Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl became a box-office sensation starring first in Judd Apatow's smash hit comedy, "Knocked Up," followed by a starring turn with Ed Burns and James Marsden in the romantic comedy, "27 Dresses," and then opposite Gerard Butler in the romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth," which she also executive produced.
These earned Heigl "Female Star of the Year" honors at the 2010 ShoWest awards.

Heigl was seen starring in Gary Marshall's "New Year's Eve" opposite Jon Bon Jovi for New Line Pictures, and in "The Wedding" alongside Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried and Topher Grace.

Heigl's film credits include "Life As We Know It," opposite Josh Duhamel, directed by Greg Berlanti; the action comedy "Killers," opposite Ashton Kutcher for director Robert Luketic; the comedy "The Ringer"; Steven Soderbergh's critically acclaimed depression-era drama "King of the Hill"; "Under Seige 2: Dark Territory"; "Stand-Ins" and "That Night." Her first feature film leading role was in Touchstone Pictures' "My Father the Hero," starring opposite Gerard Depardieu.

On television, for six seasons, Heigl portrayed ‘Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens', the small-town girl constantly battling for respect amongst her peers, on ABC's critically acclaimed drama "Grey's Anatomy." In 2007, Heigl earned a Primetime Emmy® Award and a Golden Globe® nomination for her performance. Heigl also starred on the WB sci-fi drama series, " Roswell."

In May of 2009, Katherine Heigl and her mother Nancy launched the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation in honor of her older brother, who died much too young in an automobile accident and whose strong, compassionate nature and great love of animals was the cornerstone of their endeavors. The Heigls are using their resources to work directly to address the pet population crises in Los Angeles and across the country.

Toward that goal, the Foundation launched the "Compassion Revolution" in September of 2010, pledging over one million dollars to a variety of low cost and free spay/neuter programs in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, as a key component to reducing the number of animals in shelters. The Foundation also presently funds pet education programs, actively supports pet adoption programs, and fund and supports small dog transport from local kill shelters to both no kill shelters and rescues facilities throughout the country. To date the Foundation has funded the transport of over 4500 animals out of high kill shelters to areas where they are rapidly adopted.

© 2011 Lionsgate