Actresses who Reinvented Themselves After a Long Hiatus

Disappearing from the screen doesn’t mean disappearing from the craft. Many performers step back for years—sometimes to raise families, explore other careers, or simply wait for the right material—and then return with roles that reshape how audiences see them. These comebacks often involve new formats, fresh collaborators, or unexpected genres that highlight different strengths.

Below are actresses who paused for a significant stretch and then re-emerged with work that expanded their range and repositioned their careers. Each entry focuses on specific projects, roles, and industry context—clear markers of how the reinvention took shape.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda left acting for a decade and a half after a long run of leading roles, then returned to features with the studio comedy ‘Monster-in-Law’. She followed that pivot by anchoring the long-running streaming series ‘Grace and Frankie’, playing an entrepreneur navigating late-life partnership and business alongside Lily Tomlin. The series format gave her sustained visibility with new generations of viewers.

Outside of on-screen work, Fonda continued high-profile activism and book projects, which complemented her on-screen reinvention as a modern comedic lead. She also expanded her film slate with ensemble titles and event comedies, demonstrating durable box-office appeal while maintaining a consistent presence on streaming.

Renée Zellweger

After stepping away from public life for several years, Renée Zellweger re-entered the spotlight with ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’, reconnecting with a global franchise audience. She then shifted into a demanding musical biopic with ‘Judy’, earning major best actress honors across the awards season for her portrayal of Judy Garland.

Zellweger diversified further with the true-crime limited series ‘The Thing About Pam’, where she also served as an executive producer. That combination of prestige film work and creator-level television involvement marked a new phase in her career centered on authorship and complex lead characters.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz paused acting for nearly a decade, publicly confirming a break from film work while co-founding the clean wine brand Avaline. She returned to the screen in the action-comedy ‘Back in Action’, directed by Seth Gordon and co-starring Jamie Foxx, signaling a comeback in a genre that had long been part of her filmography.

The project leveraged a global streaming release to reach a broad, multi-market audience at once. By pairing a familiar on-screen partnership with a contemporary distribution model, Diaz’s return bridged her earlier box-office identity with today’s platform-first landscape.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan spent years away from major studio and streaming releases before reintroducing herself as a romantic-comedy lead in the Netflix film ‘Falling for Christmas’. The film’s strong platform performance led to additional projects with the streamer, including the fantasy romance ‘Irish Wish’.

Her slate with Netflix formalized a multi-picture collaboration, giving Lohan a stable pipeline of lead roles and regular global exposure. That arrangement, combined with active social media and promotional work, rebuilt audience familiarity and positioned her firmly within streaming-era rom-coms.

Sridevi

After stepping away from Hindi cinema for an extended period, Sridevi returned with ‘English Vinglish’, directed by Gauri Shinde, portraying a small-business owner who regains confidence while learning English. The film became a cross-market success and introduced a new generation to her work.

Sridevi followed that comeback with the thriller ‘Mom’, playing a chemistry teacher seeking justice for her stepdaughter. The performance earned her a posthumous National Film Award for Best Actress, affirming a late-career phase defined by layered, author-backed roles.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer took a multi-year break from screen acting before resuming with a run of high-visibility projects, including Darren Aronofsky’s psychological drama ‘mother!’ and the ensemble mystery ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. She also portrayed Ruth Madoff in the HBO film ‘The Wizard of Lies’, drawing critical recognition for her work.

Pfeiffer joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Janet van Dyne in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’, expanding into blockbuster territory while continuing prestige television and independent film. The mix of auteur collaborations, franchises, and awards-circuit roles marked a deliberate, multifaceted reinvention.

Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan reduced her on-screen output for years, then returned by starring in, co-writing, and directing the two-hander romantic comedy ‘What Happens Later’. The project adapted a stage play and reunited her with the genre that defined much of her earlier career, but from a filmmaker’s vantage point.

By taking the reins behind the camera, Ryan reframed her screen persona through a contemporary indie production model. The film’s intimate structure and limited setting highlighted performance and dialogue, showcasing a creative reset rooted in authorship and collaboration.

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall stepped away from acting for roughly two decades before appearing in the independent horror feature ‘The Forest Hills’. The project, mounted outside the studio system, brought her back in a genre where she had earlier iconic roles.

Her participation drew attention to microbudget horror’s role in revivals and rediscoveries. The film’s festival and fan-driven visibility reaffirmed Duvall’s legacy while providing a practical template for late-career returns via independent production.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore eased back into high-profile scripted work with the anthology series ‘Feud: Capote vs. The Swans’, portraying socialite Ann Woodward in a period drama about New York’s elite. The show placed her in a premium-cable ensemble with major directors and a prestige production apparatus.

She followed with the body-horror drama ‘The Substance’, directed by Coralie Fargeat, which generated significant festival buzz and critical conversation. Together, those projects re-situated Moore in auteur-led television and bold, conversation-driving cinema.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returned to leading roles with the action-drama ‘Jazbaa’ after a prolonged break from Hindi films. She then took on a central part in Mani Ratnam’s historical epic across two installments, ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part One’ and ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two’.

In that saga, she played Nandini—one of the narrative’s key political figures—and contributed to the films’ pan-Indian box-office performance. The combination of mainstream comeback and large-scale period storytelling extended her career into a new franchise-driven era.

Madhuri Dixit

Madhuri Dixit Nene paused her prolific film career, later returning to the screen with the dance-focused drama ‘Aaja Nachle’. Subsequent work included the noir-tinged ‘Dedh Ishqiya’, which emphasized character-driven writing and ensemble craft.

She then headlined the streaming series ‘The Fame Game’, portraying a superstar whose disappearance exposes industry and family secrets. The move into long-form streaming storytelling broadened her reach beyond theatrical releases and reintroduced her to international audiences.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder spent years working at a lower profile before taking on the lead role of Joyce Byers in the global phenomenon ‘Stranger Things’. The series re-established her as the emotional center of a large ensemble and connected her with younger viewers through a streaming-first hit.

Ryder complemented that resurgence with additional television and film projects while participating in the promotional and fan ecosystem surrounding the show. The steady presence across multiple seasons created sustained momentum, solidifying a durable second act.

Share your picks in the comments: who else took a long break and came back with a role that truly reset their career?