Foreign Actresses Who Pursued Careers in Other Fields

The path from the silver screen to a second career is a journey taken by many talented women from around the globe. These international stars decided to step away from the limelight to dedicate themselves to politics, science, royalty, and business. Their stories prove that success in the entertainment industry can serve as a stepping stone to influential roles in other sectors. This collection highlights the diverse professional pivots made by actresses outside of the Hollywood bubble.

Glenda Jackson

This British icon achieved the rare feat of winning two Academy Awards before leaving acting for the House of Commons. Jackson served as a Member of Parliament for Hampstead and Highgate for over two decades. She eventually took on the role of Junior Transport Minister under Tony Blair. Her political career was marked by her fierce advocacy and oratorical skills. She returned to the stage only after retiring from politics in 2015.

Melina Mercouri

Mercouri was a Greek actress and singer who gained international fame for her role in ‘Never on Sunday’. She leveraged her cultural impact to become a powerful political figure in Greece. She served as the Minister of Culture and fought passionately for the return of the Parthenon Marbles. Her tenure in office revitalized interest in Greek heritage and the arts. She remained a dedicated public servant until her passing.

Hedy Lamarr

Lamarr was an Austrian-born actress who became a Hollywood legend during the Golden Age. She was also a brilliant self-taught inventor who developed frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. This invention was intended to help the Allied war effort by preventing the jamming of torpedoes. Her groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern wireless communications like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Lamarr is now recognized as much for her scientific mind as for her cinematic beauty.

Brigitte Bardot

Bardot was a French cinema icon and international sex symbol during the 1950s and 1960s. She retired from the entertainment industry in 1973 to devote her life to animal welfare. She established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to fight for animal rights across the globe. Her activism has included campaigns against seal hunting and the trade of ivory. She remains a vocal and sometimes controversial figure in the animal rights movement.

Gina Lollobrigida

Lollobrigida was an Italian actress who was once known as the most beautiful woman in the world. As her film career slowed down she reinvented herself as a successful photojournalist. She secured an exclusive interview with Fidel Castro and published several books of her photography. She also pursued a career in sculpture and exhibited her works in various international museums. Her artistic talents extended far beyond the motion picture camera.

Chikage Oogi

Oogi was a popular actress in the Takarazuka Revue and later in Japanese film and television. She entered politics and joined the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. She achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first female President of the House of Councillors. Her political career also included serving as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. She successfully navigated the male-dominated world of Japanese politics for decades.

Angélica Rivera

Rivera was a well-known Mexican telenovela actress who starred in popular dramas like ‘Destilando Amor’. She stepped away from her acting career after marrying Enrique Peña Nieto. She served as the First Lady of Mexico during his presidency from 2012 to 2018. Her role involved heading the national steering council of the System for the Integral Development of the Family. She focused on social assistance and family welfare during her time in the political spotlight.

Smriti Irani

Irani became a household name in India for her role in the television series ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and rose rapidly through its ranks. She has held multiple important cabinet portfolios including Minister of Human Resource Development and Minister of Women and Child Development. Her victory in the Amethi constituency was a major political upset in Indian history. She is now better known as a politician than as a television star.

Isabella Rossellini

Rossellini is an Italian actress and model who graced the screens in films like ‘Blue Velvet’. She decided to pursue her lifelong interest in animals by returning to university in her later years. She earned a master’s degree in animal behavior and conservation from Hunter College. Rossellini now runs an organic farm in Long Island and creates educational films about animal biology. Her second career combines her performance skills with her scientific passion.

Josephine Baker

Baker was an American-born French entertainer who captivated Paris with her dance performances. She used her fame and social access to work as a spy for the French Resistance during World War II. She smuggled secret messages written in invisible ink on her sheet music. Baker was later awarded the Croix de Guerre for her bravery and military service. Her legacy involves both her artistic contributions and her heroism in wartime espionage.

Leni Riefenstahl

Riefenstahl started her career as a German actress and dancer before moving behind the camera. She became infamous for directing propaganda films for the Nazi regime. She later reinvented herself as a still photographer and focused on marine life and the Nuba tribes of Sudan. Her photography books became international bestsellers despite her controversial past. She continued to work as an underwater photographer well into her nineties.

Twinkle Khanna

Khanna acted in numerous Bollywood films during the 1990s before admitting that acting was not her true calling. She reinvented herself as a successful interior designer and newspaper columnist. She subsequently became a best-selling author with books like ‘Mrs Funnybones’. She also launched a production house that focuses on digital content and films. Her wit and writing skills have eclipsed her former acting career.

Akiko Santo

Santo began her career as an actress and voice actor in Japan. she transitioned to politics and was elected to the House of Councillors. She served as the Vice President of the House of Councillors and held a seat for several decades. Her focus remained on science and technology policy throughout her tenure. She is one of the longest-serving female politicians in Japanese history.

Nazanin Boniadi

Boniadi was born in Iran and raised in London before becoming an actress in Hollywood. She paused her acting career to dedicate herself fully to human rights activism. She served as a spokesperson for Amnesty International and focused on the rights of women in Iran. Her advocacy work included meeting with world leaders and speaking at the United Nations. She has been a relentless voice for the voiceless in her home country.

Bianca Jagger

Jagger was a Nicaraguan actress and socialite who became a prominent human rights defender. She founded the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation to advocate for social justice. Her work has addressed issues such as climate change and violence against women. She serves as a Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador and travels extensively for her cause. Her transition from Studio 54 icon to serious activist has been total.

