Celebs who quit Hollywood

Hollywood actors will often have a huge run of success then wither take a break, do something else (TV series for Netflix/broadway, start a business, or retired from acting (sometimes illness in the case of Bruce Willia), or for people like Jim Carrey who is “done with Hollywood” (fans await a much awaited comeback).

Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska, a Hollywood movie star is taking a break or retired from acting has opened up about her decision to leave Hollywood, saying she is “pretty content” now explaining that life in the spotlight didn’t quite suit her.

“It’s great, and there are lots of great things, [but] the perception of it is quite different from the reality, and it didn’t suit me as a person. You can really lose perspective because you’re treated quite strangely. When that’s your only reality, it’s quite strange,” she said.

Wasikowska added that she had been working in Hollywood on back-to-back films since she was 15, and found the routine gruelling.

“I spent 10 to 15 years, completely like, new city, new country, every three months, and it’s like starting school again every few months,” she explained.

“Especially when you’re younger, when you don’t have that base, I found that really hard.”

She added, “I didn’t entirely like the lifestyle of going back to back-to-back. I felt really disconnected from any greater community.”

Who else has shyed away from the starlight or changed occupation?

Some of these celebrities made up their mind about it, some had to take a break for health reasons and others just wanted to explore new territories or spend time with their loved ones.

Jim Carrey taking a break and possibly retiring for his quiet and artistic life

One of the most recent stars to proclaim their retirement was Jim Carrey. The Mask actor better known for his quirky and over the top acting and humor told Access Hollywood that he is leaving acting behind. Jim said “I really like my quiet life and I really like putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life and I feel like — and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists — I have enough. I’ve done enough. I am enough.”

Then however, right after the Hollywood actor said that he was fairly serious about retirement, he said, “If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break.”

Jim Carrey is a Canadian-American actor, comedian and producer who has a net worth of $180 million.

Meg Ryan decided to take a step back from acting in 2019, explaining that her career was making her feel burned out. While she didn’t completely rule out stepping back into the spotlight at a later time, for now, she’s not acting.

“I felt in a crazy way that, as an actor, I was burning through life experiences. Somehow, I was a helicopter pilot or a journalist or an alcoholic. I was living these express-lane lives. I didn’t feel like I knew enough anymore about myself or the world to reflect it as an actor. I felt isolated,”

Bruce Willis, we will miss you on our screens

Bruce Willis the Die Hard, Hollywood action film icon is retiring from acting due to health reasons. This month, his family made a heartfelt announcement on social media that the actor recently diagnosed with aphasia and it is affecting his cognitive abilities. Bruce is one of the most prolific actors of the 90’s and throughout his extensive career he has gifted us with many cinematic gems. Today, his health condition prevents him from continuing in the world of acting.

The statement which both his daughters Rumer and Scout posted read: “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” the family members wrote via Instagram, referencing the language disorder characterized by the inability to understand or express speech. “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.” His wife Emma Heming and ex, Demi More also shared it on their social networks.

Sandra Bullock stepped away because she doesn’t want to miss motherhood

Another reason that has kept great actors away from the cameras and our screens is parenthood. Sandra Bullock recently announced that she is taking an indefinite break from acting because she wants to pursue motherhood. The actress was promoting her film The Lost City when she revealed that she plans to take a break to dedicate herself to her children, 11-year-old son Louis and her 8-year-old daughter Laila.

The star was seen recenly on the red carpet after a year away.

Rick Moranis

Rick Moranis became a household name with roles in films like Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

The 68-year-old father-of-two made the decision to quit acting following the tragic loss of his wife Ann Belsky to cancer in 1991.

He became a stay-at-home-dad and focused on raising his children.

Rick has since made a comeback and has most recently reprised his role as Wayne Szalinski in Shrunk, a new sequel in the Honey, I shrunk the Kids series.

