Alicia Silverstone remains best known for her iconic role in the 1995 film Clueless, a breakthrough that fundamentally changed her acting career and her relationship with the craft. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Silverstone revealed how the fame from Clueless brought both confidence and stress into her life, leading her to pause and reevaluate her approach to acting.
She explained,
“Before Clueless, I was much more intuitive and playful and had more confidence about what I was doing,”
but after the film’s success,
“for a minute I got a little stressed and made it more intellectual or something. I had about three or four years of this strange feeling.”
At 48 years old, Silverstone shared she has learned to embrace breaks from acting, returning only when her passion reignites.
“Acting is important to me, but I have taken breaks from it at times, and then come back to it because I loved it so much. I’ve figured out that you can do all the things.”
Balancing Public Criticism and Personal Growth
Despite Silverstone’s early acclaim, her career also faced challenges, including negative responses to certain projects. One notable example was her role in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, which earned her a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress. Rather than let such criticism deter her, she found solace and purpose beyond acting by immersing herself in activism.
She reflected,
“We’re all humans, so obviously there are things that can hurt your feelings here and there, but I really just got into activism and my desire to make the world a better place.”
This shift gave her a stronger foundation to withstand the ups and downs of a public career.
“I think that gave me something else to think about. I guess if [acting] was all I had, then perhaps I might be a bit more devastated.”
How Parenthood and Advocacy Influenced Her Breaks
Motherhood has also played a significant role in Silverstone’s balance between acting and personal interests. She is a proud mother to her 14-year-old son Bear, whom she has with her ex-husband Christopher Jarecki. She candidly admitted that there were periods when she
“stopped loving acting for a very long time,”
but found that her activism and love for her family kept her grounded.
In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, Silverstone described how she reconciled her dual roles, stating,
“My body was just like, this is what I’m meant to do, I love it so much, I need to find a way to do both, to be able to be an actress and be an activist at the same time so that’s what I did.”
Her ongoing commitment to these passions continues to guide how she shapes her career moving forward.
Upcoming Return to Cher Horowitz’s World
Currently, Silverstone is poised to revisit the role that defined her early career. She is set to executive produce and star again as Cher Horowitz in a prequel television series based on Clueless. This project presents an opportunity for her to continue evolving as both an artist and a producer, leveraging the lessons from her past experiences while reengaging with a beloved character.
Other Celebrities Who Stepped Away From Hollywood for New Paths
Why Ellen DeGeneres Left the Spotlight
After nearly two decades with her talk show, Ellen DeGeneres ended The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022 amidst controversy over a toxic workplace environment that led to an internal probe and firings. She returned briefly with a standup comedy special titled For Your Approval, released on Netflix in September 2024, during which she announced her departure from Hollywood entirely.
Speaking to audiences on her farewell tour, Ellen declared,
“This is the last time you’re going to see me,”
and added,
“After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
She and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to England in November 2024 after Donald Trump’s re-election, confirming the move publicly in mid-2025.
Tyra Banks’ Business Venture Leads Her to Australia
Tyra Banks moved to Australia to manage her ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream, which has focused largely on business-to-business channels such as airplanes and cruise ships.
“I have this ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream,”
she shared on the April 2025 episode of Today with Jenna & Friends.
“We were making a lot of our ice cream there in a big facility doing our recipes. And I just fell in love with it every time I went back and went back.”
Recognizing Australia as a strong market alongside America and New Zealand, Tyra relocated with her son York and boyfriend Louis Bélanger-Martin.
“Australia has been a dream come true for me and my family,”
she said, highlighting both personal and professional fulfillment.
Eva Longoria’s Move From Los Angeles to New Countries
Eva Longoria discussed her decision to leave Los Angeles after noticing changes to the city’s vibe before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. She told Marie Claire in November 2024,
“I had my whole adult life here, but even before [the pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different. And then Covid happened, and it pushed it over the edge.”
