Richard Gere made a striking appearance on the red carpet in Madrid alongside his wife, Alejandra Silva, for the premiere of their short documentary, “What Nobody Wants to See,” on November 25. The Richard Gere red carpet Spain event brought attention to not only their latest project but also their significant life transition, having moved from Hollywood to Spain to focus on family and charitable efforts.
Gere, celebrated for his role in “Pretty Woman,” wore a tailored navy suit over a white shirt, paired with black sneakers, while Alejandra presented a sophisticated look in a black fitted suit, high heels, and a burgundy lip, embodying a chic style. The couple, known for their privacy, shared rare glimpses into their personal life, notably at an October 16 screening in New York City, where they displayed affection on the red carpet for Gere’s documentary “Wisdom of Happiness.”
From Hollywood to Madrid: Family and New Purpose
Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva, married since 2018 and parents to sons Alexander and James, have shifted their lives from Hollywood to Spain. Their decision came to the public’s attention last year when they announced their relocation, with Alejandra returning to her home country. The couple’s move not only represents a lifestyle change but also a deeper commitment to personal happiness and social contribution.
Richard Gere shared,
“The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum,”
— Richard Gere, Elle España. He reflected on their happiness, attributing it to their move and a shared sense of fulfillment:
“She, because she is at home and I because, if she is happy, I am happy.”
The Power of Shared Values
Alejandra, who also has a son named Albert from a previous marriage, described her strong connection with Gere, stating,
“We have the same values, we see the world in the same way and from the first moment we felt like we have known each other for a long time. And this only happens once, if it happens at all.”
— Alejandra Silva, joint interview. She also emphasized the spiritual bond in their relationship:
“We were united by the karma of our past lives.”
Commitment to Social Causes in Spain
Beyond family matters, Gere and Silva have become actively involved in social initiatives in Madrid. Alejandra explained,
“The only reason why both Richard and I are here in Madrid is to be part of the board of the NGO Hogar Sí,”
and further stated their goal,
“We want to help this country to end homelessness. Our goal is that, within 5 years, no one sleeps on the street.”
Their dedication to such projects highlights how their relocation underpins a broader mission to impact their community.
Reconnecting with Spanish Heritage
Returning to Spain provided Alejandra with a unique opportunity to reconnect with her family and culture. Richard Gere shed light on this family dynamic, stating on “The Tonight Show,”
“My wife, she grew up in a very big Spanish family,”
and reminisced,
“Her grandmother was kind of the glue that held that altogether, and the grandmother passed away about a year and a half ago, two years ago.”
He continued describing how Alejandra has embraced the role of matriarch:
“So my wife, I can see her morphing into the new grandmother of this extended family. She’s already planning for, you know, 35 people for Sunday lunches.”
Their life in Spain now encompasses not just their nuclear family, but the extended Spanish family community.
Other Celebrities Who Left Hollywood for New Beginnings
Gere and Silva’s transition out of Hollywood is mirrored by several stars seeking new chapters outside the pressures of the entertainment industry. Ellen DeGeneres, for instance, ended her long-running talk show amidst controversy, telling her audience,
“This is the last time you’re going to see me, After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and talk show host. Ellen and Portia de Rossi opted for a quieter life in England following major political shifts in the U.S.
Tyra Banks moved to Australia to support her ice cream brand, SMiZE and Dream, sharing,
“So I have this ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream, 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, model and entrepreneur. She noted both business and personal satisfaction in her relocation,
“Australia has been a dream come true for me and my family.”
Eva Longoria, reflecting on her decision to leave Los Angeles, told Marie Claire,
“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. 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, actor and director. She and her family now split their time between Mexico and Spain, with Longoria stating,
“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.”
Longoria also clarified on her reasons for moving, saying,
“I didn’t leave because of the political environment, 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.”
Family Focus and Cultural Connections
Richard Gere, whose move took him “from Chicago to Spain,” further reflected on prioritizing family, especially for sons Alexander and James with wife Alejandra Silva. On
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,”
he said,
“My wife is Spanish, and she gave me about seven years here, And so we’re going to spend some years in Madrid.”
Highlighting the benefits for their children, Gere added,
“Our kids are bilingual, so they’re going to flourish there.”
He reiterated their happiness,
“The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum,”
Stars Making Global Moves for Family and Opportunity
Other celebrities have similarly chosen to relocate for personal or family reasons. Christina Milian settled in Paris with her family, explaining,
“My husband is French, and we’ve been together for over seven or eight years, And for the last three or four years we were commuting back and forth every six months.”
She highlighted the educational opportunities for their children in France,
“They’re all going to school in Paris, I was like, ‘What better than an opportunity than that?’”
