Katherine Heigl details return to television in 'State of Affairs'

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Katherine Heigl returns to the small screen on Monday four years after she left Grey's Anatomy to pursue a career in film, and the actress says she's "excited" to finally play an adult.

Heigl famously left ABC's medical drama because she was no longer happy with the material her character was given, asked how her new role as CIA agent Charleston "Charlie" Tucker is different from Grey's Izzy Stevens, the actress explained she played the two women at different times in their lives.

"Izzie had a very serious grown-up career, but she was -- and I was -- young," Heigl told TV Guide. "She was still fumbling around life. So I was excited to play a true adult."

The 38-year-old actress will star in NBC's political drama State of Affairs alongside Alfre Woodard, who will play U.S. President Constance Payton. In addition to working together on a daily basis, the two women are linked by Payton's son, who was Tucker's fiance before getting killed in a terrorist attack.

As for comments deeming her return to television as a step back, Heigl said she finds it "interesting" that people think of television as a "demotion" from motion pictures.

"How can you say that and watch something like Matthew McConaughey in True Detective or Kevin Spacey in House of Cards?" she said.

State of Affairs airs Monday's at 10 p.m.