Longoria and her family now split their time between Mexico and Spain as her work has taken her abroad for extended shoots. Though she acknowledged the challenges faced in California, she rejected political explanations:
“I didn’t leave because of the political environment… I left because my work took me there.”
Her projects include appearances in Only Murders in the Building and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip.
Richard Gere’s Family Relocation to Spain
Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva, a Galicia native, have transitioned from Chicago to living in Spain, specifically Madrid. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2024, Gere said,
“My wife is Spanish, and she gave me about seven years here. And so we’re going to spend some years in Madrid.”
With bilingual children Alexander and James, Gere feels the move benefits his family’s growth.
“Our kids are bilingual, so they’re going to flourish there,”
he said, adding on a January 2025 occasion with Elle España, “We are happier than ever.”
Christina Milian Chooses Paris for Family and Work Balance
Christina Milian has made Paris her home to keep her family close and pursue her music career. Married to French singer Matt Pokora, she explained on The Jennifer Hudson Show in November 2024,
“My husband is French, and we’ve been together for over seven or eight years.”
Their children attend school in Paris to enhance their connection to French culture.
Milian described life in the city as fulfilling:
“My kids are happy there. They know French. We go to the park. I have an active lifestyle that’s really nice during the day. Then at night time, I do my work because I work hours ahead. It’s a nice, healthy balance for me.”
Lindsay Lohan’s Intentional Escape from Celebrity News
Lindsay Lohan has openly addressed the reasons for her retreat from Los Angeles and the public eye. Reflecting on her early career, she told Bustle in March 2024,
“I feel like some of [my work] got overshadowed by paparazzi and all that kind of stuff when I was younger, and that’s kind of annoying. I wish that part didn’t happen.”
By distancing herself, Lohan sought to refocus on her craft without distractions:
“Unless there’s no story here, they’re not going to focus on just my work.”
Eventually, she found love, marrying Bader Shammas in 2022 and having a son, Luai. Though based in Dubai now, she continues acting, with recent projects including Our Little Secret, Irish Wish, and Freakier Friday.
Josh Hartnett’s Search for a Life Beyond Hollywood
After years in the industry, Josh Hartnett decided to move away from Los Angeles to achieve a more balanced life. He told People in July 2024,
“Hollywood is more than a place; it’s like a state of mind. If you’re around people who are constantly talking about the movie business, your life is going to be pretty much one note.”
His priorities shifted toward family and personal growth with his wife Tamsin Egerton and their four children in the Hampshire countryside. Hartnett reflected,
“With four children, you have so much to do. In a way, less is happening. But more of the important stuff is happening.”
He remains active in film, recently appearing in Verity, Fight or Flight, and Trap.
Jesse Eisenberg’s Preference for a Quiet Life in Indiana
Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg has chosen to live away from the Hollywood spotlight, residing in Indiana with his wife Anna Strout and son Banner. Speaking to CBS News Sunday Morning in early 2025, he said,
“I’ve lived in Indiana for the last decade on-and-off. That’s where I feel the most comfortable.”
Eisenberg expressed disinterest in industry culture:
“I’m not on social media, and I’m not a person who’s on the phone with industry people all the time… So, my life feels pretty separate. My wife is a teacher. My kid doesn’t really even watch movies. So, I’m not like knee-deep in the world of constantly trying to assess my own status in an industry.”
Eliza Dushku Palandjian’s Transition Into Mental Health
Known for roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bring It On, Eliza Dushku Palandjian has forged a new path as a certified psychedelic-assisted therapist. In a September 2024 interview with Boston Magazine, she reflected,
“I had the means to shift directions and choose a course in my life that focused on healing myself so that I could help heal others.”
She described this change as her true vocation:
“I would be remiss if I didn’t now share the transformation and the peace and the passion that I have. This is just absolutely so clearly my real calling, my real purpose.”
Rosie O’Donnell’s New Chapter in Ireland
In January 2025, Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland with her youngest child Clay as she pursued Irish citizenship through her grandparents’ heritage. While recent political events motivated this decision, Rosie remains hopeful about returning to the U.S. in the future.
