As for the possibility of having a baby through natural childbirth, she said: "We've talked about having a biological child. I'm kind of a baby when it comes to pain but it's something we hope to do before I'm too old to do it. And, when and if I'm pregnant, I don't want to have to work. I want to be calm and not worry about how much weight I'm gaining."

"Josh and I have been married four years, which seems like a record in Hollywood. I feel safe and comforted in his presence, but sometimes I want to kill him, and then, thankfully, he goes on tour," Heigl quipped.

Katherine explained that the couple always try to embrace the romance in their relationship and she's happy to play the traditional gender roles to a degree. "I like to do domestic things for him. I like to cook and do his laundry. I know it sounds really 1950s housewife, but let me be clear, I'm not doing it all the time," adding, "I do get to go off and have a really fun, exciting job. If I were home doing it 24/7 I might not like it so much."

Discussing her new movie One For The Money, reporter Michele Manelis asked the leading lady what she thought of being synonymous with romantic comedies. In particular, in response to the quote by actress Mila Kunis that "Life isn't a Katherine Heigl movie," in the picture Friends With Benefits. "Oh, I think it's hilarious," Katherine said, "Yes, it's right. It is a lie. But I'm flattered that my name would be brought up in a movie," she laughed.

"What's funny is that your acquaintances always tell you when someone's making fun of you or has said something negative. At first I thought, 'Well, that sucks'. But now I'm actually flattered that my name would be brought up in a movie. It's really weird. I was also mentioned in one of my favourite television shows, Hart of Dixie. It's really surreal. When I heard it, I had to call my mum."

Jason O'Mara & Katherine Heigl In One For The Money

In One For The Money, a crime mystery and a definite departure from the aforementioned rom-com genre, Katherine plays unlikely heroine and plucky bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, taking on a blue-collar New Jersey accent as she chases down the bad guys.

"Stephanie's very different from me. I grew up in a very sort of upper-class, fancy-schmancy town in Connecticut. It was a real treat to play her. She has an effortless sexiness about her that doesn't rely heavily on hair, make-up and wardrobe, except for the uber-tight jeans," Katherine explained of the much beloved character from the best-selling series of novels by Janet Evanovich.

Though capturing 'the bounty' proved a little more problematic, "I'm terrible with handcuffs," Katherine told Vancouver's the Georgia Straight, "They drove me nuts. I was always delaying the take, cause I could never get the handcuffs on the actor, and I'm apologizing profusely, and twisting his arm too hard. I hate handcuffs, they’re annoying."

She was however, surprised to find that packing heat was much more enjoyable than she had imagined and that she was a bit of a sharp shooter. "Well, I actually wasn't all that thrilled that they made us go to a gun range to practice shooting. I thought it was a bit much since we were just pretending to shoot guns and kill people. We didn't really need to learn in my mind how to be a great shot. They put a gun in your hand and do this 30 minute spiel on everything that could possibly go wrong, and I'm thinking, ‘Why am I here doing this?’" continues Heigl. "And then I put the goggles on, point, and aim, and shoot, and I was, like, 'Oh, this is very satisfying.' I totally enjoyed it, and I was a pretty good shot. I was totally excited about that."

The Blu-ray release of the movie will be packaged with the DVD and UltraViolet digital versions, and bonus features include an audio commentary with the director, a gag reel, deleted scenes from the film and a number of featurettes: "The Magic Of Times Square", "New Year's Secrets Of The Stars" and "Jon Bon Jovi & Lea Michele Rock New Year's Eve".

New Year's Eve celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, with intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year.

Katherine Heigl At The One For The Money Premiere In Paris

Did she have to mentally prepare for the scene?

"We spent a lot of time joking around and being silly about it because it is so absurd and there are things you can do to sort of cover the most private bits, I guess, but they almost look worse - the pasties look even more bizarre than if I had just gone for it," Katherine explained.

With much talk in the press about a potential return to ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, Katherine wanted to set the record straight. "I feel like it was a very innocent question and my first instinct and innocent answer was, 'Oh yeah, I'd love to go back if they wanted me to.' And it's turned into this story! I wouldn't want anyone to feel misled or feel confused by my answer and I just want everyone to know, 'Hey I love that show and I love that character just as much as you do.'

