How old is Katherine Heigl? Actress talks about aging in Hollywood and accepting that the peak of her career is over

Actress Katherine Heigl, 46, opened up about her experiences in Hollywood and her upcoming days in the industry. In an exclusive interview with US Weekly on May 1, 2025, she said she didn’t think about aging when in her 20s.

At that time, her career was at its peak, and she got the kinds of roles she had always dreamed of, especially romantic leads and comedies. Having started acting as a child, she was thrilled to be doing the work. However, thoughts about how long it might last didn’t cross her mind. Katherine Heigl said:

“When I turned 40 I realized, ‘Oh, that’s pretty much over.’ Like, there’s a young generation that’s coming up and I had my time and it was glorious, and it’s kind of done now.”

Katherine Heigl went on:

“And not to say that I can’t be the romantic lead in something at 46, that women in their 40s don’t have a romantic love life or that they aren’t funny or that, you know, they can’t be the lead of a story. Of course they can. I am still the star of my own life. I find it interesting and compelling. I feel like others would, as well.”

The actress explained that many women lead fascinating lives that audiences would want to see on screen. She said that while older actresses may no longer play the young romantic lead, their stories still matter.

As they age, they have to push harder to prove they are still valuable, even if their roles and stories change.

Katherine Heigl looks back on her work in Firefly Lane

Katherine Heigl admitted that she initially felt uncertain about openly discussing her experience with perimenopause. However, after talking with her friends and sister, she realized many women experience the same thing.

Instead of feeling embarrassed or trying to hide it to appear perpetually young, she decided to be honest. Looking back at the 2021 drama Firefly Lane, Katherine Heigl shared that working on the show was a satisfying experience. This was because the show focused on the lives of two women in their 40s.

She appreciated how the show followed their lives from young adults to middle age. It showed how complex and detailed women's stories can be.

However, she admitted that portraying a much younger version of her character was a little strange. Since she was almost 40 then, acting as a college-aged woman required a lot of energy and a different way of acting. She joked about how even her body did not move in the same way it used to.

Katherine Heigl shared that pregnancy had a lasting impact on her body, especially after her C-section, which left her with a noticeable scar and a small bulge on her lower stomach.

She mentioned that while she didn’t get stretch marks, she was surprised by the permanent change, especially since she had been led to believe the scar would barely be visible. She realized that her body would never be the same as it was before having a baby.

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Also Read: Why Katherine Heigl's Izzie left Grey's Anatomy? Details explored

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