In a TikTok video, she shared,
“I miss my other kids, I miss my friends, I miss many things about life there at home and I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country. And when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back.”
Evangeline Lilly’s Indefinite Pause From Acting
After two decades in the industry, Evangeline Lilly announced an indefinite break from acting in June 2024, expressing a sense of joy with her current life direction. On Instagram, she posted,
“I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. I feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment.”
Though not ruling out a return, she stated,
“I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
Ian Somerhalder’s Focus on Environmental Advocacy
Since leaving acting roughly four years ago, Ian Somerhalder has channeled his energies into environmental causes, particularly regenerative agriculture. Sharing with E! News in November 2023, he said,
“I stepped away from acting a little over four years ago to raise my kids, build my companies and get these films launched.”
The projects include the documentaries Kiss the Ground and Common Ground, which advocate for healthy soil practices. He envisions a future as a rancher and entrepreneur:
“I will be a rancher and building legacy brands, whether it’s my bourbon or my health and wellness company.”
Somerhalder’s path reflects a commitment to sustainability that defines his personal and professional life.
Jennette McCurdy’s Shift From Acting to Writing and Directing
Jennette McCurdy, formerly of iCarly, revealed on her podcast in 2021 that she stepped away from acting several years prior to focus on writing, directing, and hosting. She expressed deep dissatisfaction with her acting roles, stating,
“My experience with acting is, I’m so ashamed of the parts I’ve done in the past. I resent my career in a lot of ways. I feel so unfulfilled by the roles that I played and felt like it was the most cheesy, embarrassing.”
However, she sees potential in returning if approached differently. In 2022, she told E! News,
“I do feel like only through writing the book have I gotten to a place where I think there might be a way of exploring acting that doesn’t carry that baggage.”
She hopes to create projects herself, stating,
“Maybe if I write something for myself. I think that’d really be maybe one of the only ways I could kind of try exploring it again.”
Meghan Markle’s Transition to Royal Life and Content Creation
Meghan Markle’s journey from Hollywood to royalty was widely publicized after marrying Prince Harry. Leaving behind her Toronto home and the popular series Suits, she embraced her role within the British royal family and dedicated herself to philanthropy. Following their withdrawal from senior royal duties, the couple moved to Montecito, California, and returned to content production.
Markle has launched multiple projects with Netflix, including the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan and the 2025 lifestyle show With Love, Meghan. She continues building her brand, As Ever, along with podcasts, signaling an ongoing evolution in her career.
Cameron Diaz’s Move Toward Wellness and a Potential Return
Cameron Diaz, who starred in over 40 films between 1994 and 2014, opted for a lifestyle change after her last movie, Annie. She told Gwyneth Paltrow that she
“just decided that I wanted different things out of my life,”
citing the grueling demands of filmmaking as a factor.
“When you’re making a movie—it’s a perfect excuse—they own you. You’re there for 12 hours a day for months on end and you have no time for anything else.”
Shifting focus to wellness and family with husband Benji Madden, Diaz confessed in 2019, “I don’t miss performing.” Yet recent efforts by co-star Jamie Foxx persuaded her to appear in the Netflix film Back in Action (2025). Foxx said,
“We just begged and pleased on my knees, like, ‘Just give the people one more again.’ We love her, we’ve been waiting on her and this is just gonna be fantastic.”
Terrence Howard’s Ambivalence About Continuing Acting
After a notable role in Empire, Terrence Howard indicated in 2019 that he was finished with acting, stating,
“Oh, I’m done with acting. I’m done pretending.”
However, he later reconsidered, returning for limited film and television roles but consistently expressing that he wishes to step back.
Promoting his Peacock series The Best Man: The Final Chapters in 2022, Howard commented,
“I’ve gotten to the point where now I’ve given the very best that I have as an actor. Now I’m enjoying watching other new talent come around, and I don’t want to do an impersonation of myself.”
