At 88, Morgan Freeman continues to thrive in film, sharing insights on Morgan Freeman acting career longevity and revealing mantras that keep him energized for new opportunities. In recent interviews, Freeman has detailed his daily routines, ongoing passion for acting, and his methods for resisting both physical and professional burnout.
Morgan Freeman’s Enduring Approach to a Lifelong Career
Morgan Freeman, whose celebrated résumé includes roles in “Driving Miss Daisy” and beyond, has made it clear he does not intend to slow down. In an interview published on November 11, Freeman discussed his personal philosophy for sustaining his acting career over the decades. He credits two mottos:
“There is a saying about old age, ‘Keep moving,’ and what Clint Eastwood says: ‘Don’t let the old man in,’”
Morgan told AARP. He elaborated:
“The way to do that is to keep getting up in the morning, keep working out in the gym, keep taking your vitamins, keep taking your prescribed meds, and keep moving. Keep moving. That is the secret to it all.”
– Morgan Freeman, actor
Freeman has maintained a busy schedule in recent years, most notably reprising his role as magician Thaddeus Bradley in the upcoming 2025 film
“Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,”
alongside Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson. Reflecting on returning to familiar roles and collaborators, Freeman noted,
“You’re more comfortable learning your lines,”
he explained about working on the third installment of the franchise, released on November 14.
“You’re more comfortably ensconced in the role, you’re more comfortable interacting with the same actors that you were interacting with before. You know what to expect. It makes it easy.”
– Morgan Freeman, actor
Beyond the film set, Freeman, who is father to Alfonso, Saifoulaye, Deena, and Morgana, enjoys golf for its physical benefits and movement. He remarked,
“I’m pretty good at it, I must say. I mean, for a hack,”
Morgan teased, emphasizing the sport’s value for active aging.
“It’s walking, stooping, bending, swinging, cussing,”
he continued.
“It’s a great sport for older adults. It’s better than bocce ball.”
– Morgan Freeman, actor
Confronting Retirement and the Rise of Artificial Intelligence
Freeman’s enthusiasm for acting remains undiminished, even in an era of technological advancements. He voiced concerns about AI recreating his voice without consent, telling The Guardian on November 10,
“I’m a little PO’d, you know.”
He continued,
“I’m like any other actor: don’t mimic me with falseness. I don’t appreciate it and I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you’re gonna do it without me, you’re robbing me.”
– Morgan Freeman, actor
The notion of retirement, while occasionally crossing his mind, quickly fades when new opportunities arise.
“Sometimes the idea of retirement would float past me. But as soon as my agent says there’s a job or somebody wants you or they’ve made an offer, the whole thing just boils back into where it was yesterday: how much you’re going to pay, where we’re gonna be?”
– Morgan Freeman, actor
Other Prominent Actors Who Have Opted to Leave Hollywood
While Morgan Freeman is extending his presence in the entertainment industry, many other notable figures have chosen to step away from the Hollywood spotlight for various reasons. The following stories exemplify the diverse motivations and personal journeys of actors who’ve stepped back or relocated.
Ellen DeGeneres Steps Away from Show Business
Longtime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres ended her self-titled show in 2022 after almost two decades on air, amid controversy and public scrutiny. After her final standup special “For Your Approval” debuted on Netflix in 2024, DeGeneres shared her intentions to leave the world of entertainment.
“This is the last time you’re going to see me,”
she told a crowd during her tour, per SFGate.
“After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
– Ellen DeGeneres, talk show host
DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi relocated to England in late 2024, following Donald Trump’s reelection, a move confirmed in a 2025 interview with broadcaster Richard Bacon.
Tyra Banks Finds New Purpose Abroad
Tyra Banks, once a fixture on “America’s Next Top Model,” shifted her focus to her ice cream brand SMiZE and Dream, prompting her to relocate to Australia.
“So I have this ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream,”
she shared in 2025.
“But we’ve been more what we call B2B, like on an airplane and on cruises. I’ve been going to Australia a lot because 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.”
– Tyra Banks, entrepreneur
She highlighted Australia’s robust market:
“The three countries that eat the most ice cream?”
she continued. America, New Zealand and Australia. The move allowed Banks, her son York, and her partner Louis Bélanger-Martin to experience a different pace and environment.