Katherine clarified that she would love to return as a guest for an episode arc to update the story of Dr. Isobel Stevens, perhaps bringing some closure to many of the questions left unanswered by her characters sudden departure.

"I would be thrilled if they asked. I think it would be just so wonderful to have the opportunity to just sort of round out the character, have a few episodes to just discover where she went, what she's doing now and (have) one more loving, romantic scene with Alex," she explained.

"That was a really, really difficult decision,", Heigl said of her decision to leave the show after 6 seasons to spend more time with her daughter Naleigh. "You know, you are always going to grapple with something like that because it was a great experience and I didn't really want to go. But I felt... like I need to make her and my husband and our life together as a family my priority."

How has motherhood affected her career?

"My career had been my primary focus for a very long time and that's a very self-absorbed path. It's all about me. It's all about what I want. It's all about what I need. And having Naleigh in my life has put that all into a perspective that's much more peaceful and much more profound. I feel very blessed, very grateful to have it because I feel like I can breathe. When Naleigh is in a room, whatever that special and unique thing that child has puts me in a frame of mind and a place where I like myself better."

Having starred in a number of very successful romantic comedies, is Katherine concerned about being typecast?

"They tend to be the movies I watch when I'm home and hanging out and want to relax. I want to watch Kate Hudson, I want to watch Reese Witherspoon, I want to watch all those great movies that make you feel good. So I loved being a part of them and I didn't mind being typecast, but any time you start to wander outside the box a little bit people start to get confused. This one is an interesting one because it wasn't a conscious decision not to do romantic comedy. The book explores so many different themes that in order to honor it properly and do right by it we couldn't just turn it into a romantic comedy."

"Here for this opening is great," said Katherine, "New York has the best restaurants. I work hard and look forward to those short times you can enjoy life. I’m a foodie. I love to eat in such great restaurants."

Katherine Heigl At The One For The Money Premiere In New York

"Not always easy sitting through your movie and watching yourself on - screen. I saw every zit on my skin. I’ve suffered with breaking out since I was 16. I’m 33 now. No matter what creams or anything, it still happens."

"And who can watch every single thing you eat? Who can do salads all the time? You’re just best off with portion control."

"After a movie wraps, I treat myself. I shop. Always shop. I'm a shopper. I shop for purses, shoes, jewelry. My mother says you're either a purse person or a shoe person. I don’t know... me, I'm a shopping person. I'm now not allowed to even approach Bergdorfs!"

Katherine also chatted about her love for animals, the Jason Heigl Foundation and her spay/neuter fundraising campaign I Hate Balls - focused on reducing the number of companion animals being killed in shelters. Discussion then turned to the seven dogs and three cats that share family life with her, husband Josh Kelley and daughter Naleigh.

"One Schnauzer, Romeo, my oldest and best, I take wherever I go. Every movie location. This year we filmed in Connecticut, and he went with me every day. He was my first dog. He's so old. No trouble on a set because he's too old to even bark anymore."

"When my husband asked how can we bring the baby into our world of chaos, we had a discussion. I then had six dogs. I said, 'They're my family. I mean, listen, I'll just get rid of you first.'"

"Our dog sitter takes them to the park daily. They love her. They go berserk when they see her. They had to be taught respect, gentleness and one was out of control. Too protective. Growl if anyone came near. We brought in a trainer to teach them handling the baby. I told my husband, 'We're the alpha. We're in charge. It's tough love. Stomp your feet or pull a tail if one doesn’t behave.'"

"But it never stops. My friend spent a night in our guest room. While she slept, one of them pooped right in her bed!"

Also hear author Janet Evanovich talk about creating the persona for Stephanie Plum, screenwriter Liz Brixius discuss the importance of remaining faithful to the original story and watch scenes from the movie that feature Katherine in action.

Katherine Heigl At The One For The Money Press Junket

Describing Stephanie Plum, the character she portrays on the big screen and the star of a series of best-selling novels by author Janet Evanovich, Katherine continued, "She never takes herself very seriously and doesn't take other people too seriously either. She has this great perspective on life that happens to be really funny, witty and charming as well. I like everything about Stephanie. She's sort of that hapless heroine that you don't get a lot of. Normally you get the overly perfect heroines that you can never aspire to be like, but Stephanie's a sort of everyday girl."

