Izzie Stevens

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Isobel Katherine Stevens
Grey's Anatomy character
Katherine Heigl as Dr. Izzie Stevens
First appearance "A Hard Day's Night"
1x01, March 27, 2005
Created by Shonda Rhimes
Portrayed by Katherine Heigl
Information
Nickname(s) Dr. Model
Bethany Whisper
Cricket
Aliases Izzie
Age 29
Occupation Surgical Resident at Seattle Grace Hospital
Title M.D.
Spouse(s) Alex Karev
Relationships
Romances Hank (ex-boyfriend)
Denny Duquette (fiancé; deceased)
George O'Malley (ex-boyfriend)
Parents Robbie Stevens (mother)
Children Hannah Klein (biological daughter)

Isobel "Izzie" Katherine Stevens, is a fictional character on the ABC television series Grey's Anatomy. The character is portrayed by actress Katherine Heigl, and was created by series producer Shonda Rhimes. Izzie works at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital as a surgical intern and later resident, with storylines focusing on her relationships with fellow staff members Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), George O'Malley (T.R. Knight) and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). She came to doubt her career in medicine after facilitating in the death of her fiancé Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), but returned to the surgical program after donating her $8.7 million inheritance to build a free clinic attached to the hospital. Heigl was critical of the character's development during the show's fourth season, particularly her romance with George. She declined to put herself forward for the 2008 Emmy Awards, citing insufficient material in the role. After media speculation that Izzie would be killed off in the fifth season, the character was diagnosed on-screen with metastatic melanoma (Stage IV). She married Alex in the show's one-hundredth episode, and afterwards, her tumor is successfully removed though she later suffers from hyperkalemia leaving her in cardiac arrest. This finale leaves her fate hanging.

Contents

[edit] Creation and development

Izzie was created by Grey's Anatomy producer Shonda Rhimes, with actress Katherine Heigl cast in the role. Heigl originally wanted to play Izzie as a brunette, but was requested to retain her natural blonde for the role.[1] With regards to her comprehension of medical procedures and terminology, Heigl has explained that: "I have no idea what I’m talking about. There are other actors on the set who are more fascinated with medicine, but I’m not one of those people. I admire doctors, but I’m an actor."[2]

Episode "Bring the Pain", which aired as the fifth episode of the second season, was originally intended to be the final episode of the first season. Rhimes has explained that Izzie's character in this episode came "full circle" from her role in the pilot: "Izzie, so vulnerable and underestimated when we first meet her, is the girl who removes her heart from her sleeve in "Bring the Pain"."[3]

Discussing Izzie's personality and relationship with Alex in a 2006 Cosmopolitan interview, Heigl assessed that: "she can always put a smile on her face and listen to endless hours of George whining about Meredith. She's immensely kind. Even when Alex was a complete dirtbag to her, she forgave him and gave him another chance. And he really screwed her over. [...] To go for a guy like that is to say "I want to be damaged." Izzie is too naive in that she thinks she can save him.[1] Writer Stacy McKee has deemed Izzie's moving on from Alex to patient Denny Duquette "karma", writing: "Alex treated Izzie like crap (remember when he plastered her centerfold all over the locker room? When he cheated on her with Olivia?) – and now he gets to watch her dote on the undeniably handsome – and totally charming - Denny Duquette. Just as Alex is starting to really realize his own feelings for Izzie, in comes Denny. Karma at its best."[4]

Regarding the development of Izzie's relationship with Denny, series writer Blythe Robe commented: "I love the way Izzie lights up when she’s around him. I love their relationship because it’s so pure and honest and completely game free."[5] Supervising producers Gabrielle Stanton and Harry Werksmen discussed the developing love triangle between Izzie, Alex and Denny, commenting: "Alex and Izzie and Denny are such a sad triangle. How can Izzie possibly chose? Denny is so sweet. But did you see Alex and Izzie with that cupcake? Someone might not be quite as “evil” as he wants everyone to believe."[6] Writer Elizabeth Klaviter noted at this time the way Izzie "seems to be sacrificing her reputation because of her feelings for Denny."[7] When Izzie deliberately worsened Denny's condition to move him up the transplant list, series writer Mark Wilding questioned the morality of the actions, asking: "is Izzie bad for doing it? Is she tremendously irresponsible? She cut the LVAD wire for love so does that make her action understandable?"[8]

