From Mara Wilson To Cameron Diaz: 8 Celebrities Who Turned Their Back On Hollywood
Life as a celebrity can't beeasy. While there’s definitely a bit of glamour to being chased down for a selfie, plenty of famous people soon decide that living inside a fishbowl isn’t what they once wanted for themselves.
As hard as it can be to jump off the fame treadmill, the following famous faces have all turned their backs on Hollywood in order to embrace life away from the flashing cameras.
Mara Wilson
The star of Matilda and Miracle On 34th Street retired from acting in 2000 and has since turned to writing. Her play, Sheeple, was produced for the 2013 New York International Film Festival, and her memoir, Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame was released in 2016.
Freddie Prinze Junior
Everyone’s childhood crush announced that he’d be taking a break from acting in 2003 because, in his words, “it’s just too weird.” Since then, he has worked as producer and director at WWE and has also taken on his fair share of voice work.
John Hughes
The late filmmaker was the brains behind some of the most iconic 80s movies of all time, including The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
He decided to live a “normal life” back in 1994 and moved to a suburb inChicago to spend more time with his family.
Lauryn Hill
The singer was at the top of her game after the 1998 release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill but decided to leave the music business for close to twelve years after becoming disassatisifed with the industry and overwhelmed by the pressures of fame.
Taylor Momsen
The Gossip Girl actor left the series in 2011, when she was eighteen. At the time, she told Elle: "I quit acting, actually. I quit 'Gossip Girl' and now tour and am in a band, and that's pretty much all I want to do. Hopefully I'll be able to only do that for the rest of my life."
Cameron Diaz
Earlier this year, Selma Blair confirmed that the actor was done with working. According to her, Cameron wants to spend more time with her husband, Benji Madden,and doesn’t see the point of taking on any film roles that might result in them being apart.
Josh Hartnett
The Pearl Harbour actor turned his back on fame after finding the experience too intense.
“I was on the cover of every magazine. I couldn’t really go anywhere. I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I was alone. I didn’t trust anyone. So I went back to Minnesota and got back together with my old friends – ended up getting back together with my high-school girlfriend for a while – and I didn’t do any filming for 18 months. I’m still finding my way through all that,” he told Details.
Kevin Jonas
The eldest member of the Jonas Brothers never attempted to launch a solo career and instead works as a contractor in New Jersey, where he co-owns a home building company called JonasWerner Homes.
Fame. It's not for everyone.