Christina Milian, singer and actress, expressed contentment in her new routine,
“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, addressing public speculation about her departure from Los Angeles, shared,
“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. 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.’”
Lohan later found contentment abroad, marrying Bader Shammas and welcoming a child, while continuing selective work in film projects.
Personal Growth Through Relocation
Josh Hartnett decided to step away from Hollywood for a more varied environment, stating,
“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. And I’ve never wanted that.”
He sought out new perspectives,
“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, To me, that’s the spice of life.”
Now living with family in Hampshire, England, Hartnett describes the new phase as filled with significant life experiences with his children.
Jesse Eisenberg also walked away from the industry’s pressures, explaining,
“I’ve lived in Indiana for the last decade on-and-off, 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.”
With a life separate from show business, Eisenberg emphasizes the importance of stability and normalcy.
Changing Paths: Shifting Careers and Passions
Some stars, like Eliza Dushku Palandjian, shifted from acting to new careers, as she recounted,
“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, 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 found herself relocating as well, noting in a personal video,
“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 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.”
For Evangeline Lilly, taking a step back from acting brought fulfillment, as she wrote,
“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.”
She added,
“I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
Pursuing Purpose Beyond Stardom
Ian Somerhalder shifted focus from acting to environmental advocacy, telling E! News,
“I stepped away from acting a little over four years ago to raise my kids, build my companies and get these films launched,”
His documentary work and development in regenerative agriculture drive his current lifestyle, reinforced by his statement,
“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.”
Jennette McCurdy, on her decision to leave acting, told Anna Faris,
“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. 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.”
She considered the possibility of returning to acting if on her own terms,
“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, 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.”
Royals, Icons, and New Careers
Meghan Markle famously left acting for a royal life, following the example of Grace Kelly. Her journey from Hollywood and Toronto to the British monarchy eventually led her and Prince Harry to Montecito, with renewed business ventures through Netflix and media projects. Cameron Diaz, who starred in hits since 1994, explained her departure,
“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. 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.”
She also discussed her return, prompted by her peers, as Jamie Foxx recounted,
“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 made repeated announcements of retirement from acting, telling “Extra,”
“Oh, I’m done with acting. I’m done pretending.”
He later expressed to ET,
“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.”
Reevaluating Priorities: Stepping Away and Coming Back
Jack Gleeson paused his career after “Game of Thrones,” stating,
“I’ve been acting since age 8, I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to.”
Describing the difference between acting for fun and making a career, he added,
“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, 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.”
Phoebe Cates’ partner, Kevin Kline, shared how they prioritized family,
“agreed to alternate so that we’re never working at the same time,”
and,
“whenever it’s been her slot to work, Phoebe has chosen to stay with the children.”
Cates now runs a boutique in New York City, focusing on life outside Hollywood.
Rick Moranis chose to step away from acting after his wife’s death, dedicating his time to raising his children. While absent from live-action films since the 1990s, he is set to return in a new Disney reboot.
Leelee Sobieski, after marrying Adam Kimmel, explained her distance from acting,
“Ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people, and I don’t want to do that, 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.”
She added after becoming a mother,
“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.”
Exploring New Opportunities and Leadership
Portia de Rossi took a bold new direction, telling Ellen DeGeneres,
“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, 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.”
Her move into entrepreneurship with the company General Public showcased her desire for professional growth. She recalled discussing her decision with “Arrested Development” creator Mitch Hurwitz,
“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.”
Daniel Day-Lewis, after achieving top recognition with three Academy Awards, issued a statement upon retirement that 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.”
However, he is set for a return by collaborating on a new project with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis.
Building Legacies Beyond the Entertainment Industry
Bridgit Mendler set aside acting to pursue higher education, enrolling in MIT, earning a PhD, and studying at Harvard Law School. She then created and became CEO of Northwood Space, focusing on satellite ground stations and data transmission, signifying her remarkable shift into technology leadership.
The Larger Impact: Stars Redefining Success and Lifestyle
The choices of Richard Gere, Alejandra Silva, and many other celebrities to leave Hollywood for new lives abroad underline a shifting perspective within the entertainment world. Moving away from constant public scrutiny and the pressures of the industry has allowed these individuals to focus on family, well-being, community engagement, and new career pursuits. Gere’s involvement with Spain’s Hogar Sí and his support of his wife’s return to her roots symbolize a trend where global mobility, social purpose, and a more balanced life increasingly define contemporary celebrity success. As more stars embrace these changes, the impact extends beyond personal contentment, influencing cultural perceptions of fame and fulfillment worldwide.