Production Values: Following The Story

"I was approached about the project when I was doing The Ugly Truth with Lakeshore. They had wanted to turn the book into a movie and at that point I had not read the book. So I started reading them and then became obsessed with them. I got really excited about the idea of bringing it to the screen, " Katherine said, explaining her involvement and passion for the project.

"I knew that I was going to really do my absolute best to get as close as I could to her because I feel the same way that the fans of the books do, and I'm a fan of the books. It was nerve-racking and it is scary and hard to take a book that is so popular and that has so many fans, and go out on a limb and turn it into a film. And a lot of these fans have been waiting for a film for a long time, so you don't want to disappoint."

Katherine had a dual role in the film, in addition to playing the leading lady she also served as one of the executive producers, an opportunity she relished. "I really loved the producer role on this, because it was so important to me to keep the film really close to the book – because that's what I fell in love with and that's what millions of people have fallen in love with. It was great to be in the room and have an opinion, not that I was necessarily listened to all the time. But it was fun. And here we are. Yeah, we made it. We did it, guys. We did this."

The film is just one of several Heigl has co-produced with her mother and producing partner, Nancy Heigl, under their Abishag banner and it is a process she enjoys because it is a unique creative outlet. "It's a different challenge and it has a different set of obstacles that I just found really interesting and exciting, and I just love having more control," she said. "I love being able to have a voice when it comes to sort of the bigger creative decisions. And producing, too, is an opportunity for me to sort of actively seek and create art and roles and stories for myself instead of just waiting for them to come to me."

Katherine Heigl At The One For The Money Press Junket

Katherine noted she's constantly looking for new projects to produce, "the business is changing and making fewer films now. Hollywood is an interesting place. If one thing is successful then you get a slew of scripts that sort of mimic that one project that did well," she continued. "So if you want to get outside the box at all or tell a different story you know, I tend to read a lot. I love to option books and go from there."

She's Got The Look

Known for her blonde locks in the majority of her major roles, Katherine realized immediately that to keep to her mantra of following Janet Evanovich's story as closely as possible, that she would need to change the color of her hair for the role. "Yeah, she's brunette. Her look is very specific in the book, and once you get attached to that idea in your head I couldn't imagine Stephanie any other way. It would have been really weird to play Stephanie blonde. It just wouldn't have worked. But the other side of that is that most people know me as a blonde so it was disconcerting, I think, for certain fans to see me as a brunette. And then it was disconcerting for the fans of the book to imagine me as Stephanie and blonde and blah, blah, blah. So I dyed it before we started filming, brown, trying to like get people on board. I ended up just wearing a wig, because I don't have curly hair and Stephanie does. Then I went back to blonde while promoting the movie, so I didn’t really think it through, but hopefully people will buy it!"

While Heigl wore a curly brunette wig, worked with a dialect coach on a New Jersey accent and learned how to shoot a real gun for the part, her baby daughter, who was on set during shoot in Pittsburgh back in the of summer 2010. "didn't get too freaked out by the wig or anything like that," explained Katherine. "I think she's sort of used to it by now. I've changed my hair colour and style, six times in her short little life," she added with a laugh.

Not Just A Chick Flick

Although she has featured in a number of successful romantic comedies in recent years, Katherine was keen to let viewers know they should expect One For Money to be much less of a 'chick flick', with a broader appeal to both men and women. "What's interesting about the books is that they all have a murder mystery tie-in with the bounty-hunting aspect. It's not all just about romance. It's not all just about comedy. The murder-mystery storyline in this movie is kind of dark and a little edgy and gives a vibe that is not purely chick flick-ish. I'm really excited about it because I think it does appeal to everyone. It isn't just a girls' movie, and I think we're working hard to advertise it so everyone knows that. It's a good time for everyone, men included.". Adding with a laugh, "Tough men. Tough men will love this movie."

What was Katherine's definition of a tough guy?

"I have no idea. Oh, that's right. Josh (Kelley) is here. I just insulted all three men in the room that I work with or live with." she quipped.