When Denny died in the season two episode "Losing My Religion", Rhimes discussed the impact it had on Izzie, noting: "Izzie is forced to let go of her idealism. And that leads to her letting go of medicine."[9] She also discussed costuming choices in the scene which saw the interns gather around Denny's deathbed, explaining: "Meredith and George and Cristina and Callie and Alex are all dressed, not for a prom, but for a funeral. Everyone in dark colors, everyone dressed somberly. As if they were in mourning. Only Izzie is in happy pink. Only Izzie looks like she didn’t know this was coming."[9] In the aftermath of Denny's death, Heigl came to believe that Izzie was not cut out to be a doctor.[10] Executive producer Betsy Beers explained, however, that: "Denny’s death matured Izzie in a very sobering way",[10] and Heigl affirmed that: "At the beginning of the [third] season they were trying to show how lost Izzie was. She lost her optimism. She realizes now that life is difficult, but she still tries very hard to see the best in people."[10]

Following Izzie's break-up with Alex and Denny's death, Heigl approached Rhimes to ask when her character would next have a romantic liaison. Rhimes explained that "Izzie doesn't sleep around",[10] leading Heigl to conclude that "The writers incorporate a lot of our own personalities into the characters. I cook, I bake, I knit. Izzie’s the super moral version of me."[10] Heigl expressed a desire for Izzie to reunite with Alex, explaining: "I believe on some level, there’s a connection between Izzie and Alex. He can do honorable things even though he’s cutting and sarcastic. I would like to ultimately see them together, if not this season, then next."[10]

In order to demonstrate Izzie's burgeoning dislike of George's new love-interest Callie, Rhimes penned a scene which she has deemed "one of my favorite moments of our show ever",[11] in which Callie urinates in front of a stunned Izzie and Meredith. Rhimes assessed that: "I love that Mer and Izzie respond with all the trauma of having viewed a car crash [...] the point is Callie pees and Izzie tortures her a tiny bit about the hand washing and that made me overjoyed because that’s the kind of thing people do."[11]

Heigl refused to be considered for the 2008 Emmy Awards due to insufficient material on Grey's Anatomy

When Kate Walsh's character Addison Montgomery left Grey's Anatomy to launch the spin-off show Private Practice, Heigl disclosed that she had hoped for a spin-off for Izzie.[12] She was critical of her character's development in the show's fourth season, particularly her affair with George, which she deemed "a ratings ploy".[13] Heigl explained: "They really hurt somebody, and they didn’t seem to be taking a lot of responsibility for it. I have a really hard time with that kind of thing. I’m maybe a little too black-and-white about it. I don’t really know Izzie very well right now. She’s changed a lot."[13] Attempting to rationalise Izzie's actions, Heigl later assessed that: "People who are so infallible, perfect and moral tend to be the first to slip and fall. But I would love to see how she deals with the consequences of what she’s done, because what’s interesting is when people make decisions that shake their world, they suddenly have to go, ‘Woo, I didn’t know I was capable of this.’ I’d like to see Izzie take some culpability."[14]

Heigl declined to put her name forward for consideration at the 2008 Emmy Awards, releasing a statement which explained: "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization decided against competing. In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials."[15] Following Heigl's statement, speculation arose that Izzie would suffer a brain tumor and be killed off Grey's Anatomy, substantiated by the announcement Jeffrey Dean Morgan would return to the series as Denny, who died at the end of season two.[16] ABC's entertainment president Steve McPherson denied the rumor, stating: "There is an unbelievable storyline for her this year, which is really central to everything that's going to go on this season".[17] Speculation resumed, however, when Dean Morgan returned to the show for a second time in its fifth season.[18] Cast member James Pickens, Jr. announced that both Heigl and T.R. Knight were set to depart from the show,[19] but he later retracted his comment.[20] During the course of the fifth season, Izzie was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma (Stage IV) which spread to her liver, skin and brain. Following the show's hundredth episode wrap party, Heigl revealed she did not know if Izzie would survive. She commented: "I was assuming that [Izzie would die] at one point, and I got a lot of shrugged shoulders and shakes of the head, so I don't know if that's a yes or a no. No one will tell me and I don't know how this is going to go."[21]