“Australia has been a dream come true for me and my family.”
– Tyra Banks, entrepreneur
Eva Longoria’s Move for Family and Work
Eva Longoria, known for “Desperate Housewives,” discussed her departure from Los Angeles, referencing changes in the city and increased work opportunities abroad.
“I had my whole adult life here,”
Longoria told Marie Claire in November 2024.
“But even before [the pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different. And then Covid happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s–t on California—it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.”
– Eva Longoria, actress
She and her family now divide their time between Mexico and Spain, thanks to professional projects filmed abroad.
“I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”
– Eva Longoria, actress
Longoria emphasized that her decision wasn’t politically motivated, instead citing work.
“I didn’t leave because of the political environment,”
she explained on The View: Behind the Table podcast.
“I left because my work took me there since Land of Women—shooting six months in Catalonia, then four months in Mexico for Searching for Mexico, then back to Spain. Now I’ve been there for years. So I just don’t like that it’s politicized.”
– Eva Longoria, actress
Richard Gere Embraces Life in Spain
Richard Gere, whose career includes roles in films like “Chicago,” moved to Madrid with his wife Alejandra Silva.
“My wife is Spanish, and she gave me about seven years here,”
Gere shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2024.
“And so we’re going to spend some years in Madrid.”
– Richard Gere, actor
He reflected on the opportunity for his children to flourish in Spain: “Our kids are bilingual,” Gere said, acknowledging his children’s adaptability.
“The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum,”
he told Elle España in January 2025. “We are happier than ever.” – Richard Gere, actor
Christina Milian Chooses Parisian Life
Christina Milian has resided in Paris with her husband, French singer Matt Pokora, and their children.
“My husband is French, and we’ve been together for over seven or eight years,”
Milian shared in a November 2024 appearance.
“And for the last three or four years we were commuting back and forth every six months.”
– Christina Milian, singer
Her children are now enrolled in French schools.
“They’re all going to school in Paris,”
she explained.
“I was like, ‘What better than an opportunity than that?’”
– Christina Milian, singer
Milian described her new lifestyle:
“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.”
– Christina Milian, actress
Lindsay Lohan Breaks from the Limelight
Lindsay Lohan, once plagued by relentless paparazzi in Los Angeles, moved overseas seeking privacy and independence.
“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,”
Lohan told Bustle in March 2024.
“I wish that part didn’t happen. I feel like that kind of took on a life of its own. So that’s why I wanted to disappear. I was like, ‘Unless there’s no story here, they’re not going to focus on just my work.’”
– Lindsay Lohan, actress
Lohan ultimately found love with Bader Shammas, establishing a family in Dubai, yet she maintains ties to Hollywood through recent roles in “Our Little Secret,” “Irish Wish,” and “Freakier Friday.”
Josh Hartnett Finds ‘Spice of Life’ in England
Josh Hartnett, star of films like “Black Hawk Down,” left Hollywood after assessing his personal and professional priorities.
“Hollywood is more than a place; it’s like a state of mind,”
Hartnett reflected to People magazine in July 2024.
“If you’re around people who are constantly talking about the movie business, your life is going to be pretty much one note. And I’ve never wanted that.”
– Josh Hartnett, actor
He sought broader experiences for himself and his family:
“I’ve always wanted to be around … people generally doing lots of other things that would bring my mind off of my work and force me to grow in different directions,”
Hartnett said.
“To me, that’s the spice of life.”
– Josh Hartnett, actor
Now residing with his wife Tamsin Egerton and their four children in Hampshire, England, Hartnett continues to take on select projects and appreciates the slower pace of family life, noting,
“Time passes quickly. With four children, you have so much to do. In a way, less is happening. But more of the important stuff is happening.”
– Josh Hartnett, actor
Jesse Eisenberg Makes Indiana His Home
Jesse Eisenberg, acclaimed for his Oscar-nominated performance and frequent collaborations with Morgan Freeman, has spent much of the last decade living in Indiana.
“I’ve lived in Indiana for the last decade on-and-off,”
Eisenberg told CBS News Sunday Morning in February 2025.
“That’s where I feel the most comfortable. I’m not somebody who wants to surround myself in an industry that just feels kind of unstable to me.”