Katherine Heigl & Jason O'Mara In One for The Money

Referring to the advertisements the film, which see her dressed in jeans and boots holding a pair of handcuffs, Katherine continued "It could be any type of movie, couldn't it? I actually just got back into town Saturday night, and yesterday was the first day I really left my house, so I hadn't seen any of the posters or anything yet. It's always really thrilling. There's always this moment of adrenaline when you see your face and butt and name on a big poster when you drive down whatever boulevard. So I'm really thrilled. I'm really excited and very hopeful, fingers crossed, it works."

Singin' In The Rain

Working Debbie Reynolds was a particular highlight of One For Money for Katherine, and the screen legend was always happy to share stories from her incredible career. One tale in particular made Katherine very grateful for the comforts of modern moviemaking. "I was complaining one day about the hours, as I normally do, and Gary (Lucchesi), our producer, said, 'Oh, you ought to hear Debbie's story about her hours on Singin' in the Rain.' It was so horrifying what that woman went through to make that movie. She was so young at the time. It was her first big break, and she's working with an icon. And they were dancing and singing, and I think she said they were working something like 20 hours a day and she would just get a few hours of sleep on the sofa in her dressing room and then go back to work a few hours later. It was just so much that I couldn't really even believe it. I thought she was exaggerating, and it was sort of one of those "When I was your age I walked to school in bare feet and in 10 feet of snow." I thought, "This can't be true." Then she told me how she had to dance with bleeding feet at one point. Gene Kelly, he wanted to stop it. Like, 'I guess we should stop. Debbie's feet are bleeding all over the scene.' And she was like, 'No, no. I'm fine. I'll wrap them up. I'm fine. I can keep going.' So then I stopped complaining about my hours!"

Katherine was proud of getting both Reynolds (Grandma Mazur) and co-star Sherri Shepherd (Lula) on board with the picture. "We were lucky Debbie (Reynolds) was interested," she said. "And that's the same with Sherri (Shepherd), who ad libbed half of her lines." Allowing others to shine was fine with the producer and the star of the film. "I'd much rather be surrounded by stronger comedians than me, because it makes me look good," Heigl insisted. "The only hard part was not messing up the takes by laughing."

Gun Fun

Taking on the role of a bounty hunter meant that Katherine got to shoot a gun - not something she was unfamiliar with from previous on screen action scenes, but for One For Money the producers decided that instead of just playing with props, the cast would benefit from getting to try out the real thing.

Katherine Heigl & Daniel Sunjata In One for The Money

"I've been wielding guns in films since I was 15, but they're fake and there's no actual bullet in them. So they took us to a shooting range to practice because there are certain things that you're not supposed to do, like blink when you shoot. But it's impossible not to blink. It's really hard! It was really intimidating and nerve-wracking the first time they put a loaded gun in your hand. Plus, they'd just given you a 20-minute spiel about the dangers of this gun, so you're freaking out. I really enjoyed it because it was super satisfying and cathartic on some level. And then I turned around and Jason O'Mara was... What kind of gun was he shooting? It shot fire out of it or something. I wanted that one! It was a little intense, but it was fun. I had a good time. I started wanting to go to the gun range regularly. And then I started shooting clay pigeons with Josh. I really like to shoot things. I know, it's funny. Who knew!?"

Katherine also managed some gym time to get in running-and-jumping shape for the action role, "I just turned thirty-three last year, so I'm like, "I gotta make more of an effort." Every year I get older, it's more of an effort. Even just to keep my back from going out, I have to do more weight training, more cardio. I hate it. But when I'm in Utah, I actually love it because I can be outside and be active, whereas in LA, if I'm going to go for a job and get photographed, it's super embarrassing to me. So then it's treadmills in a basement somewhere, and I hate that. "

Best friend and longtime stunt double, Cheyenne Ellis, did most of the more complicated action scenes in the movie Katherine confesses. "I really count on her to protect me, and to tell me what I can do, and what I shouldn't do," says Heigl of Ellis, who also showed the actress how to perform a specific physical stunt for one particular sequence. "I had to clothesline a guy, and I would never have known how to do it, but she showed me."

