What’s she doing New Year’s Eve?

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Katherine Heigl plays a caterer being wooed by an auld acquaintance — her ex (Jon Bon Jovi) — in “New Year’s Eve,” opening Friday.

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Updated: January 10, 2012 8:04AM

Katherine Heigl is a rom-com queen at the box office. But in real life, the star of the new holiday love story “New Year’s Eve” doesn’t need a script.

“What makes for a great relationship?” mulls over Heigl, who is married to singer Josh Kelley. “What I love about my husband is that I don’t have to be anyone but myself for him.

“He really loves all the things about me that everyone else would find ridiculous. I can be quite dorky. When someone loves your inner dorkiness then you know you’ve found the right person. Ask yourself: Does she or he love the silly you that absolutely makes no sense to anyone else but your partner?”

Heigl, best known for playing Dr. Izzie Stevens on “Grey’s Anatomy,” started her career as a model. She’s also a busy mom to adopted daughter Naleigh, 3, who hails from South Korea, where Heigl’s sister was born.

In “New Year’s Eve” (opening Friday), she joins Jessica Biel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zac Efron, Sofia Vergara, Josh Duhamel, Lea Michele, Michelle Pfeiffer and Ashton Kutcher in the interconnected stories of couples and singles in New York on Dec. 31.

Q. You play a caterer reunited with her former fiance (Jon Bon Jovi). Any advice for singles at the holidays?

A. Stop looking! I know everyone says that but it’s true. I wasn’t looking when I met Josh. I wasn’t even thinking about marriage and family and was just focusing on work. Most women get to that point where they say, “Screw it. I don’t need anyone.” That’s when you usually meet someone. So, just keep yourself busy with friends and don’t dwell on finding someone.

Q.What does New Year’s Eve mean to you?

A. I’m really a homebody. I’m the type who is like, “Let’s just stay home and celebrate.” There’s nothing like just being with your family. Plus, I love spending time with my husband and daughter. It doesn’t matter where you go. When you’re with the most important people in your life, you feel it down to your toes.

Q. After “Knocked Up,” “27 Dresses” and “The Ugly Truth,” you’re no stranger to romantic comedies. What does it take to make a good one?

A. You have to feel a certain energy that defines a good romantic comedy. What makes it unique also comes from the actors, although it’s so hard to know if there will be chemistry or not until you get on the set. You just feel that connection and something clicks.

Q. You’ve done a few action films. Do you like that genre?

A. It’s fun, but you have to know that I’m not a very athletic person in real life. That’s why I always go home with some bruises. You’re in the tub thinking, “Where did that come from?” I twisted my ankle on “Killers” because it’s not easy to run in heels. I do love it when I’m asked to challenge myself and do something outside my normal realm.

Q. Speaking of action, tell us about playing Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich’s best-seller One for the Money, which is making it to the big screen next month. You play a Jersey girl and lingerie saleswoman who becomes a bounty hunter.

A. It was an amazing role. It was also intimidating because this is a character that exists in the hearts and minds of many fans. I wanted to do her justice. It was great to do a different kind of film. I don’t even look like me. I’m in a dark brown wig and I have a Jersey accent. I started with the hair and become her all the way down to the shoes. The fun thing was the Jersey accent. I downloaded some of the “Jersey Shore” episodes to practice.

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