After weeks of speculation, Katherine Heigl has finally confirmed she’s leaving Grey’s Anatomy.

“I’m done,” she tells the new issue of Entertainment Weekly (on stands Friday).

“We just finalized our agreement,” continues Heigl, 31, who played Dr. Izzie Stevens on the ABC medical drama for six seasons. “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.”

She says she wants more time to focus on her 16-month-old daughter Naleigh, whom she adopted from South Korea with husband Josh Kelley last September.

“I started a family and it changed everything for me,” says Heigl, who took a three-month leave after welcoming her baby girl. “It changed my desire to work full-time.”

A source told Us Weekly earlier this month that Heigl also wants to focus on her film career. Her newest romantic comedy, Killers, which costars Ashton Kutcher, hits theaters June 4.

“She loves movies,” the source said.

She also took a five-episode leave from Grey’s to film Life As We Know It last year.

Source, Fame Pictures

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo graces the cover of the new issue of TV Guide magazine — on newsstands on Thursday — and ET is behind the scenes of the photo shoot to get the inside story.

One juicy bit of news that the actress tells the magazine is that her days as Meredith Grey are numbered. “I have two more seasons and will finish the show when my contract is up,” she reveals.

“Grey’s” has returned with new episodes and life has been difficult for Meredith, who was trying to keep the fact that Richard (James Pickens Jr.) — aka the Chief — has been hitting the bottle a secret from everyone.

But Derek (Patrick Dempsey) got suspicious, and Meredith finally told him the truth, especially when Derek promised to re-hire Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) if the board made him the replacement chief.

“Ultimately what Meredith would like to happen is for the Chief to get treatment and help for his alcoholism and be the man we all know he is,” Ellen tells the magazine. “I think the Chief is discouraged and wants to quit medicine forever. Meredith is trying to get him to seek treatment and feel good about himself.”

For the first time on the series, Meredith’s character is showing her sunny side, but she says there is no guarantee that it will stay that way.

“You just have to wait a few minutes and it will all change,” she says. “Anything you think is real, you turn the corner and it changes.”

Ellen missed a few episodes of the hit ABC doctor drama following the birth of her daughter Stella Luna Pompeo Ivery, who was born last September. That said, there are no photos of her daughter on the “Grey’s” set, — and that, says the actress, is because she isn’t willing to share her daughter quite yet.

“I enjoy everything about her, even her spit-ups and her poops. She is the light of my eye and my husband’s, too.”

“Grey’s Anatomy” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.For more of Ellen’s interview, pick up a copy of TV Guide magazine on Thursday.

Source, Fame Pictures

Kim Raver is taking up permanent residence at Seattle Grace.

Raver has been upped to a regular on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” only two months after she joined the medical drama as a recurring character.

The “Lipstick Jungle” star made her debut in the ninth episode of “Grey’s'” current sixth season, playing Teddy Altman, a new cardio surgeon brought in by her former Army colleague Owen (Kevin McKidd). She quickly stirred things up by professing her feelings for Owen, laying the groundwork for a love triangle with him and Christina (Sandra Oh).

Raver is expected to appear in all but one of the show’s remaining episodes this season.

In becoming a regular, Raver joins two other recent additions to “Grey’s,” McKidd and Jessica Capshaw, who started off as recurring on the medical drama last season before being promoted to regulars.

Raver, whose series credits include “24″ and “The Nine,” is repped by WME and Mosaic.

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I have pictures from the set of Grey’s Anatomy - want to know whether George or Izzy dies?

Find out after the jump! (more…)

According to an insider, Katherine Heigl has informed Grey’s Anatomy producers that she and her husband Josh are trying to start a family, so that her pregnancy can be written into the show’s storyline.

“They are ready for a child,” says the insider. “She gave her TV bosses a heads-up, just in case she gets pregnant soon.”

Katherine and Josh reportedly also plan to adopt a child from Korea (where Katherine’s sister was adopted from), but Korean law requires that a couple be married for three years prior to adopting. Since they’ve only been married for a year and a half, they’re trying for a biological baby first. Says an insider, “They are hoping for a big family.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

Former Grey’s Anatomy star T.R. Knight is opening up about his departure from ABC’s hit medical drama, telling Entertainment Weekly he saw no future for Dr. George O’Malley, the lovable resident he played for five seasons.

Knight says his screen time dropped so much by season 5 that he chose to leave the show rather than seek an answer — something he says was hard to come by.

“My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George],” he tells the magazine. “There just comes a time when it’s so clear that moving on is the best decision.”

Costar Katherine Heigl initially disagreed with her friend.

“I didn’t think it was the right decision,” she says. “I felt like some of the problems could be worked through. But by the time it came to fruition, I was [glad] for him because he was ready to go.”

Knight also addresses the dismissal of former costar Isaiah Washington, who used a gay slur in an infamous incident on the set of the show, saying the controversy that followed created tension with Grey’s executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

Knight came out shortly after.

“I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] event,” Knight says of Rhimes, who he says discouraged him from coming out.

Rhimes denies this, telling EW, “I said, ‘If you want to come out, that’s awesome.’”

While Knight leaves behind a top 10 show and a $14 million contract, he says the move is best for his career.

“From an outsider’s perspective, I get the ‘He’s just a spoiled actor … he doesn’t know how good he has it,’” he says. “There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position. But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my work.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

I know I’m sad to see T.R. Knight leaving the show. George is one of my favorite characters.

When asked for a statement on the tough decision to leave, he said this:

“Leaving Grey’s Anatomy was not an easy decision for me to make. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to play this character and will miss my fellow cast and crew very much. I continue to wish them the very best, and wholeheartedly thank all of the fans who have supported me and the show with such passion and enthusiasm.”

Series creator Shonda Rhimes just followed with her own statement:

“I think I speak for the entire Grey’s Anatomy family when I say we wish T.R. Knight the best in his future endeavors. He is an incredibly talented actor and a person whose strength of character is admired by all of us.”

I wonder if they’re going to revive George played by someone else. I’ll miss T.R., either way.

Source, Bauer-Griffin