Janet Evanovich's Words Of Support

Katherine was desperate to make sure she had captured the essence of Stephanie Plum in her performance and was grateful for the reassuring words of wisdom she received from Janet Evanovich. "I didn't speak to her until after the movie was made and after she saw it. I really wish I had gotten to talk to her on the phone beforehand, because I think she would have relieved a lot of pressure. She was so supportive and so cool about it, and just took the angle of, 'Look, you're always going to have a few people that don't think you're the right fit for the role. But I think you are, and I think it's great. So just be you and do your Stephanie, and people will embrace it.' That was such a relief to hear from the creator of the novels because I was trying so hard to fit myself into... It's hard to know what anyone else is thinking of the character. You only have your imagination to go off of. But I was trying to read people's minds and fit myself into it somehow. And ultimately, I just have to do my thing. That's the best I can do."

Katherine Heigl & Janet Evanovich

Grey's Alumni

"We had met on Grey's Anatomy and really enjoyed working together, so certainly it influenced us working together on this because we were like, 'That was great fun. Let's do it again.'", Katherine said of director Julie Anne Robinson, who helmed several episodes of the hit medical drama from 2006 to 2009. Robinson was one of several Grey's alumni working on One For Money, with Jason O'Mara (Joe Morelli) and Debra Monk (Mrs. Plum) guesting on the show during Katherine's tenure and Daniel Sunjata (Ranger) having joined the ABC drama last year.

"I was so embarrassed at myself for not remembering, but his storyline was with some of the other actors and I hadn't had any scenes with him. I don't know if I missed the episode or what. And then Daniel, of course, goes on Grey's as a regular as soon as the movie wrapped. It was so funny. I was like, 'How random!'"

Katherine who played Dr. Izzie Stevens for six seasons on Grey's Anatomy said she hasn't had a chance to talk with Sunjata about being on the show, but added: "I hope he had as great an experience as I did. I think he was great. I didn't get to see much of his role because I don't watch much anymore but he's such a great actor and such a great guy, I hope it was a positive experience."

Franchise Opportunities?

With One For Money being the first of 18 books in the Stephanie Plum series adapted for film, the possibility of a sequel was something that journalists were eager to explore. Katherine was guarded but optimistic about future franchise opportunities. "It just really depends on whether or not this one does well enough to get the big finance guys to get onboard," she said with a laugh. "My goal is to do two or three movies from the series, but you never know, it could be like James Bond! They just keep getting better and better and more and more fun. I love when Lula and Stephanie team up and are detectives together. And it's very Cagney and Lacey, and it's super weird. And then the relationships keep bouncing, which would be so much fun."

The struggle of making ends meet is as familiar to Heigl as it is to her fictional character. "I had lots of ebbs and flows, certainly, before Grey's Anatomy. I struggled a lot before that and I was living from paycheck to paycheck too."

"I started modeling when I was nine, did some things for Sears. I modeled Cabbage Patch underwear. Good times. Kids at school really liked that," Katherine joked when asked about her worst work experiences.

Women In Communication

Favorite Scene

Katherine couldn't pin down her favorite scene from the film but said "The best is when there's nothing I can do except laugh, where I can't try to stay in character or respond with something witty. I just start dying laughing. So then I ruin it because you can't use it,"

Katherine Heigl At The One for The Money Premiere In New York

Home, Family & Animals

The press junket discussion was not all movie related - turning to general chat about family life, home and Katherine's passion for animals. Discussing her spay / neuter fundraising PSA and campaign I Hate Balls aimed at reducing the number of pets being killed in shelters, Katherine joked, "Next we're going for ovaries — it's only fair!" adding that she "didn't realize how many men would be offended. I thought they would know I was joking. I hope we get more of my celebrity friends to do these PSAs for me."

Asked if she and husband Josh Kelley had plans to add to their family, Katherine said that the couple were hoping to adopt again soon. "I hope we do. I'm trying to, yes. I'm hoping we have another child sooner than later — at least maybe in the next year," adding that daughter Naleigh loves babies and the whole idea of babies.

She also revealed that while the couple would also like to have a child biologically, "I'm on an adoption bent at this point. I'm afraid of pregnancy. That terrifies me. After being in Knocked Up and having to watch birthing videos, I'm terrified!"

