Katharine Heigl

If the Hollywood buzz is sawing right, Katherine Heigl is about to slice off a chunk of movie stardom. This June she's starring in the new Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) comedy, Knocked Up. But the Connecticut-bred cutie cut her way into hearts as Izzie Stevens, the earnest intern on ABC's smash hit Grey's Anatomy, and earned her BGF overnight by famously taking a Grey's costar to task for some homophobic comments. Here the outspoken actress talks about her BFF (our cover boy T.R. Knight, of course!), her frustration with the f word, and her yen to have a gay kid--just not for a while.

So is there a challenge to starring in a movie called Knocked Up? Well, Judd Apatow likes to do a lot of improvising. That's kind of his thing. And I've never really improvised before. I'm used to following a script and doing what they tell me to do! So that was really nerve-wracking. It took me a good couple weeks to find my footing and feel confident enough to throw the improvised jokes like all the big guys on set.

What was the wackiest thing you came up? Oh, my God. I probably didn't come up with any jokes that were that great. [Laughs] It was all facial expressions. But it was really thrilling to do something totally different.

You and your pal T.R. are very close. What's the connection there? We've tried to figure it out on occasion, like, "Why are we such good friends? Why does it work so well?" I gravitated toward him right from the beginning. He has just the best sense of humor, and he's really fun to be around. After a 14-hour day you need someone to make you laugh.

How do you guys make each other laugh? It's evolved into a very sort of crazy, bantering, physically threatening friendship. We constantly fake-fight. It's almost like I am with my brother or my sister. There's a lot of camaraderie there. Look, I know I can push the envelope with him more than with anyone else because he gets me and gets my sense of humor. We definitely have a lot of common ideas too. I mean, we fight like in any other relationship in your life. But I can be totally who I am with him, and he can be totally himself with me. There's love there no matter what.

When he came out, were you relieved for him? I was terrified for him. The fact is that I was scared for T.R. when he came out--that he would be ridiculed, that he would be picked on, that he would ostracized--all the reasons why people don't come out. But I was so proud of his strength. It's such a cliche to say this, but he handled it courageously. It's also one of those things where I think, Well, it's nobody's business who you are really. You're just an actor in a world where you can make-believe. Why should people have that piece of you. Why should they get to know that?

Well, it's such a catch-22. You have Anderson Cooper who's rumored to be gay. People like him could make such leaps for closeted kids who are considering suicide. Otherwise, [being gay] is always going to be a "shameful" thing. Right. Exactly. And that's where the relief came in. T.R. gets to look people in the eye and not be intimidated about people finding something "out" about him. He doesn't have to be afraid.

Has T.R. ever commented on any on your men's "hotness"? Not really. Well, I dated a friend of T.R.'s whom he set me up with for a while. T.R. thought he was really fantastic and great-looking. I did too. He was a great guy--really nice.

Did T.R. want to hear the notes? No. He never does! He's really bashful and shy. I have to dig things out of him. It's hilarious.

Would you like to see more famous gays and lesbians come out? It's such a personal thing that I would never want to judge or say that I think somebody should do something. They know their own souls and lives better than anyone else. I do think it would make the burden easier for other actors. If more actors came out, it would dilute the stigma obviously.

If you found out one of your kids was gay or lesbian, how would you handle it? Well, I'm hoping I have at least one--at least. People are people. I've just been raised in an environment where the most important thing is character--or integrity. Their sexual orientation would be the least of my worries.

Do you have a maternal side? God, I don't know. I was raised in the Mormon church, and Mormons have a lot of kids. I always loved when I was a kid [and got] to hold the babies and be with the toddlers. But I kind of grew up and was like, "Get them away from me!"

They are kind of cute for a while. Yeah, exactly. The great thing about being an aunt is that the kids can go home! [Laughs] Really, I have a niece and a nephew, and I would kill for them. They're the most beautiful and amazing children I've ever met.

You have a very close relationship with your own mom. What do you think you get from her? I think, over time, some of her courage and strength. She's dealt with a lot of terrible things in her life, and she still remains very optimistic about humanity and enjoying life. I can have a really bad day at work and be like, "I hate my life!" But the fact that my mother has lost a child and had breast cancer and dealt with drug addiction--not her own--that she can still look at every day like it's a gift is amazing. And she's fierce. She doesn't put up with a lot of crap--lies and agendas. I think far too often we all put up with stuff we really shouldn't be putting up with because of whatever social constricts--"Be polite!" "Don't make waves!" My mother has been making waves since the moment she was born.

You're a bit of a firebrand yourself. I just think that when you face the world head-on and not be bullied and not be put into boxes.

Speaking of which, any lady crushes of your own? Oh, there's always been the occasion where I run into a woman and I think, Wow, she's really attractive. I'd do her.

How about crushes on gay male stars? Hmm. Every once in a while I look at T.R. and go, "Jeez, if only!" When I first met him on the pilot and I didn't know he was gay, I was single and I was makin' eyes and I was flirting. I was getting nowhere! That should've been my first clue.

So, considering your Mormon background, are you going to vote for [Republican presidential candidate] Mitt Romney? I'm so awful about politics!

Katherine, if we're gonna change the world-- I know, it's embarrassing. You know what, I've gotten so frustrated. Who do you believe? Where are the facts? One hand is saying this, and one hand is saying that. I just gave up and stopped following it all. I should just TiVo The Daily Show and read The Onion. I think that will help me. I'd rather take that route.

Congratulations on your engagement [to pop rocker Josh Kelley] by the way. [Singing] Thank you.

In fact, your next flick is the wedding-themed 27 Dresses. What the theme really is that I play a woman who cannot say no. She's a total people-pleaser who takes care of everybody else but can't find it in herself to go out there and live the life that she deserves.

Is that like you? No-o-o! [Laughs] I'm a pretty selfish person. That's where the kids come back into play. I'm not sure I'm ready to sacrifice my comfortable life. Anyway, when I was younger, I wanted everyone to like me so that no one thought badly of me. Then I grew up and realized that it's impossible to make everyone like you.