Actress Katherine Heigl flew into London last month to promote her new romantic comedy 27 Dresses, in which she plays serial bridesmaid Jane. Off-screen she recently married musician Josh Kelley, so You & Your Wedding caught up with her to chat about, love, marriage and frocks!
Have you ever been a bridesmaid?
I was my sister’s maid of honour last October and I was so excited that she asked me but it’s a tremendous amount of pressure. My sister’s a real tomboy and she hated the hair and make-up tests - her embarrassment was just profound! It’s a stressful job and I’d rather not do it again.
You got married yourself at Christmas, so what did you choose for your own bridesmaids?
They wore red Oscar de la Renta cocktail dresses. I was originally going to go with gold – my wedding colours were ivory/gold – but I thought that was kind of cruel to ask them to pull off a gold cocktail dress, so we went with the cranberry red as it fitted in with the Christmas vibe.
That was sweet - the brides in 27 Dresses seemed to humiliate their bridesmaids!
I’ve never understood the theory that a bride would want her bridesmaids not to look as good as her on her wedding day. That’s silly and petty – I wanted them to enjoy the experience and be excited about getting dressed up. I tried very hard not to be bridezilla. I tried not to give in to that – everyone trying to make it the most expensive, crazy day!
When did you know Josh was ‘the one’?
I knew pretty early on. It just felt right. It was about nine months in when I brought up the subject although I didn’t bring it up thinking that he wasn’t on the same page. I didn‘t ask him, but I forced his hand.
Might you have asked if it had been 29 February, leap year?
Why can you do that - ask? I did not know that. If I had, well, maybe…
And how is married life?
There’s a steadiness that wasn’t there before which sounds really boring but I think in our particular life and professions, it’s a really safe and wonderful thing to have this person that you know is in it for the long-haul. I don’t have to worry about impressing him – I can just be me all the time!
* 27 Dresses opens across the UK on 27 March
