Gay Actresses Who Quit Hollywood

While plenty of queer women thrive in show business, a handful of well-known actresses have stepped away from Hollywood altogether—whether to protect their privacy, pursue different careers, or simply live life on their own terms. Below are notable examples and what they chose to do after leaving the industry spotlight.

Kristy McNichol

A two-time Emmy winner celebrated for ‘Family’ and later ‘Empty Nest’, Kristy McNichol retired from acting after years of intense child-star pressure and health struggles. She publicly came out as a lesbian and has said her openness was meant to help younger people. After leaving on-camera work, McNichol taught acting and devoted time to charitable causes.

Portia de Rossi

Known for ‘Ally McBeal’, ‘Arrested Development’, and ‘Scandal’, Portia de Rossi announced her retirement from acting and shifted her energy to entrepreneurship. She founded the art company General Public, focusing on accessible fine-art reproductions through proprietary technology. De Rossi redirected her day-to-day life toward business leadership and creative initiatives outside the studio system.

Kelly McGillis

After breakout roles in ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Witness’, Kelly McGillis gradually stepped away from mainstream Hollywood and built a lower-profile life outside the industry. She later came out as a lesbian and focused on personal priorities, including advocacy and teaching. McGillis has taken occasional roles but has largely worked and lived far from the studio pipeline.

Mara Wilson

A one-time child star known for ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and ‘Matilda’, Mara Wilson stepped away from on-camera acting as she grew older, citing the pressures of early fame. She later came out as bisexual and shifted to writing, stage work, and voice acting. Wilson’s projects have included essays, a memoir, and narration and audio roles rather than traditional Hollywood productions.

Rose McGowan

After early breakout roles like ‘Scream’ and a long run on ‘Charmed’, Rose McGowan moved away from Hollywood to focus on activism and personal projects. She has publicly identified as queer and redirected her career toward writing, speaking, and independent creative work. McGowan released the memoir ‘Brave’ and has produced music and documentary efforts outside the studio system.

Tallulah Bankhead

A celebrated stage star who also appeared in films like ‘Lifeboat’, Tallulah Bankhead spent early stints in Hollywood before refocusing her career on Broadway and London’s West End. She was openly bisexual for her era and became far better known for theatre than for screen roles. By mid-career she had largely stepped away from the studio system, returning only for occasional film or television appearances.

Alla Nazimova

A powerhouse of the silent era, Alla Nazimova headlined and produced films such as ‘Salomé’ and ‘Camille’, then faced industry pushback that curtailed her screen work. Openly bisexual in private circles, she became a central figure of early Hollywood’s queer community at the Garden of Alla. She ultimately moved away from mainstream film to concentrate on theatre and self-directed artistic projects.

Jean Acker

A silent-film actress known for an early, brief marriage to Rudolph Valentino, Jean Acker moved in Hollywood’s queer “sewing circle” and lived openly with women later in life. After a cluster of screen appearances in the 1910s and 1920s, she took only sporadic roles before retiring. She spent subsequent years writing songs and working outside the film industry.

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