Emma Watson taking a break to live a more normal life with her beau

Although we recently saw Emma Watson in the 20 years of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Special, the young actress has been away from the cameras for quite some time now. Our beloved Hermoine Granger made announcement via the Daily Mail making her retirement official. At 31-years-old, Emma has earned a university degree in literature and has decided to put acting on hold.

She wants to spend more time with her boyfriend Leo Robinson, who she might want to start a family with. This doesn’t?t seem like a permanent retirement, but rather a temporary break.

Jeff Cohen

The Goonies actor became a lawyer

Jeff, who rose to fame as a child actor in the 1980s, completely changed his career path in his adult life.

The 46-year-old star, who is best remembered for appearing as Chunk in The Goonies, became a lawyer.

He founded his own firm in 2002.

Cameron Diaz! We get it! but after years, we still want to see you again

Cameron Diaz was the star girl of the 90s and 2000s and managed to stay in the spotlight by dedicating herself to the comedies and rom-coms. In 2014, at the premiere of ‘Annie’ the Something about Mary actress confessed her desire to take a break from the industry.

Diaz has since has written two best-selling self-help books, as well as supporting several causes advocating environmental concerns and education.

She said she was tired of traveling and getting so much exposure. Four years later, in 2018, she made an official retirement statement: “I’m not promoting any movie and I don’t have to give anything to anyone. I’m not going to do it anymore, I’m going to live my life.”

The Olsen Twins went from our screens to the runways

Mary-Kate and Ashley captured our hearts on TV’s Full House and their Disney movies together. The two twins made a joint decision around 2004 to enter the world of fashion. The two founded their own fashion brand and company, which was highly-praised and led them to successful careers in that world. In 2012, they declared their official retirement acting.

However, while we miss the twins dearly, there is a third sister, Elizabeth Olsen that while they were retiring entered Hollywood and has already entered the Marvel Universe, being casted in at least 5 Marvel movies, including Avengers and Captain America.

Frankie Muniz – from being the star of a TV hit series to becoming a profesional race car driver

Who can forget The ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ star! Frankie Muniz retired from TV to follow his dream as a race car driver. In 2001 and just at 16 years of age, he drove a race car for the Daytona 500. Since then, he has become a professional racer, even winning a sportsmanship award from his peers.

Muniz also runs an olive oil store in Arizona.

Gwyneth Paltrow may still be in the spotlight for her entrepreneurial efforts with Goop, but she doesn’t have any plans to accept an acting gig anytime soon. She says the only way she’d return to the big screen is if her husband Brad Falchuk wrote the script.

“I would have to be fucking the writer. But that’s sort of it. If my husband writes something and wants me to do it, I’ll do it,” Gwyneth said on No Filter with Naomi.

Daniel Day-Lewis had just turned 65 when he decided to retire from acting. While many people do retire in their 60s, the news came as a shock to fans. In a statement, Daniel’s reps explained it was a “private decision,” but he was “immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years.” When he was later asked why he made the decision, he didn’t quite have an answer.

“I haven’t figured it out. But it’s settled on me, and it’s just there…I dread to use the overused word ‘artist,’ but there’s something of the responsibility of the artist that hung over me. I need to believe in the value of what I’m doing. The work can seem vital. Irresistible, even. And if an audience believes it, that should be good enough for me. But, lately, it isn’t,”

Mara Wilson seemed as though she was on her way to super stardom after her starring roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, but she stepped away from it all as a teenager. She later explained that she made the decision as she no longer wanted to deal with painful scrutiny about her appearance in Hollywood.

“I realized, ‘I don’t fit their idea of what a Hollywood actress looks like, so there’s no room for me here.’ It’s hard to come out of that sane and without some serious doubts about yourself…As I saw it, I had three choices: get cosmetic surgery and go out on auditions for the cute and funny best friend characters, stay the way I was and go out for the meager character actor roles for young women, or accept myself and give up the idea of a Hollywood film acting career for good,” Mara wrote in her memoir.

She retired in 2000 to pursue a career in writing.