– Jesse Eisenberg, actor
He described embracing an ordinary lifestyle:
“I’m not on social media, and I’m not a person who’s on the phone with industry people all the time,”
Eisenberg shared.
“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.”
– Jesse Eisenberg, actor
Eliza Dushku Palandjian Transitions to Healing
Eliza Dushku Palandjian, previously seen in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Bring It On,” shifted her focus from performing to pursuing a career in mental health.
“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,”
Dushku Palandjian told Boston Magazine.
“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.”
– Eliza Dushku Palandjian, mental health professional
Rosie O’Donnell Begins a New Chapter in Ireland
Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland in early 2025 with her youngest child Clay and sought Irish citizenship. She cited political developments in America as a factor in her move, but she remains hopeful about returning in the future if conditions improve.
“I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I’m trying to find a home here in 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.”
– Rosie O’Donnell, actress
Evangeline Lilly Chooses Fulfillment Over Fame
Evangeline Lilly, recognized for her role in “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” announced an indefinite hiatus from acting after two decades. She expressed satisfaction with her current life:
“I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision,”
Lilly wrote on Instagram in June 2024.
“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.”
– Evangeline Lilly, actress
She remains open to a possible future return:
“I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
– Evangeline Lilly, actress
Ian Somerhalder Champions Sustainability
Ian Somerhalder, famous for “The Vampire Diaries,” retired from acting to focus on family and climate initiatives.
“I stepped away from acting a little over four years ago to raise my kids, build my companies and get these films launched,”
Somerhalder said in November 2023 about his work on the documentaries “Kiss the Ground” and “Common Ground.” – Ian Somerhalder, activist
Looking ahead, Somerhalder shared his personal vision:
“I will be a rancher and building legacy brands, whether it’s my bourbon or my health and wellness company, and the regenerative agriculture and healthy soil management practices that I live by and our family lives by. That’s where my life was going. So when people say ‘Why do you care?’ That’s why I care. Because that’s who I am, that’s what I’m going to become.”
– Ian Somerhalder, activist
Jennette McCurdy Pursues Writing and Directing
Jennette McCurdy, star of “iCarly,” stepped away from acting at a young age to focus on other creative fields, including writing, directing, and podcasting.
“My experience with acting is, I’m so ashamed of the parts I’ve done in the past,”
she revealed in a 2021 podcast interview.
“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. I did the shows that I was on from like 13 to 21, and by 15, I was already embarrassed. My friends at 15, they’re not like, ‘Oh, cool, you’re on this Nickelodeon show.’ It was embarrassing.”
– Jennette McCurdy, author and director
Yet she has not entirely ruled out acting’s future possibilities.
“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 that I carried with me for so long,”
she told E! News in October 2022.
“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.”
– Jennette McCurdy, author and director
Meghan Markle’s Royal Turn and Return to Media
Meghan Markle famously left her acting career and home in Toronto to join the British royal family, following in the footsteps of Grace Kelly. Now, after stepping back from royal duties, Meghan is once again entering media by producing and hosting projects for Netflix, including the documentary “Harry & Meghan” and lifestyle show “With Love, Meghan.” Her new ventures also include podcasting and the launch of her brand As Ever, all while residing in Montecito with Prince Harry.
Cameron Diaz Explores Life Beyond Hollywood
Cameron Diaz, whose credits range from “The Mask” to “Annie,” took a significant break after 2014 to pursue personal wellness, writing, and starting a family. She described her decision:
“I just decided that I wanted different things out of my life,”
she told Gwyneth Paltrow.
“I had gone so hard for so long, working, making films and it’s such a grind. 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.”
– Cameron Diaz, actress
Though she declared,
“I don’t miss performing. Right now I’m looking at the landscape of wellness and all that,”
she recently agreed to appear in the film “Back in Action” after encouragement from Jamie Foxx. As 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.”
– Jamie Foxx, actor
Terrence Howard’s Farewell to Acting
Terrence Howard publicly announced his retirement from acting following key roles on “Empire” and
“The Best Man: The Final Chapters.”
When asked in 2019 about his future, he replied,
“Oh, I’m done with acting. I’m done pretending.”
