It's the question everybody wanted to ask -- and it got so awkward when someone finally did.
Katherine Heigl had no choice but to address rumors of her "difficult" reputation at the 2014 TCA Press Tour on Sunday, where she was promoting her new show, "State of Affairs."
Katherine and her mother, Nancy Heigl, who serves as an executive producer on the upcoming NBC series, have a reputation for being "difficult to work with." So, is there any truth to that?
"I can only say that I certainly don't see myself as being difficult and I don't intend to be difficult," the "Roswell" alum said. "I don't think my mother sees herself as being difficult. I think it's always important to everybody to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully and kindly. So if I have ever disappointed somebody, it was never intentional."
When asked about a recent interview in which she said that she had felt her career was not under her control, Heigl responded, "I don't know if I said my career wasn't in my control. I stopped challenging myself and I was making choices that I loved and was excited about. I love romantic comedies. I love film. I love watching them... But I stopped exercising different muscles of my ability and then in that moment, I felt I was sort of letting down my audience, wasn't challenging them either."
She continued, "I think this opportunity… It's an extraordinary role, opportunity and story... An opportunity to flex some certain muscles as an actor, performer and storyteller, I hope my audience will be excited about."
The former "Grey's Anatomy" star plays a CIA officer who becomes the president's daily briefer on "State of Affairs," a new high-stakes drama that's described as "Scandal" meets "The West Wing." She cited the great character and script for her wanting to do the show, adding, "Acting and performing has always felt like kids play to me. And producing felt like a grown-up job."
Prior to Heigl's question, one critic called Nancy Heigl's executive producer credit "stage mothering to the extreme" when asking NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt and president Jennifer Salke about the move.
Salke responded: "I'll tell you very honestly … we had an amazing meeting with them. They're both very smart, formidable women, and I'm not just giving lip service to this—they've been fantastic producers and incredibly smart through this process. She's someone who has a strong opinion, but we've found her to be nothing but adamant to the process, and also Katie really relies on her in her life. It's a real partnership that seems to work for both of them and it's been great for us."
She added, "But it's not surprising when the mother walks in the door with her, we knew they were a set and worked together in the past. I would call her her 'mom-ager,' her best friend … she's a partner in her life. They have a very natural shorthand. So far, so good."
Click "Launch Gallery" at the top to see the "Roswell" cast then and now, and check out the photos above to see which of your favorite shows got renewed.
Check out the video below to see a preview of "State of Affairs" -- will you be watching?
