The beloved Izzie Stevens on the long-running ABC drama Grey's Anatomy was soft-hearted and an inherently good person. Life had dealt her a raw deal as she got diagnosed with terminal cancer after having overcome several obstacles as a young woman and managing to become a surgical resident at Seattle Grace.

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Izzie was golden-hearted but that didn't mean she was without her flaws. She had a tendency to nag and poke her nose where it didn't belong. She was also extremely impulsive and often acted without any regard for the consequences.

Worst: Interfered In Other People's Business

Izzie being obnoxious with Callie in presence of George, Meredith and Cristina

Izzie had a habit of nagging and interfering where it was really no business of hers. She came between Callie and George and went out of her way to poison George against Callie. She went to the extent of sowing the seeds of doubt in George's mind about Callie's sense of hygiene which was very mean, and unnecessary.

Later too, she made it her business to keep Alex off Ava. Although the latter was clearly not suited for Alex, it was not Izzie's place to constantly nag and try to create a rift between him and Ava.

Best: Very Humane

An image of a smiling Izzie Stevens in Grey's Anatomy.

Although she could be surprisingly annoying at times, Izzie was also the most humane in that entire batch of surgical interns. perhaps with the exception of George.

Izzie was not only soft-hearted when it came to patients but she even helped save the lives of non-human patients, such as the deer that she managed to save in spite of the skepticism she had to face from her own interns.

Worst: Acted Impulsively

Izzie and Alex argue in Grey's Anatomy

Of course, anyone familiar with Grey's universe would know that Izzie Stevens was impulsive and rash when it came to decision-making. Her entire second-season arc involved Izzie falling for a patient, the handsome Denny Duquette, and cutting his L-Vad wire so that Denny would be bumped to the top of the heart transplant list, an action that ideally should have had more severe consequences than it did.

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Later again, Izzie simply assumed that Alex had told on her for making a major mistake with her patient, causing her to get fired. She disappeared without even trying to find out the truth, her impulsiveness eventually leading to her divorce from Alex Karev.

Best: Connected With Patients

Izzie Stevens smiling in Grey's Anatomy

Izzie was a wonderfully amiable person and her personable nature made it very easy for her to connect with her patients. She used her interpersonal skills to interact with patients to make them feel better.

Her lovely smile and easy ways were the exact foil to the more mechanical ways of Cristina Yang who was a better surgeon but with terrible bedside manners.

Worst: Got Too Emotionally Involved

Izzie talks to Denny at the hospital in Grey's Anatomy

Of course, Izzie's kind-heartedness got her into trouble when she got overly involved emotionally with Denny. Her romance with Denny, although sweet, was definitely unprofessional, and ultimately the reason behind the entire L-Vad scandal.

Her friendly, optimistic nature was a godsend in several matters but as a doctor, she also needed to be able to disconnect at some level which she was hardly ever able to do.

Best: Believed In Basic Goodness

Alex flirting with Izzie Grey Anatomy

Izzie believed in basic goodness in people and that everyone should get more than one chance in life.

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It was Izzie who saw that Alex's relentless arrogance was the result of deep-rooted insecurities and she was the only one who was civil to him even though he continued to behave badly with her, including cheating on her with the nurse Olivia. Izzie's belief in Alex was definitely the starting point for the latter's eventual transformation into a mellower man and a great surgeon.

Worst: Needed To Fix Things

Izzie sitting on the floor in the hospital in Grey's Anatomy

Izzie's faith in someone like Alex also came with her need to fix things. She seemed to think that she could help people find themselves and be told what was right for them.

Her equation with Alex, Denny, and George was all based on her desperate need to fix someone who she thought was broken. With Alex, she thought she could uncover his humane side, which admittedly she did. With Denny, well, he was her patient anyway, with a severe heart condition, and with George too, she seemed to believe that he needed her guidance to steer his own personal life.

Best: Quite The Mary Poppins

Izzie Stevens eating in Grey's Anatomy

The interns, residents, and doctors at Seattle Grace/Grey Sloan Memorial might be exceptional surgeons but not all of them have more homely talents to match their professional skills.

For instance, Meredith herself has been shown to be quite an awful cook, and Cristina couldn't bother herself with such petty matters. Fans will also remember Cristina's first apartment, the one Burke stumbled upon once, that was absolute hell in terms of the mess. It was Izzie who cleaned, cooked, and baked brilliantly - a regular Mary Poppins.

Worst: Irresponsible

Izzie looking pensive Grey Anatomy

Now, this trait of Izzie's probably goes without saying. Anyone who could cut a patient's L-Vad wire and get herself as well as the entire gang into trouble could hardly have been a very responsible person.

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Izzie also left Alex with her hospital bills when she disappeared on him, and seeing that they were bills for her cancer treatment and surgery, the amount would have been quite monumental. Her thoughtless behavior caused Alex to be saddled with her bills which he could hardly afford to pay off.

Best: Showed Tremendous Strength Of Character

Alex kissing Izzie after her brain surgery

Izzie Stevens is a survivor. She showed tremendous strength of character as a young girl, having lived in a trailer park while her mother spent whatever money Izzie would make as a waitress. She got pregnant at 16 and had to give her daughter up for adoption.

Izzie then became a model to put herself through med school. She pushed herself, not letting people's skepticism about whether a model could be a doctor hold her back. Finally, of course, Izzie beat an almost unbeatable cancer and went on to be a successful surgeon with twins. She was a survivor, in the true sense.

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