t doubt myself. I’m going to make mistakes and say stupid things, but I won’t have to sit in a room in the dark and wonder, ‘Am I a bad person?’ It will be ‘Okay, Katie, enough with the drama.'”

[From Harper’s Bazaar]

Eh. I really do have moments when I actually like her, like when she talking about her dogs or her baby. I think that part of her is genuine. But I also think she is a self-absorbed, narcissistic, loud-mouthed, unprofessional, shoot-herself-in-the-foot diva. And it’s not just “saying stupid things”. Megan Fox says stupid things. Megan Fox is a f-cking idiot. Katherine Heigl is not. The things she’s said aren’t dumb, they’re unprofessional, rude and contradict this “I’m just a normal girl, I’m accessible” image that she’s selling.

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Bazaar photos courtesy of Bazaar online. Cover courtesy of I‘m Not Obsessed.

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43 Responses to “Katherine Heigl on the diva criticism: “It’s important to be honest””

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  1. lucy2 says:

    I kind of like the photos, but agree there’s a Grace Kelly fixation with that magazine lately.

    I really like her outlook on how to raise her child – give her opportunity, but don’t spoil her. Glad to hear the baby’s health is good.
    Moving to Nashville would probably be good for the family as a whole, Hollywood is probably not a great place to raise a child, especially if you don’t want to spoil them.

    She’s owned up to a lot of the things she said, which is more than most celebs do. But I agree that it wasn’t youthful stupidity. She needs to learn how to be honest in a way that still respects those she’s worked with and stays professional.

  2. Just my opinion says:

    well said, Lucy 2 and I totally agree. Oh well, I’m willing to give her a second chance, as I think she’s learned.

  3. EMV says:

    There is something about her that I like…I’m not sure what it is…

  4. asiont says:

    I like those photos and I also like her.

  5. molly says:

    I’m torn, too. She comes across in movies (I’ve not seen her TV show) and in interviews as really affable and charming but then she says things that are totally unprofessional and rude. I’m hoping she puts her money where her mouth is and grows up a bit because I honestly do enjoy much of her acting.

  6. Stacy says:

    Since when are “people pleasers” honest? They usually just say whatever people want to hear, not whatever they want to say. I think she’s confused.

    That being said, I want all of her clothes from this shoot.

  7. AlaskaJoey says:

    She looks like Ashley Judd in that cover photo!

  8. Feebee says:

    “She has a scar so she won’t be wearing bikinis which is fine by us”.

    Hmmm, the biggest culprits of unrealistic body image for females are women. Very frustrating.

    Why can Naleigh not wear a bikini? When she gets a little older and WANTS to wear a bikini, what is Heigl going to tell her? That she can’t because someone might see her scar?

    My daughter had major abdominal surgery at 4 days old it was life and death stuff so they had to go in very quickly, as such the scar left behind wasn’t the prettiest. She wears bikinis and barely notices the scar. She knows why it’s there and it’s part of her. We could opt for surgery to “pretty it up”, but she 8 and she’s fine and when anyone (kids or adults) ask about it we simply explain it’s from a surgery. There’s never been a problem. It’s sad that Ms Heigl thinks Naleigh’s scar is an issue.

  9. bite me says:

    i love her

  10. meme says:

    i love that she adopted a special needs child whose life she has truly saved. she gets a second chance from meme.

  11. voiceover says:

    I too love the clothing. Especially that weird green frock. I don’t necessarily like her, but I love her comment that Hollywood is “highschool on steroids”. How true. It’s all just a continuation of high school: who’s the most popular, who has the most money, who can show off the most, and who looks cutest in the latest fashions. Ugh. I admit I get drawn into gossip as much as the next chick, but it really IS so desperate and disturbing.

  12. Eileen Yover says:

    I think she is SO gorgeous…but her past attitude is hard to forget. I’m on the fence with her.

  13. Laurie says:

    I agree she probably was too outspoken and is now a distant memory on Grey’s Anatomy … the other actors on the show..and Private Practice…are a bit longer in the tooth…great actors and actresses but I don’t think they see the same doors opening for themselves. It was probably obvious to everyone that she had a chance and she went for it. Maybe now that she “has arrived” so to speak she will be nicer.

  14. lin234 says:

    I like her the way I like Amanda Seyfriend. They are both refreshingly honest that I can see how it can come across as rude.

  15. original kate says:

    insufferable twat. if hollywood is so horrible why doesn’t she move? after all, many actors live in NY or europe and still seem to have careers. and as for saying because her daugher has a scar and therefore can never wear a bikini (?), isn’t that playing right into the “high school” attitude she claims to hate so much? shut up, katie.

  16. sonola trip says:

    @ Stacy

    I had the same reaction you did! I got to the part where she said she was a “people pleaser” and thought, WTF? People pleasers are notoriously dishonest about their negative feelings toward someone. It’s the exact opposite.

    Sadly, this makes me think that she still doesn’t get it. We may see more ungrateful behaviour from her yet.

  17. Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

    I’ll trade her a dictionary for that yummy black dress in the top photo.

  18. Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

    I think it’s not just Harper’s that has the Grace Kelly fixation. In the last two or three months she–or those who are being styled in that ice blonde goddess way–has been all over the newsstands. I don’t have any feelings on it one way or another, I just wonder what’s prompting it.

    I’m serious about that dress.

