Gay Actresses who Quit Hollywood to Pursue Other Interests

Plenty of performers step away from the spotlight, but a few well-known gay and queer actresses have deliberately left Hollywood to build new lives in art, teaching, activism, or simply greater privacy. Below are several whose departures were clear pivots into different pursuits, with quick snapshots of what they chose to do next.

Portia de Rossi

An Australian-American actress known for ‘Ally McBeal’, ‘Arrested Development’, and ‘Scandal’, Portia de Rossi announced in 2018 that she was retiring from acting. She shifted her focus to General Public, an art company she founded to produce high-quality 3D reproductions of works by emerging artists. Beyond business, she has supported conservation and LGBTQ initiatives through philanthropy. She has been married to Ellen DeGeneres since 2008.

Kristy McNichol

A breakout star from ‘Family’ and films like ‘Little Darlings’, Kristy McNichol left acting in 2001 to prioritize her health and a more private life. She moved into teaching, working with young performers and engaging in charitable efforts, particularly around animal welfare. In 2012, she publicly came out, noting that openness could help others. She has remained largely out of the entertainment industry since her departure.

Kelly McGillis

Best known for ‘Top Gun’, ‘Witness’, and ‘The Accused’, Kelly McGillis stepped away from mainstream Hollywood work in the late 2000s. After coming out publicly in 2009, she focused on theater, teaching acting, and community work, including roles connected to counseling and support services. She has made occasional screen appearances but has largely built a quieter life outside the studio system. Her career shift emphasized education and local arts over film stardom.

Greta Garbo

A Swedish-born icon of the studio era, Greta Garbo retired from screen acting in 1941 at the height of her fame. After leaving Hollywood, she settled in New York, where she devoted herself to art collecting, travel, and a rigorously private routine. Biographers have documented relationships with both men and women throughout her life. She never returned to film, choosing personal pursuits and investment savvy over a comeback.

Marlene Dietrich

Renowned for roles such as ‘The Blue Angel’ and ‘Morocco’, Marlene Dietrich transitioned away from Hollywood features to a successful decades-long career as a concert and cabaret performer. During and after World War II she focused on humanitarian and morale-boosting work, including extensive USO tours. Later, she retired from public performance and lived quietly in Paris. Her personal life, recorded by historians and biographers, included relationships with both men and women.

Mara Wilson

A former child star from ‘Matilda’ and ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’, Mara Wilson moved away from on-camera acting as an adult. She redirected her energy into writing, publishing a memoir and essays that discuss child stardom, mental health, and creative life. She has also done voice acting and storytelling projects while maintaining a strong presence in literary and audio spaces. Her professional focus centers on authorship and advocacy rather than Hollywood roles.

Louise Brooks

An iconic silent-era performer who worked in both Hollywood and Europe, Louise Brooks left film during the transition to sound and later pursued dance, teaching, and writing. She wrote influential essays and a book on film history that helped revive interest in silent cinema. Outside the studio system, she maintained a private life and corresponded with critics, archivists, and scholars. Her legacy today rests as much on her critical writing and cultural influence as on her screen performances.

Cathy DeBuono

Known for appearances on ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ and indie features like ‘And Then Came Lola’, Cathy DeBuono stepped back from acting to build a career in mental health. She became a licensed marriage and family therapist and developed a private practice serving LGBTQ clients. DeBuono has also hosted advice segments and wellness programming focused on relationships and personal growth. Her work centers on counseling and community education rather than film and television sets.

Amanda Bearse

After starring as Marcy on ‘Married… with Children’, Amanda Bearse moved away from regular on-camera roles to focus on directing. She built a steady résumé behind the camera on sitcoms and sketch shows and later added stage directing and teaching to her portfolio. Bearse has been active in LGBTQ advocacy and community events throughout her career. Her professional emphasis shifted from acting to directing, education, and live theater.

Alla Nazimova

A pioneering silent-era star and producer behind films like ‘Salomé’, Alla Nazimova’s Hollywood career faded as she pivoted back to the stage. She developed and performed in theater productions while managing the Garden of Alla, a creative hub she operated in Los Angeles. Nazimova maintained a long record of relationships with women alongside her public career. Her later life was defined by theater work, writing, and artistic mentorship rather than studio features.

Jean Acker

A silent-film actress once under contract at major studios and briefly married to Rudolph Valentino, Jean Acker’s screen career largely ended in the early sound era. She later worked in music and real estate, maintaining ties to Los Angeles without returning to the film spotlight. Acker moved in circles that included actresses and writers, and accounts document relationships with women. Her post-Hollywood years emphasized business pursuits over acting.

Tallulah Bankhead

Though widely associated with Broadway and radio, Tallulah Bankhead spent periods in Hollywood before returning her focus to stage and touring. She became a major presence in theater, headlining productions and hosting a popular radio variety program. Biographers record relationships with both men and women throughout her life. Her legacy rests on live performance and broadcasting rather than continued film work.

Have someone to add to the list—or a favorite story about these career pivots? Share your thoughts in the comments!