Actress Katherine Heigl has finally opened up about her controversy on "Grey's Anatomy" after 16 years.

In 2008, the former co-star of the hit TV series put herself at the center of an online backlash and public outrage when she reportedly declined an Emmy nomination, essentially branding her as a difficult actress to work with.

"I didn't turn it down. ...... I just didn't submit any work that year," Heigl said in an interview with Shannen Doherty for a recent episode of the "Let's Be Clear" podcast. 'I shouldn't have said anything. I should have said, 'Oh, I forgot. ' It would have caused unnecessary havoc."

The previous year, in 2007, Heigl was nominated for and won an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Izzy Stevens. The following year, she said she did not submit her work for another nomination, in part because she was not "proud" of her work.

"I just wasn't proud of my work," she explained at the time. I'm not so bold or arrogant as to turn down a nomination. I will accept the nomination. If I get the nomination, I'll turn it down."

She added, "I'm not going to turn down the nomination.

She further said that her goal at the time was "to be honorable" with respect to being honest about the quality of her work versus the work produced by her fellow actors and actresses.

"I tried to be honest. To maintain the integrity of the organization, the Academy," she added.

"I didn't feel that this season was given enough material to be nominated for an Emmy," she explained.

"Plus, I didn't want to potentially take away opportunities from actresses who were given such material."

Heigl said that as a result of the controversy 16 years ago, she was practically kept out of the entertainment industry, adding that she was "humiliated," and as a result, she became more "quiet, polite, and sweet" on the set, practically disappearing.

"It still didn't work," she continued. So when she turned 40, she said, "Life is really too short. I just want to be myself."