  19. ChinaCat says:

    WHAT beautiful photos (AND clothing!). I LOVE the 50’s diva look but enough with the blondes already Harper’s (no offense blondies)!
    Although I’m not a fan — I’ve ne’er seen GA and only saw her in that Seth Rogan flick — Katherine(she doesn’t quite seem like a “Katie” to me) is really quite beautiful (when she’s not speaking or smoking). She’s just gorgeous!
    Diva attitude is bull-swinky but I know I’ve also been guilty of “open-mouth-and-insert-foot” syndrome — I’m just thankful I don’t have people following me around documenting it all — but I do find her honesty refreshing (as opposed to say, Courtney Love or Megan Fox)… and I love her attitude towards furry friends and parenting… seems like she’ll be a great mom!
    P.S. Didn’t she say she was a trailer park girl some time ago? Good luck KH!

  20. LolaBella says:

    I love that black and white photo of her with the dog; she looks beautiful.

    I wonder if all of the talk about her daughter being special needs made her feel the need to set the record straight?

    Seems like she realized how unprofessional she was in the past and wants to change her public persona and the way we see her.

    I loved 27 Dresses *hangs head in shame* but in my defense it was mostly due to the yummy James Marsden. 😉

  21. bros says:

    forget about her, what about that gorgeous dog! I love those dogs! so elegant. I dont know if it is an afghan hound or a borzoi. I wish they just did pictures of the dogs istead of MEHgl.

  22. Shawna says:

    I almost want to go buy a Harper’s for that spread. Beautiful. (I’ve never said that about Heigel before.)

  23. Eileen Yover says:

    LolaBella: I have a juicy tidbit for you! I went to high school with James (Jimmy) Marsden in OKC! He is the NICEST guy ever! I am very good friends with his brothers Robby and Jeff. I remember when he graduated -I was a year behind him- and he left for LA and we were all like “No way in HELL he’s going to make it!” Ha!

  24. LolaBella says:

    @Eileen Yover: SWOOOOOON!!! I am so jealous!

    He is just so lovable in his movies especially 27 Dresses and Superman Returns that you just WANT to root for him.

    Even as Cyclops in the X-Men Trilogy, even though he was kind of a dick to Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) he was still winning me over.

    Le Sigh.

  25. Melanie says:

    God those clothes are so beautiful. Why can’t I be rich????

  26. Melinda says:

    I just LOVE that black dress! Totally gorge!

  27. danielle says:

    I’ve always had a soft spot for her. Some of what she’s said annoyed me, but I do think she’s just being more honest than most – that can come off as rude. And I love her for being in successful movies without being obsessed with her own sexiness – she goes out without looking skankalicious like so many other starlets.

  28. Beth says:

    @meme: Naleigh isn’t special needs at all. In the interview Katherine explained her heart problem was fixed with surgery and kids are put on the special needs list for the smallest reason.

    Katherine doesn’t seem to get that people can be honest without being rude. I agreed with a couple of her comments but the way she says things makes her sound so self-righteous.

    Also no need to hang your head for loving 27 Dresses. I really enjoyed it.

  29. Alexa says:

    OK – I was NEVER the Hater in the comments. . . until now. I just don’t like her for some reason. (And you guys used to not like her either. In fact, maybe y’all talked me into not liking her – and NOW what happens?! Oh – you just want me to look like the B!tch – don’cha?!)

  30. Mistral says:

    She is pretty.

    And that Afghan hound is adorable!

  31. whatever says:

    That’s a pretty cover.

  32. Maritza says:

    Ever since she adopted a special needed child she won me over. I like her a lot, she seems very sincere, plus she is very close with her mother.

  33. Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

    She must be happy that her hair and makeup people didn’t style her to look like a bowl of pudding in this one. She’d better play nice.

  34. Shells says:

    Dare I say it? Photochopped? She looks too polished to me.

  35. Mentok the Mind Taker says:

    I’ve never seen anything she’s been in so I can’t comment on her acting, but isn’t she more “Marilyn Monroe” than Naomi Watts?

    I could totally see her in the Seven Year Itch look.

    Just puttin’ that out to the Universe.

  36. Chico says:

    Very pretty. Ok, I’m on the second chance train too. Don’t blow it this time, Heigl.

  37. Sally says:

    She looks gorgeous in these pics! Love the clothes. And to some of the other commenters – I’m a people pleaser too, and I’m almost always honest.

  38. g says:

    lovely girl- but I ask genetically she looks superb, so why can she not have her own baby??

  39. Amneh says:

    She looks a lot like Shakira here.

  40. Siren6 says:

    Uh, have I just never noticed how freakin’ BIG all the type is on the cover, or does Harpers want to cover up 80% of this covergirl? It’s almost comical.

  41. Bee says:

    I think the editor of Harper’s Bazarre might be the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock. He was notorious in his obsession with his “cool blondes” like Grace Kelly.

  42. Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

    @g: I believe the answer she gives is that:

    A) she isn’t interested in taking on the physical strain of carrying a child to term.

    B) her older sister is adopted and the relationship they share prompted her long ago to choose adoption, should she ever decide to have a child.

    I still don’t care for her, but there’s nothing to impugn there. That’s solid reasoning, and adoption is a beautiful thing.

    I was at the pharmacy earlier this evening and hand to God, I saw two more Grace Kelly covers. It’s getting strange, now. It’s neither a significant anniversary of her birth or death, so it’s kind of weird.

  43. grrrlgrace says:

    I think she peaked at Grey’s Anatomy and will continue to do some B grade romcoms until she fizzles. Directors and Producers balk at rude, problematic actors unless they make HUGE bucks, and she doesn’t deliver that well.