[edit] Storylines

Izzie appears from the first episode of Grey's Anatomy, meeting fellow interns Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, George O'Malley and Alex Karev. She and George move in with Meredith and become best friends. Izzie's boyfriend, hockey player Hank (Jonathan Scarfe), struggles to accept her new role as a doctor, and the two break up. Izzie is hurt when Alex exposes her past as a lingerie model. However, the two later go on to begin a friendship and then a romance. Alex experiences sexual dysfunction with Izzie and cheats on her with nurse Olivia Harper. When Izzie finds out, she breaks up with him, though they briefly reunite following a bomb scare at the hospital. Izzie falls in love with cardiothoracic patient Denny Duquette, and the two become engaged. When Denny's condition deteriorates, Izzie deliberately worsens his health further by cutting his left ventricular assist device wire to move him up the donor register. Although Denny receives a new heart, he has a stroke hours later and dies. Izzie is the sole beneficiary of Denny's will, inheriting $8.7 million. She uses the money to open a free clinic at the hospital: the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic.

Izzie disapproves of George's relationship with and later marriage to orthopedic resident Callie Torres. She and George sleep together, and attempt to keep their liaison a secret. George is the only person aware that Izzie gave birth to a daughter at the age of 16; ultimately the child was given up for adoption. He also supports Izzie when her daughter Hannah, diagnosed with leukemia, arrives at Seattle Grace Hospital in need of a bone marrow transplant from Izzie. Izzie's feelings for George grow, and she reveals that she has fallen in love with him. When Callie discovers George has been unfaithful, the two separate, and George and Izzie embark on a short-lived relationship, only to discover there is no real chemistry between them.

Izzie supports Alex when he discovers his new girlfriend has psychiatric problems, and convinces him to have her sectioned. She is also handed primary responsibility for the clinic, as Miranda Bailey, the resident in charge, cuts back on her responsibilities. Izzie and Alex go on to rekindle their relationship, though Izzie is concerned when she begins hallucinating about Denny. She discovers she has metastatic melanoma (Stage IV) which has spread to her liver, skin, and brain, causing the hallucinations. Her survival chances are estimated at only 5%. She is admitted to Seattle Grace as a patient, and Derek Shepherd successfully removes a tumor from her brain. Izzie spends her time in the hospital planning Meredith and Derek's wedding, but when her condition worsens and Derek discovers a second tumor in her brain, they give the ceremony to Izzie and Alex, who marry in front of all their friends. The procedure to remove the second tumor from Izzie's brain causes her to lose her short-term memory, and although she soon regains it, she flatlines moments later. The fifth season ends with her friends ignoring her DNR order and attempting to resuscitate her, transposed with images of Izzie in an elevator encountering George, who has been in an accident and is also currently flatlining.

[edit] Reception

Heigl was nominated for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television' at the 2007 and 2008 Golden Globe Awards.[22] She was named 'Favourite Female TV Star' at the 34th People's Choice Awards,[23] and awarded 'Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series' at the 2007 Emmy Awards.[24] Prior to the ceremony, considering Heigl's chances of winning the Emmy, Variety's Stuart Levine assessed of her performance: "Heigl has little difficulty reaching Izzy's highest highs and lowest lows. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes puts a lot of pressure on Heigl to carry many intense storylines, and she's up to the challenge."[25] Levine also noted, however: "There are times when Izzy becomes completely irrational during crisis situations, which may bother some."[25]

