Katherine Heigl is not on the list of Emmy contenders this year and the reason she gives for this situation is that the material she was given this season on “Grey’s Anatomy” does not “warrant” an Emmy nomination.

 Therefore, the right thing she found she could do was to withdraw her name from contention, “in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization.” Heigl followed her honorable train of thought further, deciding that she did not want to “potentially” take away the chance of another actress who was given better material.

While Heigl’s initiative can be considered noble – not taking away opportunities from other deserving actresses, her statement to the Los Angeles Times not so discreetly criticized the writers of the show.

Last year, Heigl was the revelation of the awards night, as she won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She portrays Dr. Izzie Stevens on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

The 29-year-old actress has in the meantime become a Hollywood star, a status neither of her cast mates in the series can claim. Last summer she starred in the Judd Apatow comedy “Knocked Up,” widely lauded and glorified by critics and viewers alike.

Then again, she did not shy away from telling Vanity Fair’s January issue that she found the film “a little sexist,” with women portrayed “as shrews, as humorless and uptight,” and the men “as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys.”

She then starred in another romantic comedy, “27 Dresses,” which fared nearly as well at the box office and with film critics.

There have been previous occasions when an actor withdrew from Emmy consideration, feeling that they had already received sufficient recognition and clearing the way for other hopefuls to share the glory. One example is Candice Bergen, who was named Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy series for her role in “Murphy Brown” in 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1995.

Nominations for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards are to be announced July 17, while the ceremony takes place on September 21.