France Nuyen

Nuyen is a French actress of Vietnamese descent who starred in films like ‘South Pacific’. She earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology after her acting career slowed down. She spent decades counseling abused women and children and prisoners. Nuyen was recognized as ‘Woman of the Year’ in Los Angeles for her dedication to social work. She found deep fulfillment in helping people heal from trauma.

Yoshiko Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi was a singer and actress who worked in China and Japan under various names including Li Xianglan. She later became a journalist and hosted a popular talk show in Japan. She was eventually elected to the Japanese House of Councillors and served for eighteen years. Her political work focused on foreign affairs and women’s issues. She lived a life that traversed multiple names and nations and careers.

Clotilde Courau

Courau was a celebrated French actress before she married into royalty. She wed Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy and became the Princess of Venice. While she continued some acting work she largely shifted her focus to royal duties and philanthropy. She represents the House of Savoy at various cultural and charitable events. Her life blends the worlds of European cinema and traditional aristocracy.

Sophie Winkleman

Winkleman is a British actress known for her comedy roles in shows like ‘Peep Show’. She married Lord Frederick Windsor and became a member of the British Royal Family. She balances her acting work with her official duties as Lady Frederick Windsor. She is a patron of several charities including the Children’s Surgery Foundation. Her career is a unique hybrid of working actress and royal figure.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Gabor was a Hungarian actress who was arguably more famous for her lifestyle than her film roles. She pioneered the concept of being famous for being famous and leveraged it into business. She launched a successful mail-order cosmetics company and published books on romance. Her business ventures capitalized on her glamorous image and socialite status. She remained a savvy entrepreneur until her health declined.

Greta Garbo

Garbo was a Swedish film icon who retired abruptly at the height of her fame. She moved to New York City and became a shrewd art collector and real estate investor. Her collection included works by Renoir and other masters that appreciated significantly in value. She managed her own substantial fortune with great skill and privacy. Her post-Hollywood life was defined by financial independence and seclusion.

Elizabeth Hurley

Hurley is a British actress who gained fame in the 1990s and dated Hugh Grant. She launched her own beachwear line called Elizabeth Hurley Beach in 2005. She is deeply involved in the design and marketing aspects of the business. She also serves as a global ambassador for the Estée Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Campaign. Her business acumen has proven to be as strong as her modeling presence.

Preity Zinta

Zinta was one of the most popular leading ladies in Hindi cinema during the 2000s. She shifted her focus to business by becoming a co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab cricket team. She actively manages the team and is a regular presence at Indian Premier League matches. She also earned a master’s degree in criminal psychology during her acting hiatus. Her entrepreneurial spirit has kept her in the public eye.

Brigitte Lin

Lin was a superstar of Taiwanese and Hong Kong cinema who starred in over one hundred films. She retired from acting after marriage and eventually reinvented herself as a writer. She has published several books of essays that have been well-received by critics. Her writing reflects on her cinematic past and her personal growth. She found a new voice through the written word after leaving the screen.

Hema Malini

Malini is a legendary Indian actress and dancer known as the Dream Girl of Bollywood. She entered politics and served in both houses of the Indian Parliament. She represents the Mathura constituency for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Her political work focuses on the development of her constituency and the promotion of Indian classical dance. She balances her duties as an MP with occasional artistic performances.

Jaya Bachchan

Bachchan is an acclaimed Indian actress who won numerous awards for her performances. She entered politics and became a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. She represents the Samajwadi Party and is known for her outspoken debates in the house. She has been renominated for multiple terms due to her active political engagement. She is one of the most senior figures in both the film and political fraternities.

Roopa Ganguly

Ganguly became famous for playing Draupadi in the television series ‘Mahabharat’. She transitioned to politics and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India. She served as the president of the BJP Mahila Morcha in West Bengal. Her political style is aggressive and she is deeply involved in state-level activism. She traded the mythology of television for the reality of governance.

Mimi Chakraborty

Chakraborty is a Bengali actress who leveraged her popularity to run for office. She was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Jadavpur constituency. She focuses on health and infrastructure issues within her district. She continues to act in films while fulfilling her parliamentary duties. Her election marked a generational shift in Bengal’s political landscape.

Nusrat Jahan

Jahan is a contemporary Bengali actress who entered politics alongside her colleague Mimi Chakraborty. She won the Basirhat constituency seat with a massive margin. She has been vocal about religious inclusion and women’s rights in parliament. Her political career has run parallel to her continued work in the film industry. She represents a new wave of actor-politicians in India.

Anu Aggarwal

Aggarwal became an overnight sensation with the film ‘Aashiqui’ but left the industry after a severe car accident. She turned to yoga and holistic healing to recover from her injuries. She eventually became a certified yoga teacher and wrote a memoir about her spiritual journey. She now runs a foundation that teaches yoga to slum children. Her life path shifted from glamour to deep spirituality.

Rosamund Kwan

Kwan was one of Hong Kong’s most famous actresses and starred in the ‘Once Upon a Time in China’ series. She retired from acting to focus on her real estate investments and business ventures. She launched her own lifestyle brand that includes sleepwear and beauty products. She also co-founded a jewelry brand and is involved in design. She has proven to be an astute businesswoman since leaving the film set.

Tell us which of these career changes surprised you the most in the comments.