Surprise Emmy winner for her role on hit TV drama "Grey's Anatomy" last year, actress Katherine Heigl preferred to stay out of this year's race, saying that producers diminished her presence on the series and what she was offered to play was not award-worthy performance.

Golden Globe-nominated actress best known for her roles in Roswell, Grey's Anatomy, Knocked Up and 27 Dresses, Heigl said that she didn't seek a nomination because "Grey's Anatomy" failed to deliver her the role for an award-worthy performance.

In a written statement provided by her publicist, Melissa Kates, Heigl said, “I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination, and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention.”

"In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials," she Heigl, who plays Dr. Izzie Stevens on "Grey's Anatomy," which slipped in the ratings this past season but remained a top 10 show.

Heigl won the last year's prime-time Emmy as best supporting actress in a drama for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on the ABC hospital series, beating out two other co-stars for the award - Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson.

The lengthy list of performers contending for Emmy recognition from fellow members of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was posted in recent days. Nominations will be announced on July 17.