Katherine Heigl won't repeat her 'Grey's Anatomy' Emmy win — she's pulled out of contention.

The 29-year-old, who was a surprise winner last year for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on the hit medical series, decided not to submit her name for Emmy consideration.

The move could be considered a swipe at the show's producers for reducing her role during the past season.

"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 organisation decided to withdraw," said Heigl in a statement released by her publicist Melissa Kates.

"In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials," continued the actress.

Although Heigl's big screen profile has increased considerably following the huge success of last year's 'Knocked Up', her profile on the TV series has declined.

"What she deserved after winning the Emmy was a heightened profile on the show, not a reduced one," noted LA Times columnist Tom O'Neil, who believed the actress was "logging an internal protest" with producers.

Emmy nominations will be released on 17 July ahead of the 21 September awards show.

Heigl, who was last seen in cinemas in '27 Dresses', is lined up to produce and star in an adaptation of 'Escape', the memoir of Carolyn Jessop who escaped from a polygamist sect led by Warren Jeffs.