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Moving to Utah altered Katherine Heigl's life, but she wouldn't alter a thing. The Grey's Anatomy star said she's completely happy with her decision to leave Hollywood, having relocated a few years ago in search of a more tranquil life for her family.
In an exclusive interview with Francesca Amiker of E! News, she said, "I have found and carved out this peace for myself and for my family, and it brings me so much joy and contentment, clarity, and grounding." "And I just think, 'Why mess with that?'"
The 46-year-old Heigl acknowledged that she has second-guessed her decision and the opinions of others, but she has made the decision to put her family's needs first.
"There are moments when I question whether I should be playing the game, working hard, or being more ambitious. And I simply don't think I want to," she said. "If you don't want that, then don't do it just because you think that's what you're supposed to do or that's what society expects from you."
Her marriage to Josh Kelley has also improved as a result of leaving Los Angeles.
"For me, he's just become, especially in this world we've created for ourselves out in Utah, he's become so much my person, and he has always been," she said. "Even in the beginning, like a safe harbor, somebody I could just really depend on and count on."
Hollywood actress Jennifer Heigl is grateful for her time in the industry, especially for her children, Noah, Adalaide, and Joshua. She expressed happiness and contentment, despite the time she missed with her children during their younger years. Heigl believes it is important for her to be there for her children during their teenage years, as they need her the most. She admits that she cannot imagine making a movie or television series for three or nine months on location, as it would be torn and divided. She also worries about the amount of attention she could give to a project while worrying about her kids at home. She believes that her time in Hollywood is the most exciting time for parents, but she acknowledges the challenges of managing her time and balancing her career with her family.
Heigl said she feels as though her brain is "going to explode" when she tries to balance everything. She is currently enjoying the years she has her children at home.
"Even though it seems like forever right now, it's only temporary. And I have to tell myself, 'There will come a day when none of this is here anymore,' when I look around the house and think, 'There is so much mess,'" she added. "Everything will be gone, including the kids' belongings, hair ties, scrunchies, hoodies, backpacks, skincare products, and all of these tiny shoes. I will miss it, and it will be a beautiful, well-maintained home.
The Firefly Lane actress has been concentrating on her family while simultaneously pursuing her animal advocacy goals, which include creating healthier dog food under the Badlands Ranch pet food brand.
"I've been an animal advocate and have had an animal advocacy foundation for the last two and a half decades, so I'm a big animal person," she stated. "I was really excited to be able to create something this unique, something that people can really trust is really good for their pets."
Badlands Ranch has donated $250,000 annually to the Jason Heigl Foundation, which she and her mother established in 2008 in memory of Heigl's brother with the goal of eradicating animal abuse and cruelty.
"It's been pretty incredible, and that has probably been the biggest blessing of the food for us," she stated. "It has afforded us the opportunity to keep so many of our programs going and further them and make the reach even bigger, which has been a dream."
