17 of Our Favorite Doctors on Grey’s Anatomy
By Buckie Wells
17. Izzie Stevens
Let’s just rip off the band-aid and give this original a spot, but remember that it’s mostly because she was one of the originals.
Right from the very beginning of the show, Grey’s Anatomy struggled with where Izzie Stevens belonged. She lacked the same depth and intrigue as her fellow interns Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang. Instead, they opted to use her blatant sex appeal to subvert expectations, but it didn’t really make Izzie any more of a sympathetic character.
At her best, she was a compassionate doctor who went above and beyond to help people. Whether she was investing her inheritance in a free clinic or operating on a deer, Izzie Stevens rarely quit. However, at her worst, Izzie Stevens was a compulsive man-stealer who threw shade at Callie Torres for no apparent reason.
Still, Katherine Heigl won an Emmy for her portrayal of the character, and we respect Izzie Stevens nonetheless. I mean, even when no one paid attention to her, she went out of her way to take care of them, including making dinner and decorating for Christmas.