Katherine Heigl happy to be ‘Knocked Up’

‘Grey’s’ star also talks about her upcoming marriage and pal T.R. Knight

Katherine Heigl never knew getting knocked up could be so much fun.
“It was probably the best time of my life, and it’ll never ever get any better. I might as well just quit,” she told “Access” about her experience filming the latest movie from “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” mastermind, Judd Apatow.

“Knocked Up” tells the story of an entertainment news reporter (Heigl) who discovers that she’s pregnant following a one-night stand with a slacker stranger, played by Seth Rogen. The two end up giving dating a try for the sake of the unborn child, and comedy ensues. But did the role of a pregnant woman stir up any maternal instincts for Heigl?

“No, not at all,” she laughed, saying that the big plastic belly she wore for the shoot couldn’t possibly compare to the real thing. “I don’t think that’s real pregnancy,” she said of the goofy belly prop. “If it were then I would want to get pregnant, because that would be neat.”

Katherine has been engaged to singer Josh Kelley since last spring, but she told “Access” that wedding plans are on hold for the time being because of their hectic schedules. “It’s unfortunate that we never seem to be able to find the time to sit down and decide anything, and plan something,” said Heigl. But the couple did find the time to attend the film’s premiere together in L.A. on Monday night.

“Oh, it’s amazing,” said Katherine, as she showed “Access” her engagement ring. “I’m so, so grateful he could be here. He’s been on tour forever and we haven’t spent more then I think five days together in over two months. So I was just happy that he had a night off and could come.”

One person who couldn’t come to the premiere was Katherine’s good friend (and “Grey’s Anatomy” castmate), T.R. Knight. “(He) totally ditched me for the Obie Awards,” she said in mock disdain. “What a bad friend. The Obie Awards, why? Why would you ditch me for that? Never forgive you.”

Her tune changed, however, when she was reminded that she’d be seeing him in a week. “Yes he’s gonna come and visit me. Okay, now I like (him) again, we’re friends again,” she said, laughing. “I’m doing a film in Providence, and he’s only coming so we can drive to Newport and hang out in Newport. He doesn’t want to see me; he wants to go to the mansions in Newport.”

Earlier, Katherine told “Access” what she thought about recent photos of Knight that showed him out and about with bright red hair. “I love this — now that’s a man with some courage,” she said, noting that this isn’t the first time Knight has died his hair a vibrant color. “He did it last season too,” she remarked. “During hiatus he did it blue. Just a new look, a new feel, a new vibe. It’s red, it’s blue, it’s green next year. It’s yellow maybe next time... it’s just T.R. Knight with red hair.”

While Katherine was rumored to have been unhappy with her salary negotiations, she told “Access” that she would be returning to “Grey’s Anatomy” next season. “Yeah, I think so,” she said of the return, but quickly amended herself. “Geez, I don’t know. I haven’t got my pick up letter yet — I’m just assuming.” She joked, “Wouldn’t that be terrible? I’m like, ‘Yeah of course’ and then two months from now we’re doing this interview and I’m like ‘I don’t know, they just...’ ”
But regardless of her future on the hit ABC show, Katherine has cemented herself as a Hollywood star, with a profile that will only increase after “Knocked Up” hits theaters June 1. It may call to mind the career of another TV doctor — George Clooney — who transitioned from episodic television (“E.R.”) to a huge career on the big screen.

That would be cool if that could happen,” she told “Access,” saying that the comparison was “sweet.”
“I don’t talk about it, I just say ‘I’m gonna be,’” she joked. “I’m gonna be the next George Clooney, you wait!”