Daughter Naleigh who turned 3 last November is "just too cute for words" and had been very affectionate with her mom earlier in the day ahead of her talk with reporters. "Naleigh seems to like me better when I'm prettier, so when my hair is done and my makeup is on. And she was so cuddly with me today, and I was like, 'That's funny. Usually she's so squirmy and wants to run around.' It was because I look pretty right now. Somebody else made me look pretty," Katherine said laughing.

The family divide their time between Los Angeles and rural Utah where Katherine has built an eco-friendly second home. "Our house in Utah is solar-powered and radiant floors and reclaimed wood. I did the whole thing. It's a little pricier, though. I'm just telling anybody else out there who doesn't realize that when they start."

One For Money is in theaters now.

With the picture not hitting German cinema screens until April 19, much of the media material from the two day press junket is yet to be published, but in an interview clip with Stern magazine the leading lady spoke about her recent visit to Esslingen, the birthplace of her grandfather, and the special experience of being able to trace her family history.

Katherine Heigl At The Four Seasons Hotel (Photo: Los Angeles Daily News / Scott Varley)

"Stephanie is fun. She's just got this great wacky sense of humor and a way of seeing people and the world that is very light and fun. She just sort of rolls with the punches, and you just can't help but like her and want to be like her. I think that she's kind of effortlessly beautiful and sexy and doesn't try. Every woman wants to be effortlessly beautiful and sexy"

The opportunity to produce One For The Money and other films under the banner of her company Abishag, is something that Katherine has relished. Recognizing that being a young leading lady doesn't last forever she told reporter Rob Lowman, "I've never felt like I had to cling to my youth so I could be a leading lady. I find the transition sort of interesting. I think everything can get stagnant if you're just on the same path all the time. So the producing has been really interesting. I never thought I would like it as much as I do."

Katie said she has enjoyed having input in "everything from set design to wardrobe to casting to the script to directing the look and feel of a movie," adding it is just a coincidence - one that she is pleased with - that so many women are involved in the making of the film, including herself, Evanovich, the three screenwriters and the director - Julie Anne Robinson.

"They don't usually let that many women in the room together make that many choices because they are afraid we'll take over," Katherine joked.

In terms of her acting career, Katherine revealed that she would like to take a few more risks with her future projects, "I watched `My Week With Marilyn' and walked away so inspired by Michelle Williams," she says. "It sort of blew my mind. I have zero interest in playing iconic female characters - talk about pressure - but she really inspired me about wanting to reach out myself a little bit more and see what else I can do.".

Having grown up in the business, beginning with her first film as a child actress in That Night over 20 years ago, does Katherine feel she had missed out on anything by beginning her career so young?

"I certainly missed things. I missed slumber parties and stuff, but my mother always gave me the option. She said, `You can take the class trip but can't have it both ways. If you want to be professional, then you have to show up for the job or the audition.'"

Katherine Heigl At The Four Seasons Hotel (Photo: Los Angeles Daily News / Scott Varley)

As for whether she would want daughter Naleigh to follow her down the path of acting, Katherine remains unsure, "although I keep asking myself why, because I had a great experience" she noted.

Motherhood has certainly been a life changing experience for the star, "I don't remember not being a mother. I can barely remember my life before her... it's so interesting how quickly you adapt."

Naleigh has also been one of the impetuses for Katherine to quit smoking, something she only began when she was 25 and which now sees her using an electronic cigarette in an effort to completely kick the habit. "It's just a bad habit really," she conceded. "It keeps me off real cigarettes, but I'm still addicted to nicotine. It's just the one massive vice I have had in my life. If there was something I could take back it would be that day that I bought a pack of cigarettes," she smiled ruefully.

Family is something that is very important to Katherine and with both her and musician husband Josh Kelley often having to be away from home with their busy careers, the time the couple spend together is precious. "We had about 22 days together over the holidays in Utah, and it was so wonderful. The morning he left I was just sort of beside myself. I wanted the moment a little bit longer, but that's just not the reality of our lives and our relationship," she said, continuing, "I think it's good for us because it makes it harder for us to take the relationship for granted."

Visit the LA Daily News online to read the full interview and to view images from the exclusive photo shoot.