‘i WASN’T AS CURIOUS ABOUT ACTING AS i WAS about other things that life can give’
From the spotlight to the quiet life, these stars stepped away from Tinseltown to pursue other passions or, simply, take a break… By Keeley Ryan
many of Tinseltown’s familiar faces have stepped away from the spotlight over the years. Sometimes, it was in pursuit of a quieter life or to spend time with their loved ones. Other times, it was to rediscover that spark that made them fall in love with acting — or to even pursue an entirely different career dream.
This week, we’re taking a look at some of the celebs who have walked away from the bright lights of Tinseltown over the years…
From Sleepless in Seattle toyou’ve
Got Mail; When Harry Met Sally to Kate & Leopold, Meg Ryan starred in some beloved — and iconic — stories on the big screen. But towards the end of the 2000s, the queen of romantic comedies took a step back from appearing in front of the camera.
She returned briefly in 2013 for a few TV roles and films, but resumed her time away from the spotlight a few years later.
Her most recent big screen appearance was in the film Ithaca, which she also directed.
The film also allowed her to act opposite Jack Quaid, her and Dennis Quaid’s son. And in 2020, she served as the narrator on the podcast series Cut and Run.
In 2019, Meg opened up about her decision to step away from the spotlight.
She said,“i wasn’t as curious about acting as I was about other things that life can give you. I wanted to live more.”
Last year, it was announced that she would be making her return to romantic comedies with What Happens Later, which is said to be an“evolved and nostalgic” take on the genre.
Meg also directed the film, which is said to currently be in post production.
Cameron Diaz last appeared on the big screen in 2014 as Miss Hannigan in Annie — and just four years later, she announced her retirement from acting.
In 2020, The Sweetest Thing actress told how she had found“peace”and felt “grounded and light”after stepping back from the limelight.
She said,“i just decided that I wanted different things out of my life. I had gone so hard for so long, working, making films and it’s such a grind.
“I got sick of the sound of my own voice; it was time to go away.”
you at all, you start to question yourself and go, ‘oh, do people not care about me anymore?’
“When it goes away a little bit, you notice it. And that’s the dangerous part, because that can mess with your mind.”
The actor also told how he avoided places like grocery stores, movie theatres or malls for a decade — and that if he did leave the house, it was with“hat, sunglasses”as he was“scared”.
He continued,“it built up something inside of me where, I didn’t know it, but I was scared to go out. I’d get super anxious to go out. So I just didn’t.”
From Scarface to Batman Returns, Hairspray to What Lies Beneath, Michelle Pfeiffer has starred in many memorable movies throughout her career.
And earlier this year, the actress opened up about stepping away from Hollywood in the early 2000s to focus on family life.
She explained,“i didn’t set out to stop working or it wasn’t my plan, but I became so difficult in terms of my prerequisites, in terms of, ‘Well, where does it shoot? How long does it shoot? What time of year does it shoot? Can I bring the kids? Is it during the school year?’ And then it was just too difficult to hire me, honestly. And I was okay with that.
“Honestly, I didn’t even realise how much time had gone by, and I was kind of reading things on the way, and there was just nothing that really I liked enough that prompted me to wanna leave home, leave the kids.”
Michelle noted that she“didn’t want to disrupt their life and the routines that they were establishing and the friends they were making”, so she would“just do things if they were longer shoots in the summer”— but then it“just became so complicated.” ■