Katherine Heigl’s favourite movies of all time
Throughout her career in the limelight of Hollywood, Katherine Heigl has proven her brilliance on several occasions. After beginning her professional life as a child model, the Washington DC-born star made her first film appearances in the 1990s in the likes of That Night and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.
Before long, Heigl announced herself as a star of television after making memorable efforts as Isabel Evans in the show Roswell and then Izzie Stevens in the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Cinema also proved to be a good stomping ground for Heigl, particularly in the romantic comedy genre, as she gave commendable turns in the likes of Knocked Up and 27 Dresses.
Quite simply, many of Heigl’s on screen efforts have comprised many of out favourite contemporary entertainment moments. But what about the favourite movies of Heigl herself? Well, fortunately, back in 2014, Heigl named her top choice works of cinema in a feature with Marie Claire, giving clues as to her inspirations when it comes to her own film performances.
Heigl began with Wes Anderson’s 2001 comedy-drama The Royal Tenenbaums, starring Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bull Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke and Owen Wilson. The brilliant ensemble cast comes together to tell of the titular family and their former child prodigies whose early promise has been derailed by the difficulties of adulthood with all of Anderson’s vibrant colour compositions and symmetrical aesthetics.
The actor’s next choice is Gus Van Sant’s iconic 1997 drama film Good Will Hunting, written by and starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, while Robin Williams, Stellan Skarsgard and Minnie Driver also appear. Damon plays an underachieving maths genius working as a janitor at MIT who is introduced to a former psychotherapist in order to work through his trauma and realise his potential.
Garry Marshall’s 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere also makes an appearance on Heigl’s list of favourite movies. Originally intended to be a dark movie about sex work and class in Los Angeles, Pretty Woman was rewritten as a high budget rom-com that tells of the relationship between a wealthy businessman and the Hollywood escort he hires for a week.
Perhaps the most obscure film on Heigl’s list is Steven Kampmann and William Porter’s 1988 coming-of-age romantic drama Stealing Home, starring Mark Harmon and Jodie Foster, while Harold Ramis and Blair Brown also appear. The film tells of a failed baseball player who learns that his childhood sweetheart has killed herself and must confront his grief whilst reminiscing on the past and making a journey to spread her ashes.
Heigl’s list is rounded off by Herbert Ross’ 1989 comedy-drama Steel Magnolias, starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. Based on Robert Harling’s play of the same name, Steel Magnolias tells of the bond between a group of small town Southern woman and how they come to terms with one of their deaths.
Heigl’s favourite movies reveal an actor who enjoys a romantic comedy or two with an air of dramatic qualities thrown in for good measure. With Heigl having appeared in many romantic comedies throughout her career, her favourite films of all time make perfect sense and likely inspired some of her best performances.
Katherine Heigl’s favourite movies ever made:
- The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001)
- Good Will Hunting (Gus Van Sant, 1997)
- Pretty Woman (Garry Marshall, 1990)
- Stealing Home (Steven Kampmann and William Porter, 1988)
- Steel Magnolias (Herbert Ross, 1989)