The New York Post's Robert Borke has deemed Izzie to be "the heart and soul" of Grey's Anatomy, writing that: "Almost midway through the show’s third season, Izzie has now become the show’s heroine. [...] Izzie is a welcome, calming presence, despite the devastation she experienced when she failed to save her patient and fiance Denny Duquette. [...] Besides the formidable Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson), Izzie seems to be the only adult intern at Seattle Grace; the character has achieved a depth lacking in her fellow interns."[10] The season four romance between Izzie and George proved unpopular with viewers, and resulted in a fan backlash.[26] The episode in which Izzie married long-term love Alex received 15.3 million viewers, the largest television audience of the night.[27]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Bardin, Brantley (November 2006). "Katherine Heigl Gives Us Fever". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Magazines. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrities/exclusive/Katherine-Heigl-Gives-Us-Fever. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  2. ^ Gay, Jason (March 2007). "This Won't Hurt A Bit". GQ. Peter King Hunsinger. http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_5403. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  3. ^ Rhimes, Shonda (23 October 2005). "From Shonda Rhimes, creator, Executive Producer and writer of "Bring the Pain"". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2005/11/from_shonda_rhi.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  4. ^ McKee, Stacy (26 February 2006). "From Stacy McKee, writer of "What Have I Done To Deserve This?"". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2006/02/from_stacy_mcke.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  5. ^ Robe, Blythe (3 April 2006). "From Blythe Robe, writer of "Name of the Game"". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2006/04/from_blythe_rob.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  6. ^ Stanton, Gabrielle; Werksmen, Harry (24 April 2006). "Supervising Producers Gabrielle Stanton and Harry Werksman on "Under Pressure"". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2006/04/shhhhh_all_our_.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  7. ^ Klaviter, Elizabeth (30 April 2006). "From Elizabeth Klaviter, writer of "Blues for Sister Someone"". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2006/04/from_elizabeth_.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  8. ^ Wilding, Mark (14 May 2006). "From Mark Wilding, writer of "17 Seconds"". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2006/05/airdate_may_14_.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  9. ^ a b Rhimes, Shonda (17 May 2006). "From Shonda Rhimes (FINALLY)…". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2006/05/from_shonda_rhi.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Borke, Robert (12 Nobember 2006). "Hearth Throb - Grey's Anatomy Katherine Heigl on, Sex, Love and Cupcakes". New York Post. Paul Carlucci. http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122006/tv/heart_throb_tv_robert_borke.htm. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  11. ^ a b Rhimes, Shonda (7 May 2006). "Shonda on "Damage Case"". Grey Matter. ABC. http://www.greyswriters.com/2006/05/shonda_on_damag.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-15. 
  12. ^ Keck, William; Wloszczyna, Susan (21 May 2007). "Katherine Heigl positively glows". USA Today. Gannett Company. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-05-20-katherine-heigl_N.htm?csp=34. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  13. ^ a b Bennetts, Leslie (January 2008). "Heigl’s Anatomy". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast Publications. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/01/heigl200801. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  14. ^ Iley, Chrissy (30 March 2008). "Katherine Heigl: from Grey's Anatomy to 27 Dresses". The Times. Times Newspapers. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3620847.ece. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  15. ^ Elber, Lynn (12 June 2008). "Katherine Heigl Rejects Emmy Possibility, Slams "Grey's" Material". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/11/katherine-heigl-rejects-e_n_106656.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  16. ^ "Katherine Heigl's Character May Get Fatal Brain Tumor on Grey's". Us Weekly. Wenner Media. 16 July 2008. http://www.usmagazine.com/katherine-heigls-greys-anatomy-character-could-be-killed-off. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  17. ^ Martin, Ed (17 July 2008). "Something Major to Happen to Katherine Keigl's Character on Grey's Anatomy and It's Not Death... Yet.". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-martin/something-major-to-happen_b_113263.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  18. ^ Ausielle, Michael (24 October 2008). "'Grey's Anatomy' Exclusive: Denny's Back!". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc.. http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/10/jeffrey-dean-mo.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  19. ^ Starr, Michael (10 February 2009). "Izzie and George Leaving 'Grey's Anatomy'". New York Post. Paul Carlucci. http://www.nypost.com/seven/02102009/tv/izzie_and_george_leaving_greys_anatomy_154423.htm. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  20. ^ Hammel, Sara (13 February 2009). "T.R. Knight, Katherine Heigl Not Leaving Grey's Anatomy". People. Time Inc.. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20258982,00.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  21. ^ "Katherine Heigl: "I'm There" if Grey's Anatomy Wants Me". Us Weekly. Wenner Media. 28 March 2009. http://www.usmagazine.com/news/katherine-heigl-im-there-if-greys-anatomy-wants-me-2009283. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  22. ^ Gallo, Phil (13 January 2008). "'Atonement,' 'Sweeney' win Globes". Variety. Reed Elsevier. http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117977639.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  23. ^ "People's Choice Awards sidestep strike". USA Today. Gannett Company. 9 January 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-01-08-peoples-choice-awards_N.htm. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  24. ^ Lehner, Marla (18 September 2007). "Katherine Heigl: Nobody Thought I'd Win the Emmy". People. Time Inc.. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20057533,00.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  25. ^ a b Levine, Stuart (13 August 2007). "Supporting Actress: Drama - Shades of 'Grey' for ABC's hospital gal pals". Variety. Reed Elsevier. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970144.html?categoryId=1985&cs=1. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  26. ^ Hughes, Sarah (17 November 2008). "The power of Heroes worship". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/nov/17/television-plots-fans. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 
  27. ^ Toff, Benjamin (8 May 2009). "ABC's Wedding Gift". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/arts/television/09arts-ABCSWEDDINGG_BRF.html?. Retrieved on 2009-05-09. 

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