– Terrence Howard, actor
He later reflected on his career:
“I’ve gotten to the point where now I’ve given the very best that I have as an actor,”
Howard told ET.
“Now I’m enjoying watching other new talent come around, and I don’t want to do an impersonation of myself.”
– Terrence Howard, actor
Despite these assertions, Howard continues to take on select new projects, including
“Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist”
and “Shirley.”
Jack Gleeson Returns after a Break
Jack Gleeson, who became widely known for his portrayal of King Joffrey in “Game of Thrones,” announced his initial retirement at age 21.
“I’ve been acting since age 8,”
Gleeson told EW.
“I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to.”
– Jack Gleeson, actor
He explained how work shifted from fun to obligation.
“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,”
he said.
“I enjoyed it. When you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it. It’s not like I hate it, it’s just not what I want to do.”
– Jack Gleeson, actor
Gleeson resumed acting in 2020 on the BBC series “Out of Her Mind” and continues to take on new film and television roles.
Phoebe Cates Focuses on Family and Business
Phoebe Cates, memorable from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” prioritized family over acting following her marriage to Kevin Kline.
“Agreed to alternate so that we’re never working at the same time,”
Kline shared with Playboy. Whenever it was Cates’s turn, however,
“whenever it’s been her slot to work, Phoebe has chosen to stay with the children.”
– Kevin Kline, actor
Cates has since focused on running her New York City boutique, Blue Tree, stepping away from regular film work.
Rick Moranis Stepping Back for Family
Rick Moranis, known for iconic roles in “Ghostbusters” and “Honey, I…,” departed from Hollywood after the loss of his wife in 1991 to raise his children. His absence from live-action has only heightened his status as a beloved figure, and anticipation surrounds his return in the Disney reboot “Shrunk” alongside Josh Gad.
Leelee Sobieski Prioritizes Privacy and Parenthood
Leelee Sobieski, after marrying Adam Kimmel, explained her retreat from film:
“Ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people, and I don’t want to do that,”
she told Vogue.
“It’s such a strange fire to play with, and our relationship is surely strong enough to handle it, but if you’re going to walk through fire, there has to be something incredible on the other side.”
– Leelee Sobieski, artist
Her resolve strengthened after her second child was born.
“I don’t do movie stuff anymore. I am totally an outsider! I … am just a mom and an outsider,”
Sobieski told Us Weekly in 2016.
“I am just focused on my kids. I think that’s mainly why I stopped.”
– Leelee Sobieski, artist
Portia de Rossi Pursues Business Ambitions
Portia de Rossi, after prominent roles in “Ally McBeal,” “Nip/Tuck,” and “Arrested Development,” decided to step away from acting as she neared midlife.
“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 said to Ellen DeGeneres in 2018.
“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.”
– Portia de Rossi, entrepreneur
She remained connected to acting for a brief period to complete her commitments.
“I called Mitch Hurwitz, who’s the creator of Arrested Development and I said, ‘If there is a season 5, I won’t be doing it because I quit acting. And he seemed really understanding and he totally got it. We had a great conversation, and then he wrote me into five episodes.”
– Portia de Rossi, entrepreneur
Daniel Day-Lewis—A Private Exit, a Possible Return
Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, made his retirement announcement after his sixth Oscar nomination. His representative stated he
“will no longer be working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.”
– Representative for Daniel Day-Lewis
Nevertheless, in October 2024, it was revealed he would star in “Anemone,” a film he co-wrote with his son Ronan Day-Lewis, marking an unexpected return to the screen.
Bridgit Mendler Pursues Science and Technology
Bridgit Mendler, who rose to fame on “Good Luck Charlie,” left acting in 2018 to pursue academic excellence, earning advanced degrees from MIT and enrolling in Harvard Law School. She later founded the startup Northwood Space, which aims to innovate in satellite ground station technology, becoming the company’s CEO in 2023.
Why These Choices Matter—The Evolving Landscape of Celebrity Careers
The accumulation of these stories—from Morgan Freeman acting career longevity to artists reimagining their lives—reflects broader industry transformations and personal priorities. Whether actors are motivated by family, fulfillment, health, privacy, or new creative pursuits, their decisions demonstrate the complex realities of fame and reinvention, marking new chapters that may continue to shape entertainment and culture.