Despite these sentiments, he has continued working with projects like Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist and the Netflix film Shirley in the pipeline.
Jack Gleeson’s Early Departure and Subsequent Return to Acting
Best known for his portrayal of King Joffrey on Game of Thrones, Jack Gleeson decided to leave acting at age 21, explaining,
“I’ve been acting since age 8. I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to.”
He expressed that turning professional changed his relationship with the craft:
“Now there’s the prospect of doing it for a living, whereas up until now it was always something I did for recreation with my friends, or in the summer for some fun.”
After a six-year hiatus, Gleeson returned to acting in 2020 with BBC’s Out of Her Mind, followed by appearances in films and TV series including Rebecca‘s Boyfriend, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, Safe Harbor, and The Famous Five.
Phoebe Cates’ Choice to Prioritize Family Over Acting
Following her marriage to Kevin Kline in 1989, Phoebe Cates and her husband agreed to stagger their work commitments to never be away from their children simultaneously. Kline told Playboy that although Cates made some brief appearances,
“whenever it’s been her slot to work, Phoebe has chosen to stay with the children.”
Cates now devotes much of her time to running her New York City boutique Blue Tree and spends limited time acting, emphasizing family priorities over her career.
Rick Moranis’ Extended Hiatus for Family and Return Plans
At the peak of his success with films like Ghostbusters, Rick Moranis stepped away from acting after his wife’s death from breast cancer in 1991 to raise his two children, Rachel and Mitchell. He has not appeared in any live-action roles since 1997 and famously declined a cameo in 2016’s Ghostbusters remake.
Fans were delighted to learn he will be returning in the upcoming Disney reboot Shrunk, starring alongside Josh Gad.
Leelee Sobieski’s Withdrawal From Acting to Prioritize Family
After marrying fashion designer Adam Kimmel in 2010, Leelee Sobieski expressed reluctance toward acting due to the prevalence of intimate scenes in many roles. She told Vogue,
“Ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people, and I don’t want to do that.”
Her decision solidified after the birth of her son Martin in 2014. Sobieski noted to Us Weekly in 2016,
“I don’t do movie stuff anymore. I am totally an outsider! I … am just a mom and an outsider. I am just focused on my kids. I think that’s mainly why I stopped.”
Besides motherhood, she supports her husband’s business and pursues painting.
Portia de Rossi’s Transition From Acting to Entrepreneurship
Portia de Rossi moved away from her acting career after starring in shows such as Ally McBeal, Nip/Tuck, Arrested Development, and Scandal. She revealed on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show in 2018 that reaching her mid-40s prompted reflection on taking on new challenges outside of acting.
“I was approaching 45 and I just kind of…was wondering is there something that I could tackle now that I’ve never done before that would be really challenging and different.”
She decided to launch a consumer-art business named General Public, explaining,
“I kind of knew what acting would look like for me for the next 10, 20 years, so I decided to quit and start a business.”
Creator Mitch Hurwitz respected her choice and wrote her character into five episodes of Arrested Development’s fifth season despite her absence from acting.
Daniel Day-Lewis’ Retirement and New Film Project
Daniel Day-Lewis, a three-time Academy Award winner, retired from acting after his final film Phantom Thread in 2017. His representatives announced his decision with gratitude toward collaborators and audiences but stated no further comments would be made.
However, in October 2024, production company Focus Features revealed Day-Lewis would return to star in Anemone, a film he wrote with his son Ronan Day-Lewis, who will also direct. This marks a meaningful return after several years of retirement.
Bridgit Mendler’s Shift to Academia and Entrepreneurship
Bridgit Mendler left the spotlight beginning in 2018 to pursue advanced studies, earning a master’s degree, a PhD from MIT, and enrolling in Harvard Law School. Beyond academics, she founded Northwood Space, a startup focused on building ground satellite stations to facilitate space communications.
Taking the helm of her company as CEO in early 2023, Mendler exemplifies a major career shift from acting to science and business leadership, illustrating a new form of ambition outside the traditional entertainment industry.
